What is the key difference between Computer Use and WinCtl?

Computer Use belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution, while WinCtl belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Computer Use or WinCtl in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Computer Use and WinCtl free or paid?

Computer Use operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). WinCtl operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Computer Use lists 0 tools with 0 views and 2 GitHub stars. WinCtl lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Computer Use and WinCtl together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Computer Use vs WinCtl

In-depth architectural comparison of the Computer Use and WinCtl MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Computer Use

Developer Tools · Local stdio

Quality: 37/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

WinCtl

Developer Tools · Local stdio

Quality: 36/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Computer Use if you need specialized Developer Tools tools running via a local process. Choose WinCtl if your workspace requires Developer Tools integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Computer Use when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Computer Use Details

Choose WinCtl when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore WinCtl Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Computer Use Developer Tools	WinCtl Developer Tools
Summary	Local MCP server for desktop automation: mouse, keyboard, screen, windows, and processes.	Windows desktop control for AI agents: screen, UI Automation, input, processes, files, shell.
Category & Scope	Developer Tools	Developer Tools
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Computer Use Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

WinCtl Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Computer Use Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "computer-use-2": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "The"
      ]
    }
  }
}

WinCtl Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "winctl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@sitharaj88/winctl"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Computer Use is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, WinCtl belongs to Developer Tools using local stdio subprocess. Select Computer Use when you need capabilities focused on developer tools and WinCtl when you require tools for developer tools.

More alternatives to Computer Use More alternatives to WinCtl Developer Tools category hub