CRW Web Scraper vs Gnews

A side-by-side look at the CRW Web Scraper and Gnews MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

CRW Web Scraper logoCRW Web ScraperSearch & Data Extraction · Local subprocess (stdio)Open-source web scraper for AI agents with scrape, crawl, and map tools53GoodAuth: api key requiredGnews logoGnewsSearch & Data Extraction · Local subprocess (stdio)GNews MCP — Global news search via GNews API (gnews.io)53GoodAuth: not declared

Verdict: choose CRW Web Scraper for search & data extraction work as a local process; choose Gnews for search & data extraction as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

CRW Web Scraper logoChoose CRW Web Scraper when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Search & Data Extraction domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: API key required.
  • You have the keys it needs: CRW_API_KEY, CRW_NO_AGENTS.
Explore CRW Web Scraper

Gnews logoChoose Gnews when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Search & Data Extraction domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • You want tools like search_news, top_headlines.
Explore Gnews

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecCRW Web Scraper logoCRW Web ScraperGnews logoGnews
CategorySearch & Data ExtractionSearch & Data Extraction
Quality signal53/100 · Good53/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthAPI key requiredNot declared
PricingNot declaredNot declared
Required env varsCRW_API_KEYCRW_NO_AGENTSNone listed
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars1,1740
Directory activity 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
ToolsNot listed2

Tools & capabilities

CRW Web Scraper tools

No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.

Gnews tools 2

  • search_newsSearch global news articles by keyword (e.g., "climate change", "AI regulation"). Returns title, description, content snippet, source, and publication date. Supports language and country filters.
  • top_headlinesFetch current top news headlines from GNews (requires BYO API key). Optionally filter by category (general, world, nation, business, technology, entertainment, sports, science, health), country code, and language. Returns up to 100 articles with title, description, source, and publication date.

Ready-to-paste client configs

Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.

CRW Web Scraper

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw-web-scraper": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "crw-mcp@latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CRW_API_KEY": "YOUR_CRW_API_KEY_HERE",
        "CRW_NO_AGENTS": "YOUR_CRW_NO_AGENTS_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Gnews

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gnews": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@pipeworx/mcp-gnews"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

CRW Web Scraper is categorized under Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Gnews belongs to Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick CRW Web Scraper for search & data extraction work and Gnews for search & data extraction.

Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.

CRW Web Scraper has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Auth: api key required. Gnews has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.

Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add crw-web-scraper and gnews as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, CRW Web Scraper has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1,174 GitHub stars. Gnews has 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.