Discourse MCP vs Ethora MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Discourse MCP and Ethora MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Discourse MCP for communication work as a local process; choose Ethora MCP Server for communication as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Discourse MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You want tools like
discourse_select_site, discourse_search, discourse_filter_topics.
Choose Ethora MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: OAuth 2.0.
- You have the keys it needs:
ETHORA_API_URL, ETHORA_APP_JWT, ETHORA_B2B_TOKEN, ETHORA_MCP_AUTH_ISSUER. - You want tools like
ethora-configure, ethora-status, ethora-help.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Communication | Communication |
| Quality signal | 87/100 · Excellent | 67/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | OAuth 2.0 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | ETHORA_API_URLETHORA_APP_JWTETHORA_B2B_TOKENETHORA_MCP_AUTH_ISSUER |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 77 | 6 |
| Directory activity | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 16 | 89 |
| Full listing | View Discourse MCP | View Ethora MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Discourse MCP tools 16
discourse_select_siteValidate and select a Discourse site. Returns JSON with site URL and title.discourse_searchSearch site content. Returns JSON object with results array of matching topics (id, slug, title) and meta (total, has_more).discourse_filter_topicsDiscover topics through a filtered, top, or hot view. Filtered uses Discourse TopicsFilter syntax; top uses Discourse's authoritative top score and defaults to weekly; hot is defined exactly as daily top (not sentiment, controversy, or real-time velocity). Returns a uniform rich topic projection and truthful pagination metadata.discourse_read_topicRead topic metadata and posts. Large post limits can require multiple upstream requests. For moderation queues, prefer reviewable list/detail evidence instead of fanning this tool out across flagged topics.discourse_read_postRead a specific post. Returns JSON with id, topic_id, post_number, username, created_at, and raw content.discourse_read_topic_postsRead exact, earliest, latest, around-post, or username-filtered topic evidence. Selection is bounded to 50 posts and reports the visible stream size without claiming the entire topic was loaded.discourse_search_postsSearch post-level evidence with Discourse query syntax. Unlike discourse_search, this preserves matched posts, highlighted blurbs, authors, topics, categories, and truthful bounded continuation. This is keyword search, not Discourse AI semantic search.discourse_get_userGet user info. Returns JSON with id, username, name, trust_level, created_at, bio, admin, and moderator.discourse_list_user_postsGet paginated list of user posts/replies. Returns JSON object with posts array (id, topic_id, post_number, slug, title, created_at, excerpt, category_id) and meta (page, limit, has_more).discourse_list_usersList users via admin API. Requires admin API key. Returns ~100 users per page (Discourse's fixed page size). Returns JSON with users array and pagination meta.discourse_get_chat_messagesGet messages from a chat channel. Returns JSON object with channel_id, messages array (id, username, created_at, message, edited, thread_id, in_reply_to_id), and meta.discourse_get_draftRetrieve a specific draft by key. Returns JSON with draft_key, sequence, and parsed data (title, reply, categoryId, tags, action).- +4 more on the listing page
Ethora MCP Server tools 89
ethora-configureSet the Ethora API URL and credentials for this MCP session. Stores values in memory only; each call merges with omitted fields kept. Alternative to env vars (ETHORA_API_URL / ETHORA_APP_JWT / ETHORA_APP_TOKEN / ETHORA_B2B_TOKEN). On a hosted server `apiUrl` is fixed and cannot be changed; credentials are per session. Auth: none required — this establishes auth material. Errors: only if a value is structurally invalid. Follow with an `ethora-auth-use-*` tool to pick the active mode.ethora-statusReport the current Ethora MCP session state: configured API URL, active auth mode, which credentials are present (booleans like `hasAppJwt` — values never echoed), the selected appId/agentId, and `hosted`/`sessionId` on the hosted (Streamable HTTP) server. Auth: none required. Errors: effectively none. Related: `ethora-doctor` for an active connectivity check.ethora-helpTask-oriented orientation for this MCP server: explains the three Ethora auth modes (user / app-token / B2B) and recommends next tool calls + recipes based on current session state. Auth: none required — inspects state, no API calls. Errors: effectively none. Related: pass a recommended recipe id to `ethora-run-recipe`.ethora-run-recipeExecute a built-in recipe — an ordered sequence of this server's own tool calls — by id. Recipes capture common flows (B2B bootstrap, broadcast, sources ingest). Use `dryRun: true` to preview resolved steps. Omit `recipeId` to list runnable recipes for a `goal`. Requires: the inputs the chosen recipe lists; call without `recipeId` first to see the recipes and their required inputs. Auth: depends on the recipe's steps — configure those first (see `ethora-help`). Errors: stops at the first failing step and returns the partial log; a missing required `vars` entry fails fast before any step runs.ethora-doctorDiagnose the session: validate the config is internally consistent for the active auth mode and ping the Ethora API (`GET /v1/ping`). Returns `{ state, checks, ping, suggestions }`. Auth: none required; report is tailored to whatever credentials are set. Errors: rarely throws — instead returns `suggestions` and a `ping.ok: false` block when the API is unreachable.ethora-auth-use-appSwitch this session's active auth mode to app-token, so subsequent app-scoped calls authenticate with the configured `appToken`. Auth: requires an `appToken` to already be configured (via `ethora-configure`, ETHORA_APP_TOKEN env, or `ethora-app-select`). Errors: returns an error if no `appToken` is configured. Related: use after `ethora-app-select`.ethora-auth-use-userSwitch this session's active auth mode to user-session, so subsequent calls authenticate as a logged-in Ethora user. Auth: the switch needs nothing, but user-auth tools only work once `ethora-user-login` stores a user token (login also needs a configured `appJwt`). Errors: none on the switch; downstream tools return 401 until login succeeds. Related: follow with `ethora-user-login`.ethora-auth-use-b2bSwitch this session's active auth mode to B2B, so subsequent calls authenticate as a tenant actor via the `x-custom-token` header. Auth: requires a `b2bToken` (JWT with `type=server`) to already be configured (via `ethora-configure` or ETHORA_B2B_TOKEN env). Errors: returns an error if no `b2bToken` is configured. Related: server-side automation — pairs with `ethora-b2b-app-create`, `ethora-users-batch-create-v2`, `ethora-app-tokens-*-v2`.ethora-app-selectSet the current app context for this session so app-scoped tools can omit their `appId` argument. Stores `currentAppId` and, if given, `appToken` (which defaults the auth mode to app-token unless `authMode` overrides). Auth: none required to set the context. Errors: effectively none — a non-existent `appId` is not validated here; the first app-scoped API call surfaces the 404. Related: pairs with `ethora-auth-use-app`.ethora-chats-broadcast-v2Enqueue an asynchronous broadcast job posting a message to one or more chat rooms of an app — returns a `jobId`; messages are not sent synchronously. Targeting is exclusive: `allRooms`, `chatIds`, or `chatNames`, not a mix. Requires: a selected app with at least one room (`ethora-app-create-chat`). Auth: app-token mode OR B2B mode with an explicit `appId`. Errors: 401/403 wrong auth; 400 no target or conflicting targets; 404 unknown `appId` or room. Related: track with `ethora-wait-broadcast-job-v2`.ethora-chats-broadcast-job-v2Fetch the current status and per-room results of a broadcast job by `jobId` (one-shot, no polling). Returns the job object with its `state` (pending/running/completed/failed). Requires: a selected app with at least one room (`ethora-app-create-chat`). Auth: app-token mode OR B2B mode with an explicit `appId` — must match the auth used to enqueue the job. Errors: 401/403 wrong auth; 404 unknown `jobId`. Related: `ethora-wait-broadcast-job-v2` for a blocking wait.ethora-wait-broadcast-job-v2Block until a broadcast job reaches a terminal state (`completed` or `failed`) or until `timeoutMs` — read-only polling wrapper around `ethora-chats-broadcast-job-v2`. Returns `{ done, state, job }`, or `{ done: false, reason: "timeout" }` on timeout. Requires: a `jobId` returned by `ethora-chats-broadcast-job-v2`. Auth: app-token mode OR B2B mode with an explicit `appId` — must match the auth used to enqueue the job. Errors: 401/403 wrong auth; 404 unknown `jobId`.- +77 more on the listing page
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.
Discourse MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"discourse-discourse-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@discourse/mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
Ethora MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"ethora-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@ethora/mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"ETHORA_API_URL": "YOUR_ETHORA_API_URL_HERE",
"ETHORA_APP_JWT": "YOUR_ETHORA_APP_JWT_HERE",
"ETHORA_B2B_TOKEN": "YOUR_ETHORA_B2B_TOKEN_HERE",
"ETHORA_MCP_AUTH_ISSUER": "YOUR_ETHORA_MCP_AUTH_ISSUER_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Discourse MCP is categorized under Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Ethora MCP Server belongs to Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Discourse MCP for communication work and Ethora MCP Server for communication.
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.
Discourse MCP is listed as free. Auth: api key required. Ethora MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: oauth 2.0. 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 discourse-discourse-mcp and ethora-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Discourse MCP has a quality signal of 87/100 (Excellent) with 5 views, 0 installs and 77 GitHub stars. Ethora MCP Server has 67/100 (Great) with 5 views, 0 installs and 6 GitHub stars.