What is the key difference between Draw.io and Chalk?

Draw.io belongs to the Data Visualization category with local stdio execution, while Chalk belongs to the Data Visualization category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution.

How do I install Draw.io or Chalk 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 Draw.io and Chalk free or paid?

Draw.io operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Chalk operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Draw.io lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. Chalk lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Draw.io and Chalk 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.

How do I install Draw.io or Chalk in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Draw.io and Chalk free to use, or do they require API keys?

Draw.io is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Chalk operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Draw.io and Chalk at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both draw-io and chalk as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Draw.io has a Quality Score of 27 /100 ( Emerging ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars. Chalk holds a Quality Score of 42 /100 ( Fair ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Draw.io vs Chalk

In-depth architectural comparison of the Draw.io and Chalk 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

Draw.io

Data Visualization · Local stdio

Quality: 27/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

Chalk

Data Visualization · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 42/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Draw.io if you need specialized Data Visualization tools running via a local process. Choose Chalk if your workspace requires Data Visualization integration with remote web transport. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Draw.io when:

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

Explore Draw.io Details

Choose Chalk when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Chalk Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	D Draw.io Data Visualization	C Chalk Data Visualization
Summary	Create diagrams in chat, rendered as live interactive draw.io diagrams. 10,000+ searchable shapes.	Chalk's bundled MCP server for drawing diagrams on macOS via Claude, Cursor, VS Code
Category & Scope	Data Visualization	Data Visualization
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Draw.io Tools (0)

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

Chalk 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).

Draw.io Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "draw-io": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "draw-io"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Chalk Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chalk": {
      "url": "https://chalk.appkit.studio/ai"
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Draw.io is categorized under Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Chalk belongs to Data Visualization using remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. Select Draw.io when you need capabilities focused on data visualization and Chalk when you require tools for data visualization.

More alternatives to Draw.io More alternatives to Chalk Data Visualization category hub Canonical compare URL

Related MCP Server Comparisons

Popular comparisons with Draw.io

Popular comparisons with Chalk

Chalk vs Mindpilot Mcp