N8n MCP Community vs Google Workspace MCP | AllMCPs
Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison
N8n MCP Community vs Google Workspace MCP
In-depth architectural comparison of the N8n MCP Community and Google Workspace MCP 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
N8n MCP Community
Workplace & Productivity · Local stdio
Quality: 44/100 (Fair) | Auth: API Key required
Google Workspace MCP
Workplace & Productivity · Local stdio
Quality: 67/100 (Great) | Auth: OAuth 2.0
Verdict Summary: Choose N8n MCP Community if you need specialized Workplace & Productivity tools running via a local process. Choose Google Workspace MCP if your workspace requires Workplace & Productivity integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.
Which MCP Server Should You Choose?
Choose N8n MCP Community when:
You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: API Key required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: N8N_API_URL, N8N_API_KEY, N8N_MCP_MODE.
Primary tools included: 44 MCP tools, 5 resources, and 4 prompts, Read-only mode enabled by default, Bounded inputs with documented side effects.
N8n MCP Community is categorized under Workplace & Productivity and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Google Workspace MCP belongs to Workplace & Productivity using local stdio subprocess. Select N8n MCP Community when you need capabilities focused on workplace & productivity and Google Workspace MCP when you require tools for workplace & productivity.
Manually initiate Google OAuth authentication flow.
NOTE: This is a legacy OAuth 2.0 tool and is disabled when OAuth 2.1 is enabled.
The authentication system automatically handles credential checks and prompts for
authentication when needed. Only use this tool if:
1. You need to re-authenticate with different credentials
2. You want to proactively authenticate before using other tools
3. The automatic authentication flow failed and you need to retry
In most cases, simply try calling the Google Workspace tool you need - it will
automatically handle authentication if required.
search_gmail_messages
Searches messages in a user's Gmail account based on a query.
Returns both Message IDs and Thread IDs for each found message, along with Gmail web interface links for manual verification.
Supports pagination via page_token parameter.
get_gmail_message_content
Retrieves the full content (subject, sender, recipients, body) of a specific Gmail message.
Bodies are returned inline and truncated at 20,000 characters. Set full=True to
get the complete, untruncated message instead: it is exported to disk and the
response carries a short-lived download URL (HTTP transport) or file path (stdio
transport) rather than the body, so large messages never stream through the model
context. Stateless deployments have no file storage, so there full=True returns the
untruncated body inline.
get_gmail_messages_content_batch
Retrieves the content of multiple Gmail messages in a single batch request.
Supports up to 25 messages per batch to prevent SSL connection exhaustion.
get_gmail_attachment_content
Downloads an email attachment and saves it to local disk.
In stdio mode, returns the local file path for direct access.
In HTTP mode, returns a temporary download URL (valid for 1 hour).
May re-fetch message metadata to resolve filename and MIME type.
send_gmail_message
Sends an email using the user's Gmail account. Supports new emails, replies, and
forwards, with optional attachments. Supports Gmail's "Send As" feature to send
from configured alias addresses.
To forward an existing message, pass forward_message_id. The original subject,
body (quoted with a "Forwarded message" header), and attachments are carried over.
In forward mode, body (if any) is prepended as a note and subject is optional.
Threading, reply, and signature options do not apply when forwarding.
THIS TOOL SENDS IMMEDIATELY AND CANNOT SCHEDULE. Gmail's REST API exposes no
send-time parameter; Schedule send is a web-UI feature with no API equivalent,
so no argument to this tool can defer delivery. Never tell a user a message
was scheduled. For "prepare now, deliver later", create a draft with
draft_gmail_message. An external scheduler must retain the message data to
create and send a new message via send_gmail_message at the chosen time, or
call users.drafts.send with the draft ID returned by draft_gmail_message.
Alternatively, let the user schedule that draft in the Gmail UI.
draft_gmail_message
Creates a draft email in the user's Gmail account. Supports both new drafts and reply drafts with optional attachments.
Supports Gmail's "Send As" feature to draft from configured alias addresses.
SCHEDULED SEND IS NOT AVAILABLE. Gmail's REST API exposes no send-time
parameter; the Schedule send feature is web-UI only, and a message cannot be
placed in the Scheduled folder through the API. Do not claim a message was
scheduled. To deliver at a chosen time, create a draft with
draft_gmail_message. An external scheduler must retain the message data to
create and send a new message via send_gmail_message then, or call
users.drafts.send with the draft ID returned by draft_gmail_message.
Alternatively, let the user schedule the draft in the Gmail UI.
get_gmail_thread_content
Retrieves the complete content of a Gmail conversation thread, including all messages.
Optionally also returns structured ownership analysis so a caller can
determine who sent the last message and who owes whom a response without
re-parsing the formatted string or making a second tool call.
get_gmail_threads_content_batch
Retrieves the content of multiple Gmail threads in a single batch request.
Supports up to 25 threads per batch to prevent SSL connection exhaustion.
list_gmail_labels
Lists labels in the user's Gmail account.
manage_gmail_label
Manages Gmail labels: create, update, or delete labels.
list_gmail_filters
Lists all Gmail filters configured in the user's mailbox.
Security-focused MCP server for self-hosted n8n Community Edition: 44 bounded tools for workflows, executions, credentials, tags, and diagnostics, read-only by default, with no external AI calls.
Comprehensive Google Workspace MCP server with full support for Google Calendar, Drive, Gmail, and Docs, Forms, Chats, Slides and Sheets over stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE transports.