Email Smtp Imap MCP vs Better Email MCP
A side-by-side look at the Email Smtp Imap MCP and Better Email MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
E
Email Smtp Imap MCPCommunication · Local subprocess (stdio)Multi-account email MCP server for SMTP sending, IMAP search, replies, attachments, and inbox organization60GoodAuth: not declaredVerdict: choose Email Smtp Imap MCP for communication work as a local process; choose Better Email MCP for communication as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
EChoose Email Smtp Imap MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
accounts_list, emails_find, email_send.
Choose Better Email MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: other.
- You have the keys it needs:
EMAIL_CREDENTIALS, EMAIL_USER, EMAIL_APP_PASSWORD, MCP_TRANSPORT, TRANSPORT_MODE, OUTLOOK_CLIENT_ID. - You want tools like
messages, folders, attachments.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | E Email Smtp Imap MCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Communication | Communication |
| Quality signal | 60/100 · Good | 65/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | other |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | EMAIL_CREDENTIALSEMAIL_USEREMAIL_APP_PASSWORDMCP_TRANSPORTTRANSPORT_MODEOUTLOOK_CLIENT_ID |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 24 | 35 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 6 | 6 |
| Full listing | View Email Smtp Imap MCP | View Better Email MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Email Smtp Imap MCP tools 6
accounts_listList every configured account and identify the default without exposing credentials.emails_findSearch by text, sender, recipient, subject, date, read state, flag state, or attachments. Optionally return bodies and attachments.email_sendSend plain-text or HTML email with CC, BCC, sender aliases, and base64 attachments.email_respondReply, reply-all, or forward by email UID with threading and optional original attachments.emails_modifyMark read/unread, flag/unflag, or move messages to another folder.folders_listList folders with optional total and unread counts.
Better Email MCP tools 6
messagesSearch, read, organize, compose, reply to, and forward emailsfoldersList mailbox folders or read targeted IMAP STATUS metadataattachmentsList and download email attachmentsconfigCredential setup via browser relay, status check, reset, re-resolve, cache clearconfig__open_relayOpen the relay configuration form in the browser and return the relay URLhelpGet full documentation for any tool
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.
Email Smtp Imap MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"email-smtp-imap-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"email-smtp-imap-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Better Email MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"n24q02m-better-email-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@n24q02m/better-email-mcp"
],
"env": {
"EMAIL_CREDENTIALS": "YOUR_EMAIL_CREDENTIALS_HERE",
"EMAIL_USER": "YOUR_EMAIL_USER_HERE",
"EMAIL_APP_PASSWORD": "YOUR_EMAIL_APP_PASSWORD_HERE",
"MCP_TRANSPORT": "YOUR_MCP_TRANSPORT_HERE",
"TRANSPORT_MODE": "YOUR_TRANSPORT_MODE_HERE",
"OUTLOOK_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_OUTLOOK_CLIENT_ID_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Email Smtp Imap MCP is categorized under Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Better Email MCP belongs to Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Email Smtp Imap MCP for communication work and Better Email MCP 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.
Email Smtp Imap MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Better Email MCP is listed as free. Auth: other. 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 email-smtp-imap-mcp and n24q02m-better-email-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Email Smtp Imap MCP has a quality signal of 60/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 24 GitHub stars. Better Email MCP has 65/100 (Great) with 4 views, 0 installs and 35 GitHub stars.