Esa vs MCP Server Apple Events
A side-by-side look at the Esa and MCP Server Apple Events MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Esa for workplace & productivity work as a local process; choose MCP Server Apple Events for workplace & productivity as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Esa when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
ESA_ACCESS_TOKEN, LANG. - You want tools like
esa_get_teams, esa_get_team_stats, esa_get_team_tags.
Choose MCP Server Apple Events when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You have the keys it needs:
EVENTKIT_CLI_TIMEOUT_MS, EVENT_PERMISSION_TIMEOUT_MS. - You want tools like
reminders_tasks, reminders_subtasks, reminders_lists.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Workplace & Productivity | Workplace & Productivity |
| Quality signal | 67/100 · Great | 64/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | No auth required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | ESA_ACCESS_TOKENLANG | EVENTKIT_CLI_TIMEOUT_MSEVENT_PERMISSION_TIMEOUT_MS |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 62 | 227 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 22 | 5 |
| Full listing | View Esa | View MCP Server Apple Events |
Tools & capabilities
Esa tools 22
esa_get_teamsRetrieves a list of esa teams that the user has access to.esa_get_team_statsRetrieves team statistics including member count, posts count (total/WIP/shipped), comments, stars, watches, and daily/weekly/monthly active usersesa_get_team_tagsRetrieves all tags used in posts within a team, along with the count of posts for each tagesa_get_team_membersRetrieves all members of a team with their roles and profile informationesa_get_postRetrieves a specific post from an esa team by post number, with optional comments included.esa_search_postsSearch for posts in esa.ioesa_create_postCreates a new post in an esa team with optional tags, category, and WIP status.esa_update_postUpdates an existing post in an esa team by post number. You can update the title, content, tags, category, and WIP status. To ship a post (mark as complete), set wip to false - this is preferred over using esa_ship_post when updating other fields simultaneously.esa_get_commentRetrieves a specific comment by comment ID, with optional stargazers included.esa_create_commentCreates a new comment on an existing post in an esa team.esa_update_commentUpdates an existing comment in an esa team by comment ID.esa_delete_commentDeletes a comment from an esa team by comment ID.- +10 more on the listing page
MCP Server Apple Events tools 5
reminders_tasksPriority, tags, subtasks. `startDate` is set via `update`, not `create`; on `read` it scopes the due-date window alongside `endDate`. Cross-list moves unsupported.reminders_subtasksStored in the notes field (human-readable in Reminders.app).reminders_listsRename via `name` → `newName`.calendar_eventsAll-day inferred from date format. Cross-calendar moves unsupported. `span` scopes recurring deletes. `attendees` (update) invites addresses; `occurrenceDate` (delete) excepts one occurrence of a series — both need extra setup, see [Attendees and single occurrences](#attendees-and-single-occurrence…calendar_calendarsWithout a date range, every calendar EventKit reports, with its `source` and write permission. With `startDate`/`endDate`, calendars holding ≥1 event in the window, annotated with an event count.
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.
Esa
{
"mcpServers": {
"esa": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@esaio/esa-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"ESA_ACCESS_TOKEN": "YOUR_ESA_ACCESS_TOKEN_HERE",
"LANG": "YOUR_LANG_HERE"
}
}
}
}
MCP Server Apple Events
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-server-apple-events": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-server-apple-events"
],
"env": {
"EVENTKIT_CLI_TIMEOUT_MS": "YOUR_EVENTKIT_CLI_TIMEOUT_MS_HERE",
"EVENT_PERMISSION_TIMEOUT_MS": "YOUR_EVENT_PERMISSION_TIMEOUT_MS_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Esa is categorized under Workplace & Productivity and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Server Apple Events belongs to Workplace & Productivity and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Esa for workplace & productivity work and MCP Server Apple Events for workplace & productivity.
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.
Esa has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. MCP Server Apple Events is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. 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 esa and mcp-server-apple-events as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Esa has a quality signal of 67/100 (Great) with 2 views, 0 installs and 62 GitHub stars. MCP Server Apple Events has 64/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 227 GitHub stars.