Claude Task Master vs Free the Tools
A side-by-side look at the Claude Task Master and Free the Tools MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Claude Task Master for developer tools work as a local process; choose Free the Tools for file systems as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Claude Task Master when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, GOOGLE_API_KEY, PERPLEXITY_API_KEY, XAI_API_KEY, OPENROUTER_API_KEY, MISTRAL_API_KEY, TASK_MASTER_TOOLS.
Choose Free the Tools when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | File Systems |
| Quality signal | 61/100 · Good | 41/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | No auth required |
| Pricing | BYOK (pay the provider) | Free |
| Required env vars | ANTHROPIC_API_KEYOPENAI_API_KEYGOOGLE_API_KEYPERPLEXITY_API_KEYXAI_API_KEYOPENROUTER_API_KEYMISTRAL_API_KEYTASK_MASTER_TOOLS | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 28,255 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 9 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Claude Task Master | View Free the Tools |
Tools & capabilities
Claude Task Master tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Free the Tools tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from 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.
Claude Task Master
{
"mcpServers": {
"eyaltoledano-claude-task-master": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"task-master-ai"
],
"env": {
"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_API_KEY_HERE",
"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY_HERE",
"XAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_XAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_API_KEY_HERE",
"MISTRAL_API_KEY": "YOUR_MISTRAL_API_KEY_HERE",
"TASK_MASTER_TOOLS": "YOUR_TASK_MASTER_TOOLS_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Free the Tools
{
"mcpServers": {
"free-the-tools": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"freethetools"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Claude Task Master is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Free the Tools belongs to File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Claude Task Master for developer tools work and Free the Tools for file systems.
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.
Claude Task Master is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key required. Free the Tools 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 eyaltoledano-claude-task-master and free-the-tools as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Claude Task Master has a quality signal of 61/100 (Good) with 9 views, 0 installs and 28,255 GitHub stars. Free the Tools has 41/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.
