Fastmcp Pdftools vs Free the Tools
A side-by-side look at the Fastmcp Pdftools 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 Fastmcp Pdftools for file systems 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 Fastmcp Pdftools 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.
- You want tools like
read_local_pdf, list_pdf_files.
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 | File Systems | File Systems |
| Quality signal | 52/100 · Good | 41/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | No auth required |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 2 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Fastmcp Pdftools | View Free the Tools |
Tools & capabilities
Fastmcp Pdftools tools 2
read_local_pdfRead and extract text content from a local PDF file.list_pdf_filesList all PDF files in a given directory.
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.
Fastmcp Pdftools
{
"mcpServers": {
"fastmcp-pdftools": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"fastmcp-pdftools"
]
}
}
}
Free the Tools
{
"mcpServers": {
"free-the-tools": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"freethetools"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Fastmcp Pdftools is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Free the Tools belongs to File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Fastmcp Pdftools for file systems 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.
Fastmcp Pdftools is listed as free. Auth: no auth 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 fastmcp-pdftools and free-the-tools as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Fastmcp Pdftools has a quality signal of 52/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Free the Tools has 41/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.
