Filesystem vs MCP Homeassistant
A side-by-side look at the Filesystem and MCP Homeassistant MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Filesystem for file systems work as a local process; choose MCP Homeassistant for home automation as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Filesystem 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
path, head, tail.
Choose MCP Homeassistant when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Home Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
HA_URL, HA_TOKEN. - You want tools like
get_api_status, get_config, get_components.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | Home Automation |
| Quality signal | 85/100 · Excellent | 45/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | HA_URLHA_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 91,512 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 11 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 17 | 19 |
| Full listing | View Filesystem | View MCP Homeassistant |
Tools & capabilities
Filesystem tools 17
pathheadtailpathscontenteditsoldTextnewTextdryRunsortBysourcedestination- +5 more on the listing page
MCP Homeassistant tools 19
get_api_statusCheck if the API is runningget_configGet HA configurationget_componentsList loaded componentsget_eventsList event types and listener countsget_servicesList available services by domainget_statesGet all entity statesget_stateGet a specific entity stateset_stateUpdate or create an entity statedelete_stateDelete an entity statefire_eventFire a custom eventcall_serviceCall a Home Assistant servicerender_templateRender a Jinja template- +7 more on 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.
Filesystem
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem"
]
}
}
}
MCP Homeassistant
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-homeassistant": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"mcp-homeassistant"
],
"env": {
"HA_URL": "YOUR_HA_URL_HERE",
"HA_TOKEN": "YOUR_HA_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Filesystem is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Homeassistant belongs to Home Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Filesystem for file systems work and MCP Homeassistant for home automation.
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.
Filesystem is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. MCP Homeassistant has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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 filesystem and mcp-homeassistant as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Filesystem has a quality signal of 85/100 (Excellent) with 11 views, 0 installs and 91,512 GitHub stars. MCP Homeassistant has 45/100 (Fair) with 3 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.