Filesystem vs Opencellid
A side-by-side look at the Filesystem and Opencellid 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 Opencellid for location services 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 Opencellid when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
PLATFORM_OPENCELLID_KEY. - You want tools like
get_cell, cells_in_area.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | Location Services |
| Quality signal | 85/100 · Excellent | 57/100 · Good |
| 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 | PLATFORM_OPENCELLID_KEY |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 91,540 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 11 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 17 | 2 |
| Full listing | View Filesystem | View Opencellid |
Tools & capabilities
Filesystem tools 17
pathheadtailpathscontenteditsoldTextnewTextdryRunsortBysourcedestination- +5 more on the listing page
Opencellid tools 2
get_cellGeolocate a cell tower by mobile network identifiers. MCC = Mobile Country Code, MNC = Mobile Network Code, LAC = Location Area Code, cell_id = Cell ID. Returns lat/lon, range, samples, radio type (GSM/UMTS/LTE).cells_in_areaList cell towers inside a bounding box. Bounding box format: "lat_sw,lon_sw,lat_ne,lon_ne". OpenCellID caps results per call — narrow the bbox if you need detail.
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"
]
}
}
}
Opencellid
{
"mcpServers": {
"opencellid": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-opencellid"
],
"env": {
"PLATFORM_OPENCELLID_KEY": "YOUR_PLATFORM_OPENCELLID_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Filesystem is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Opencellid belongs to Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Filesystem for file systems work and Opencellid for location services.
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. Opencellid 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 opencellid 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 91,540 GitHub stars. Opencellid has 57/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.