Firecrawl MCP Server vs RoadRaven
A side-by-side look at the Firecrawl MCP Server and RoadRaven MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Firecrawl MCP Server for search & data extraction work as a local process; choose RoadRaven for product management as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Firecrawl MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Search & Data Extraction domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
FIRECRAWL_API_KEY. - You want tools like
firecrawl_scrape, firecrawl_map, firecrawl_search.
Choose RoadRaven when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Product Management domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
updateNodeStatus, getEventApiStatus, getRoadmap.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Search & Data Extraction | Product Management |
| Quality signal | 90/100 · Excellent | 65/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | No auth required |
| Pricing | Freemium | Free |
| Required env vars | FIRECRAWL_API_KEY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 7,784 | 10 |
| Directory activity | 34 views 3 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 25 | 22 |
| Full listing | View Firecrawl MCP Server | View RoadRaven |
Tools & capabilities
Firecrawl MCP Server tools 25
firecrawl_scrapeRetrieve and extract content from one supplied URL through Firecrawl. Use this when the request identifies a page and needs its content or defined fields. It can return markdown, HTML, links, screenshots, branding data, a targeted answer, or JSON matching a supplied schema; JSON is useful when the requested result has defined fields, while markdown preserves readable page content. This tool operates on a known page. For a set of pages use `firecrawl_crawl`, and to discover page URLs use `firecrawl_map` or `firecrawl_search`. Options include JavaScript render delay, cache age, main-content filtering, PII redaction, and lockdown cache-only retrieval. Browser actions may change the live page when interactive actions are enabled. Firecrawl may reuse recently indexed content instead of refetching the page, and the reuse window varies by domain. Set `maxAge: 0` to force a live fetch, or a smaller `maxAge` to bound how stale reused content may be. A successful response does not by itself confirm that the state it describes is still current. Returns the selected content formats and page metadata.firecrawl_mapEnumerate URLs indexed under one website through Firecrawl without fetching each page's content. Use this when the request asks for a site's URL inventory, when several relevant pages must be located, or when the desired page URL is unknown. An optional `search` term narrows the URL list, while sitemap, subdomain, query-parameter, and result-limit options control coverage. Returns matching URLs rather than page bodies. Retrieve one page with `firecrawl_scrape`; collect content across multiple pages with `firecrawl_crawl`.firecrawl_searchSearch web, news, or image sources and return ranked results. Operators include quoted phrases, `-term`, `site:host`, `inurl:term`, `intitle:term`, and `related:host`; the set is non-exhaustive. `includeDomains` and `excludeDomains` are mutually exclusive hostname filters; categories limit results to GitHub, research, PDF, or developer sources. For a programming question, add `categories: ["developer"]`. It searches an index of GitHub issues, merged pull requests, repository READMEs, and curated documentation sites, and returns the hits in `data.developer` beside the web results. `categories: ["research"]` restricts these web results to research-affiliated websites and returns page snippets. The `firecrawl_research_*` tools are a separate surface that searches paper abstracts and full text across biomedical (PubMed, bioRxiv, medRxiv) and arXiv literature. `scrapeOptions` can attach extracted page content; pages fetched this way use a fixed reuse window and ignore `maxAge`, so use `firecrawl_scrape` when a live fetch is required. Returns source-type result groups and usage metadata. Authenticated responses can include an `id` for optional search feedback.firecrawl_crawlStart a multi-page crawl at a website URL, poll it to a terminal state, and return the final status and collected data. Scope can be bounded with include/exclude paths, depth, page limit, subdomain/external-link controls, sitemap handling, delay, and scrape options. Crawl results can be large; use conservative limits when full-site coverage is unnecessary. Webhooks and interactive scrape actions are unavailable in safe mode. Returns the crawl ID, status, and page data.firecrawl_check_crawl_statusRetrieve the current status, progress, and available results for an existing crawl ID. This only reads Firecrawl job state and does not start or modify the crawl.firecrawl_extractDeprecated compatibility entry point. Use firecrawl_scrape once per known URL with formats: ["json"] and jsonOptions containing the prompt and schema. Use firecrawl_search or firecrawl_agent before Scrape when URLs are not known.firecrawl_agentStart an asynchronous web research job from a prompt, optional seed URLs, and an optional JSON schema. Use this for a requested synthesis across multiple sources when the task can wait for asynchronous completion. The agent can search, navigate, read pages, and assemble a structured result. This call returns only a job ID, not the research result. Read the job with `firecrawl_agent_status` until it reaches `completed` or `failed`; research commonly takes several minutes. If the job cannot finish within the task's available time, `firecrawl_search` and `firecrawl_scrape` can gather evidence synchronously.firecrawl_agent_statusRetrieve progress or final results for a `firecrawl_agent` job ID. A `processing` response is non-terminal and does not contain the final research result. Check again after 15–30 seconds until the status is `completed` or `failed`; complex jobs can take several minutes. If the job cannot finish within the task's available time, use `firecrawl_search` and `firecrawl_scrape` to complete the requested output. Returns job status, progress information, and result data when completed.firecrawl_interactOpen or reuse a live browser session to navigate a page, click controls, fill fields, or run browser code. Provide either `url` or `scrapeId`, and either a natural-language `prompt` or executable `code`; code can run as Bash, Python, or Node with a bounded timeout. This acts on the live site, so actions such as form submission can create persistent external side effects. Returns execution output, stdout/stderr, exit status, and session viewing URLs.firecrawl_interact_stopStop the live interact session associated with a `scrapeId` and release its resources. Returns a success confirmation.firecrawl_parseParse one supported document into markdown, HTML, links, summary, targeted answers, or JSON matching a schema. Supported inputs include common HTML, PDF, Word, RTF, OpenDocument, and spreadsheet files; PDF parsing can be bounded with `pdfOptions.maxPages`. Local MCP reads `filePath` from the server filesystem. Hosted MCP uses two calls: first provide `filePath` to receive upload instructions, upload locally, then call again with the returned `uploadRef`; do not send both fields together. Remote web URLs belong in `firecrawl_scrape`. Set `redactPII` to request redaction of personally identifiable information in the returned content. `zeroDataRetention` requires an eligible authenticated account; omit it for anonymous keyless use. Returns upload instructions for hosted phase one or parsed document content for the final call.firecrawl_monitor_createCreate a recurring scrape, crawl, or search monitor that compares each check with its retained predecessor. The simple form accepts `page`/`pages` or `queries` plus a plain-language `goal`; the advanced `body` form controls targets, schedule, change-tracking formats, judging, retention, webhook, and notifications. In the simple form, a `goal` is required. If `queries` contains one or more non-empty values and is supplied with `page`/`pages`, `queries` create the search target and page targets are ignored. A monitor schedules future network checks and can send configured email or webhook notifications. Returns the created monitor.- +13 more on the listing page
RoadRaven tools 22
updateNodeStatusPush a status update to a node. Requires the desktop app to be running and a roadmap loaded. Routes through the agent dispatcher so the change appears in the event-log drawer (Ctrl+Shift+L).getEventApiStatusReturns the current Event API URL, PID, and startedAt — or an error if the app is not running.getRoadmapReturn the full schema tree from the desktop app, with live-event statuses merged in, plus the current `revision` (pass it as expectedRevision on writes to detect stale reads). Pass omitNotes: true for polling (large roadmaps exceed the tool-result limit): it leaves out notes and the createdAt/updatedAt timestamps; fetch notes with getNode/findNodes. Requires the app to be running and a file to be loaded.getNodeReturn a node by UUID, with its immediate parent ID, full ancestor chain (root-to-parent), and the current roadmap `revision`. Status reflects the live overlay if a recent event landed.findNodesSearch nodes by AND-combined filter: titleContains (case-insensitive substring), status, type, metaKey + metaValue, parentId. All fields optional. Returns matching nodes (without their children; use parentId or getNode for those) with their parent IDs.getStatusConfigReturn the loaded roadmap's statusConfig array (display labels/colors for statuses). Agent mutations accept only core node statuses.getTypeConfigReturn the loaded roadmap's typeConfig array (the valid node-type IDs and their visual configuration).getOpenFileReturn filePath (or null if untitled), isUntitled flag, document title, and total nodeCount. Works even when no file is loaded — returns null filePath and isUntitled=false.createNodeAdd a child node under parentId with the given title. Optional: id (UUID or slug — supply it when recovering/recreating a node so its identity stays stable and history/metadata continuity survives file churn; duplicate_id if it already exists), type, core status (defaults to not-started), notes (markdown), metadata. Returns the new node's id. Requires a loaded roadmap.createRoadmapInitialize an in-memory untitled schema (mirrors File > New). Optional: title, statusConfig, typeConfig. The agent must call saveFileAs to persist the new roadmap to disk.renameNodeChange a node's title.updateNodeTypeChange a node's type string. Use getTypeConfig to discover valid types.- +10 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.
Firecrawl MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"firecrawl-firecrawl-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"firecrawl-mcp"
],
"env": {
"FIRECRAWL_API_KEY": "YOUR_FIRECRAWL_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
RoadRaven
{
"mcpServers": {
"roadraven": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@roadraven/mcp@0.9.2"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Firecrawl MCP Server is categorized under Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. RoadRaven belongs to Product Management and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Firecrawl MCP Server for search & data extraction work and RoadRaven for product management.
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.
Firecrawl MCP Server is listed as freemium — a free tier with paid plans. Auth: api key required. RoadRaven 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 firecrawl-firecrawl-mcp-server and roadraven as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Firecrawl MCP Server has a quality signal of 90/100 (Excellent) with 34 views, 3 installs and 7,784 GitHub stars. RoadRaven has 65/100 (Great) with 1 views, 0 installs and 10 GitHub stars.