Firecrawl MCP Server vs Zenrows MCP
A side-by-side look at the Firecrawl MCP Server and Zenrows MCP 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 Zenrows MCP for search & data extraction 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, HTTP_STREAMABLE_SERVER. - You want tools like
firecrawl_scrape, firecrawl_map, firecrawl_search.
Choose Zenrows MCP 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 want tools like
scrape, extract, batch_create.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Search & Data Extraction | Search & Data Extraction |
| Quality signal | 90/100 · Excellent | 67/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | API key required |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Required env vars | FIRECRAWL_API_KEYHTTP_STREAMABLE_SERVER | None listed |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 7,669 | 20 |
| Directory activity | 14 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 25 | 52 |
| Full listing | View Firecrawl MCP Server | View Zenrows MCP |
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
Zenrows MCP tools 52
scrapeScrape any webpage and return its content using Zenrows (Fetch). Returns full-page content (markdown/HTML/PDF/screenshot). For structured JSON fields (products, articles, listings), the extract tool returns parsed fields instead of a full page body. By default the request uses automatic mode (mode=auto): Zenrows adds JS rendering or premium proxies per page only when a plain request does not return the page, and charges only for the configuration that succeeds. Pass just the URL. Set js_render or premium_proxy only to force a fixed configuration. Doing so switches off automatic mode, and every request is billed at that configuration's cost (premium_proxy with js_render is 25x a basic request). Examples: Default: { url: "https://example.com" } Geo: { url: "https://example.com", proxy_country: "US" } Forced: { url: "https://spa.com", js_render: true }extractExtract structured data from a webpage via Zenrows. Returns JSON fields (products, articles, listings) rather than a full page body. Modes: - auto (default): extract=auto, site-tailored Extract (currently free, billing may apply later). Works on any domain Zenrows has prepared, with any API key; falls back to autoparse when the domain isn't prepared yet (REQS007) - autoparse: general-purpose structured JSON on any domain - css: css_extractor with an explicit selector map Requests use automatic mode (mode=auto) by default: Zenrows enables JS rendering and premium proxies only when the site needs them, and charges only for the configuration that succeeds. Pass just the URL. Set js_render or premium_proxy only to force a fixed configuration; that turns automatic mode off and bills every request at that configuration's cost. Check "empty" in the result: true means no field came back with a value. "noDataExtracted": true means Extract processed the page and found nothing to extract (not charged); retrying the same request returns the same answer. Full-page markdown, HTML and screenshots come from scrape.batch_createSubmit a cloud Batch job that fans out many URLs asynchronously (Zenrows Batch API). NOT the same as browser_batch — this hits https://async.api.zenrows.com/v1 with X-API-Key. Suited to large URL lists; scrape and extract handle single pages. Tasks use automatic mode (mode=auto) by default: Zenrows enables JS rendering and premium proxies only on the pages that need them, and charges only for the configuration that succeeds. Pass just the URLs. Set js_render or premium_proxy (job-level or in a task's zenrows_params) only to force a fixed configuration; that turns automatic mode off for the affected tasks and bills them at that configuration's cost. Returns job_id + latest_run.status/stats. batch_status and batch_wait report progress; batch_results lists the results. If you get BATCH_ACCESS_DENIED, Batch is not enabled for this account or API key.batch_statusGet status and stats for a Zenrows Batch job (latest_run.status + latest_run.stats).batch_resultsList result rows for a Batch job (cursor-paginated server-side; returns the full list). Each row may include task_id, external_id, status, and a short-lived result_url for the body. Download result_url soon — presigned links expire.batch_cancelStop an in-flight Batch job run (POST /jobs/:id/stop).batch_waitPoll batch_status until the job reaches a terminal state (completed, failed, stopped, or deleted). A run that hits an API key credit cap ends as failed with failure_reason api_key_cap_reached.crawl_createStart a crawl from one URL (Zenrows Crawl API). Crawl follows the links in each page's HTML up to depth hops (no depth limit when depth is omitted), keeps the URLs that match include_patterns / exclude_patterns, and stays on the start URL's registrable domain (subdomains count). Use crawl when you have one start page (a listing, category, blog index) and need the URLs behind it, optionally with each page's HTML. For a single page, use scrape. Each page fetched is billed as one scrape on this account; max_pages bounds the cost (default 100), max_items bounds how many URLs are kept (default 100). Without depth, the crawl keeps following links until max_pages or max_items stops it or nothing is left to open, so set max_pages to what you are willing to spend. The start page itself is never a result, but its fetch is billed: a crawl whose include_patterns / exclude_patterns match nothing still costs that one scrape. Set output_format "html" to also store each kept URL's page, then read it with crawl_content. Returns crawl_id, status and the crawl (with coverage) at once; the crawl runs asynchronously. Call crawl_wait, then crawl_results. Set idempotency_key to make a retry safe: the same key returns the crawl the first request created instead of starting another. CRAWL_NOT_ENABLED: Crawl is not enabled for this account; do not retry. CRAWL_TOO_MANY_CRAWLS: the account has reached its limit of active jobs (3 by default), shared with its Batch jobs; retry after retry_after seconds.crawl_getGet a crawl and one page of the URLs it kept: crawl_id, status (running, completed, stopped, failed), the crawl (with coverage: pages_fetched, pages_failed, items_found), results and next_cursor. completed with stop_reason max_items / max_pages means a limit ended it; failed carries error.code and error.detail. Pass next_cursor as cursor for the next page; while the crawl runs, next_cursor is never null. To read many pages at once, use crawl_results.crawl_resultsList the URLs a crawl kept, in the order it kept them, following the API's pages up to limit. Each result has url and, when the crawl has output_format, content_status (pending, fetched, failed) and, once fetched, content_url: pass it to crawl_content as content. While the crawl runs the list is partial (partial=true): call again later with the returned next_cursor to get only the URLs kept since. A stopped crawl can still add URLs from pages fetched before the stop for up to 10 minutes, so next_cursor stays set during that window: call again later. next_cursor is null once the crawl ended and every URL was read.crawl_contentRead the stored HTML of one URL a crawl kept. Works only for crawls created with output_format "html", and only for results whose content_status is fetched. Pass crawl_id and content_id: a content id, or content_url from a crawl_results row. Returns raw HTML, cut to max_chars (default 20000); a final note says when it was cut. For a markdown version of a page, use scrape on its URL instead.crawl_listList this account's crawls, newest first, with status and coverage (no results). Pass next_cursor as cursor for the next page; next_cursor is absent on the last page.- +40 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",
"HTTP_STREAMABLE_SERVER": "YOUR_HTTP_STREAMABLE_SERVER_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Zenrows MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"zenrows-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@zenrows/mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Firecrawl MCP Server is categorized under Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Zenrows MCP belongs to Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Firecrawl MCP Server for search & data extraction work and Zenrows MCP for search & data extraction.
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. Zenrows MCP is listed as freemium — a free tier with paid plans. Auth: api key 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 zenrows-mcp 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 14 views, 0 installs and 7,669 GitHub stars. Zenrows MCP has 67/100 (Great) with 2 views, 0 installs and 20 GitHub stars.