Genrelay MCP vs Runapi AI MCP

A side-by-side look at the Genrelay MCP and Runapi AI MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Genrelay MCP logoGenrelay MCPMultimedia Process · Local subprocess (stdio)Generate video and images (Veo 3.1, Grok Imagine, Nano Banana, GPT Image 2) via the GenRelay API.44FairAuth: api key requiredRunapi AI MCP logoRunapi AI MCPMultimedia Process · Local subprocess (stdio)Unified AI model API for 130+ models across 18 providers. Browse models, check pricing, create image/video/music/audio tasks, poll results, check balance, and call LLM endpoints. Free catalog tools work without an API key. npx @runapi.ai/mcp68GreatAuth: api key required

Verdict: choose Genrelay MCP for multimedia process work as a local process; choose Runapi AI MCP for multimedia process as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Genrelay MCP logoChoose Genrelay MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: API key required.
  • You have the keys it needs: GENRELAY_API_KEY, GENRELAY_BASE_URL.
  • You want tools like generate_video, generate_image, check_job.
Explore Genrelay MCP

Runapi AI MCP logoChoose Runapi AI MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: API key required.
  • You want tools like list_models, get_model_info, list_actions.
Explore Runapi AI MCP

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecGenrelay MCP logoGenrelay MCPRunapi AI MCP logoRunapi AI MCP
CategoryMultimedia ProcessMultimedia Process
Quality signal44/100 · Fair68/100 · Great
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthAPI key requiredAPI key required
PricingBYOK (pay the provider)Free
Required env varsGENRELAY_API_KEYGENRELAY_BASE_URLNone listed
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars056
Directory activity 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools49

Tools & capabilities

Genrelay MCP tools 4

  • generate_videoGenerate a video with Veo 3.1, Grok Imagine or Omni Flash. Generation usually takes 1-5 minutes, longer than a tool call can wait — if it is still running when the wait budget runs out, this returns a task id to check later with check_job. Supports text-to-video and image-to-video (pass reference_images).
  • generate_imageGenerate an image with Nano Banana Pro/2 or GPT Image 2. Usually finishes within the tool-call budget and returns the picture inline. Supports image editing and reference-guided generation via reference_images.
  • check_jobCheck a job started earlier by generate_video or generate_image, using its task id. Returns the current status and, once finished, the download URL.
  • list_modelsList the video and image models this server can generate with, and what each is for.

Runapi AI MCP tools 9

  • list_modelsList RunAPI models from the embedded catalog. Optional filters: modality, service, or action.
  • get_model_infoGet supported endpoint, current runtime pricing, and input constraints for a RunAPI model slug. Add service and action when the model supports multiple endpoints.
  • list_actionsList RunAPI endpoint names grouped by output modality.
  • check_pricingReturn current runtime pricing for a RunAPI model/action pair.
  • search_promptsSearch RunAPI prompt examples by modality, category, tags, text query, model, or featured status. Free, no API key required.
  • check_balanceReturn the authenticated RunAPI account balance and spending metrics.
  • create_taskRun a RunAPI operation with a caller-generated idempotency key. Asynchronous operations can optionally poll until completion.
  • get_taskFetch the current status and latest payload for an existing RunAPI task.
  • loginAuthenticate RunAPI by opening a browser PKCE login flow and saving the API key to ~/.config/runapi/config.json.

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.

Genrelay MCP

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "genrelay-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "genrelay-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GENRELAY_API_KEY": "YOUR_GENRELAY_API_KEY_HERE",
        "GENRELAY_BASE_URL": "YOUR_GENRELAY_BASE_URL_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Runapi AI MCP

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "runapi-ai-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@runapi.ai/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Genrelay MCP is categorized under Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. Runapi AI MCP belongs to Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Genrelay MCP for multimedia process work and Runapi AI MCP for multimedia process.

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.

Genrelay MCP is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key required. Runapi AI MCP is listed as free. 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 genrelay-mcp and runapi-ai-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Genrelay MCP has a quality signal of 44/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Runapi AI MCP has 68/100 (Great) with 6 views, 0 installs and 56 GitHub stars.