Geowire vs Openstreetmap MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Geowire and Openstreetmap MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Geowire for location services work as a local process; choose Openstreetmap MCP Server 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 Geowire when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
search_places, get_place, geocode_address.
Choose Openstreetmap MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
OSM_USER_AGENT. - You want tools like
openstreetmap_search_places, openstreetmap_reverse_geocode, openstreetmap_lookup_objects.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Location Services | Location Services |
| Quality signal | 60/100 · Good | 53/100 · 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 | OSM_USER_AGENT |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 8 |
| Directory activity | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 10 | 6 |
| Full listing | View Geowire | View Openstreetmap MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Geowire tools 10
search_placesNatural-language + coordinate/region place searchget_placeDetails by `provider:providerPlaceId` referencegeocode_addressAddress → coordinates (+ normalized address)reverse_geocodeCoordinates → nearest addressget_directionsRoute between waypoints (distance, time, legs) — no key (OSRM)distance_matrixN×M travel distances/times — rank candidates by drive time — no keyanalyze_areaCommercial-area analysis: category density, competition, rating landscape, demographicsget_isochroneTravel-time reachability polygon ("what's within a 15-min drive") — no key (OSRM)get_demographicsPopulation / age / income for a coordinate's area (US Census, free key)list_geo_providersActive providers, capabilities, status (agent self-awareness)
Openstreetmap MCP Server tools 6
openstreetmap_search_placesConvert a place name or address to coordinates and structured place dataopenstreetmap_reverse_geocodeConvert latitude/longitude to the nearest address or place nameopenstreetmap_lookup_objectsFetch address records for known OSM objects by IDopenstreetmap_query_nearbyFind OSM features within a radius of a pointopenstreetmap_query_bboxFind OSM features inside a bounding box or an OSM boundary such as a city, park, or regionopenstreetmap_query_rawRun a raw Overpass QL query for anything the other tools cannot express
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.
Geowire
{
"mcpServers": {
"geowire-geowire": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@geowirehq/cli"
]
}
}
}
Openstreetmap MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"openstreetmap-mcp-server": {
"command": "bunx",
"args": [
"@cyanheads/openstreetmap-mcp-server@latest"
],
"env": {
"OSM_USER_AGENT": "YOUR_OSM_USER_AGENT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Geowire is categorized under Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Openstreetmap MCP Server belongs to Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Geowire for location services work and Openstreetmap MCP Server 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.
Geowire is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Openstreetmap MCP Server 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 geowire-geowire and openstreetmap-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Geowire has a quality signal of 60/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Openstreetmap MCP Server has 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 8 GitHub stars.