Gmail vs Gmail MCP
A side-by-side look at the Gmail and Gmail MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Gmail for communication work as a local process; choose Gmail MCP for communication. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Gmail when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID, GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET, AUTH_MODE, GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_FILE, REDIRECT_URI, TOKEN_STORE_URI, DCR_STORE_URI.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Communication | Communication |
| Quality signal | 45/100 · Fair | 37/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | — |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | GOOGLE_CLIENT_IDGOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRETAUTH_MODEGOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_FILEREDIRECT_URITOKEN_STORE_URI |
Tools & capabilities
Gmail tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Gmail MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from 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.
Gmail
{
"mcpServers": {
"gmail-3": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@mcp-z/cli"
],
"env": {
"GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
"GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE",
"AUTH_MODE": "YOUR_AUTH_MODE_HERE",
"GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_FILE": "YOUR_GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_FILE_HERE",
"REDIRECT_URI": "YOUR_REDIRECT_URI_HERE",
"TOKEN_STORE_URI": "YOUR_TOKEN_STORE_URI_HERE",
"DCR_STORE_URI": "YOUR_DCR_STORE_URI_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Gmail MCP
No confirmed install command for Gmail MCP yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
Gmail is categorized under Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Gmail MCP belongs to Communication and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick Gmail for communication work and Gmail MCP for communication.
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. Gmail MCP has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Gmail has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Gmail MCP 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 gmail-3 and gmail-mcp-2 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Gmail has a quality signal of 45/100 (Fair) with 3 views, 0 installs and 3 GitHub stars. Gmail MCP has 37/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 9 GitHub stars.