Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison
Iconify vs ToolAPI
In-depth architectural comparison of the Iconify and ToolAPI MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.
At a Glance & Executive Verdict
Iconify
Developer Tools · Remote HTTP/SSE
Quality: 55/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required
ToolAPI
Developer Tools · Local stdio
Quality: 27/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required
Verdict Summary: Choose Iconify if you need specialized Developer Tools tools running via a hosted cloud SSE transport. Choose ToolAPI if your workspace requires Developer Tools integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's
mcpServers manifest.Which MCP Server Should You Choose?
I
Choose Iconify when:
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
- Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
- Primary tools included: search_icons, get_icons, list_collections.
T
Choose ToolAPI when:
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
- Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Feature & Specification Comparison
Tools & Capabilities Breakdown
Iconify Tools (3)
search_icons
Search for icons by keyword across all collections. Returns icon names in prefix:name format (e.g., "mdi:home"). Use get_icons to fetch SVG data for results.
get_icons
Get SVG code and dimensions for specific icons. Input icon names in prefix:name format (e.g., "mdi:home", "fa:star"). Returns SVG markup, width, and height.
list_collections
Browse available icon collections. Returns prefix, name, icon count, author, license, and category. Use the prefix with search_icons or get_icons.
ToolAPI Tools (0)
No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.
Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations
Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).
Iconify Configuration
ToolAPI Configuration