Imap MCP Server vs MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Imap MCP Server and 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 Imap MCP Server for communication work as a local process; choose MCP Server for communication as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Imap MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: other.
- You want tools like
imap_add_account, imap_update_account, imap_list_accounts.
Choose MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
SVN_API_KEY, SVN_API_BASE, SVN_LANG, SVN_POLL_SECONDS. - You want tools like
get_balance, list_countries, list_services.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Communication | Communication |
| Quality signal | 71/100 · Great | 65/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | other | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | SVN_API_KEYSVN_API_BASESVN_LANGSVN_POLL_SECONDS |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 111 | 545 |
| Directory activity | 7 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 40 | 9 |
| Full listing | View Imap MCP Server | View MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Imap MCP Server tools 40
imap_add_accountAdd a new IMAP account configurationimap_update_accountUpdate an existing IMAP account. Useful for fixing SMTP settings without removing and re-adding the account.imap_list_accountsList all configured IMAP accountsimap_remove_accountRemove an IMAP account configurationimap_connectConnect to an IMAP accountimap_disconnectDisconnect from an IMAP accountimap_test_accountTest an existing account connection without re-entering credentials. Validates IMAP connectivity and returns folder count and message count.imap_search_emailsNote: on some servers a 'flagged' or starred message carries a custom keyword (e.g. an Open-Xchange color label or Apple's $MailFlagBit*) instead of, or in addition to, the \Flagged system flag. After any flagged search, inspect each result's customKeywords field before concluding a message is or isn't flagged — do not rely on the flagged filter alone. Search for emails matching criteria (sender, recipient, subject, body text, date range, read/flagged status). Use this to FIND messages when you know something about them but not their UID — e.g. "emails from amazon last week", "unread invoices". By default searches a single folder (INBOX). Set searchAllFolders=true to scan every mailbox at once — this catches messages filed away by rules (e.g. a receipt routed to a custom folder); Trash/Spam/Drafts are skipped unless you opt in. By default returns lightweight headers (uid, from, subject, date, and folder when searching across folders); set `includeBody=true` to also return the parsed body in one round-trip instead of paying the N+1 cost of calling imap_get_email per match. For the newest messages without criteria, prefer imap_get_latest_emails.imap_get_emailRead the FULL content of a single email by its UID (body, sender/recipients, date, attachment list, optional raw headers and text-attachment previews). By default the body is returned as clean Markdown in markdownContent and raw HTML is omitted so it never crosses the boundary; set bodyFormat to "html" for the legacy raw htmlContent, or "text" for plain text only. Use after imap_search_emails or imap_get_latest_emails gives you a uid. Body text is truncated to maxContentLength to protect the context window — raise it for long messages. To fetch attachment bytes, use imap_download_attachment.imap_upload_fileUpload a file to the server for use as an email attachment. Returns a path that can be used with imap_send_email attachments. This allows sending large attachments without hitting context window limits. Max size: 26214400 bytes (configurable via IMAP_MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE). Uploads are auto-deleted after 86400000 ms (configurable via IMAP_UPLOAD_TTL_MS).imap_download_attachmentDownload a single attachment from an email (folder + uid + attachment filename/contentId, as listed by imap_get_email). Images are returned inline for viewing; PDFs are saved and their text is extracted inline (extractText); other files are saved to the shared downloads directory (or savePath). Use when the user wants the actual file contents, not just the message body.imap_mark_as_readMark one or many emails as read. Accepts a single UID or an array — pass an array to flag N messages in one IMAP STORE round-trip (useful when triaging).- +28 more on the listing page
MCP Server tools 9
get_balanceCurrent account balance. Ordering a number needs a funded balance; there is no free tier.list_countriesEvery country the numbers can come from, with its id and operators. Use the id in order_number.list_servicesServices available in a country, best match first. Order the code of the site you are registering with: a number bought for one service does not receive another service's SMS. Search by site name or domain, both work. The codes are arbitrary, so look them up instead of guessing: uk is Airbnb, not the United Kingdom. deliveredPercent is null when the pair has no statistics yet, which is the common case; then judge the pair by how many numbers are online. When the site is not in the catalogue at all, order notInList (ot), which receives SMS from any sender that is not in the list.order_numberOrder a private number for one service in one country. The number is held for 20 minutes and belongs to this activation alone. Money is held now and charged when the code arrives. The service code has to be the one for the site you are registering with, otherwise its SMS goes to a different pool and never reaches you.wait_for_codeWait for the verification code on an ordered number. Polls on its own and returns the code itself, already parsed out of the SMS. Trigger the SMS on the target service first.finish_activationClose an activation after the code was used. Do this on every success: a forgotten activation holds money until it expires.cancel_activationCancel an activation when no code arrived; the money returns to the balance in full. Can be called right after ordering. If the API answers that it is too early, wait a couple of minutes and repeat.request_another_smsAsk for one more code on the same number, for a password reset or a re-send. Works only after a first code has already arrived; before that the API refuses it.totp_codeCompute the authenticator code for an account whose second factor was set up with a shared secret. Runs locally by RFC 6238: the secret never leaves this machine.
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.
Imap MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"imap-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"imap-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-server-160": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"sv-number-mcp"
],
"env": {
"SVN_API_KEY": "YOUR_SVN_API_KEY_HERE",
"SVN_API_BASE": "YOUR_SVN_API_BASE_HERE",
"SVN_LANG": "YOUR_SVN_LANG_HERE",
"SVN_POLL_SECONDS": "YOUR_SVN_POLL_SECONDS_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Imap MCP Server is categorized under Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Server belongs to Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Imap MCP Server for communication work and MCP Server 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.
Imap MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: other. 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 imap-mcp-server and mcp-server-160 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Imap MCP Server has a quality signal of 71/100 (Great) with 7 views, 0 installs and 111 GitHub stars. MCP Server has 65/100 (Great) with 2 views, 0 installs and 545 GitHub stars.