What is the key difference between Inbox Preview and Outlook Assistant?

Inbox Preview belongs to the Communication category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution, while Outlook Assistant belongs to the Communication category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Inbox Preview or Outlook Assistant in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Inbox Preview and Outlook Assistant free or paid?

Inbox Preview operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Outlook Assistant operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Inbox Preview lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. Outlook Assistant lists 6 tools with 0 views and 33 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Inbox Preview and Outlook Assistant together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

How do I install Inbox Preview or Outlook Assistant in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Inbox Preview and Outlook Assistant free to use, or do they require API keys?

Inbox Preview is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Outlook Assistant operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Inbox Preview and Outlook Assistant at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both inbox-preview and littlebearapps-outlook-assistant as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Inbox Preview has a Quality Score of 30 /100 ( Emerging ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars. Outlook Assistant holds a Quality Score of 57 /100 ( Good ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 33 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Inbox Preview vs Outlook Assistant

In-depth architectural comparison of the Inbox Preview and Outlook Assistant 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

Inbox Preview

Communication · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 30/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

Outlook Assistant

Communication · Local stdio

Quality: 57/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Inbox Preview if you need specialized Communication tools running via a hosted cloud SSE transport. Choose Outlook Assistant if your workspace requires Communication integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Inbox Preview when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Inbox Preview Details

Choose Outlook Assistant when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: Email search with conversation threading and batch actions, Email sending with dry-run previews and recipient allowlist, Export emails in Markdown, EML, JSON, CSV, MBOX, or HTML formats.

Explore Outlook Assistant Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	I Inbox Preview Communication	Outlook Assistant littlebearapps Communication
Summary	Render HTML/.eml emails in real Gmail, Outlook & Yahoo web clients and screenshot them	Ask your AI assistant to search your inbox, send emails, schedule meetings, manage contacts, and configure mailbox settings — without leaving the conversation. Works with Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and any MCP-compatible client.
Category & Scope	Communication

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Inbox Preview Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Outlook Assistant Tools (6)

Email search with conversation threading and batch actions

Email sending with dry-run previews and recipient allowlist

Export emails in Markdown, EML, JSON, CSV, MBOX, or HTML formats

Forensic email header analysis for phishing and compliance

Inbox organization with folders, rules, categories, and Focused Inbox

Delta sync for incremental mailbox change detection

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).

Inbox Preview Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "inbox-preview": {
      "url": "https://powerline.ai/inbox-preview/"
    }
  }
}

Outlook Assistant Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "littlebearapps-outlook-assistant": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@littlebearapps/outlook-assistant"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Inbox Preview is categorized under Communication and uses a remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. In contrast, Outlook Assistant belongs to Communication using local stdio subprocess. Select Inbox Preview when you need capabilities focused on communication and Outlook Assistant when you require tools for communication.

More alternatives to Inbox Preview More alternatives to Outlook Assistant Communication category hub