Katto vs MCP Arr
A side-by-side look at the Katto and MCP Arr MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Katto for multimedia process work as a local process; choose MCP Arr for multimedia process as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Katto when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
KATTO_API_KEY, KATTO_API_URL. - You want tools like
katto_create_clip_job, katto_get_job, katto_list_jobs.
Choose MCP Arr when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You want tools like
arr_status, search, fetch.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multimedia Process | Multimedia Process |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 69/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | API key required |
| Pricing | Freemium | Free |
| Required env vars | KATTO_API_KEYKATTO_API_URL | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 3 | 234 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 29 | 11 |
| Full listing | View Katto | View MCP Arr |
Tools & capabilities
Katto tools 29
katto_create_clip_jobSubmit a long video for clipping, either by public link in url (YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Vimeo, Zoom, Google Drive, Dropbox, Loom, LinkedIn, Facebook, Rumble, Dailymotion, Medal.tv, or a direct https link to a video file; Google Drive and Dropbox links must be shared publicly) or, for a local file, by upload_id after katto_upload_video and the PUT of the file. Pass exactly one of url or upload_id. Consumes 1 video from your monthly quota — check katto_get_usage first. Clips are produced asynchronously; returns a job id, then poll katto_get_job every 30-60 s until status is 'completed', or pass webhook_url to be notified (url jobs only). Pass idempotency_key when you might retry a url job, so a retry never spends a second video (an upload can only be started once anyway). Fails if the URL is unsupported, the uploaded file is missing, or the video is longer than your plan allows.katto_get_jobRead-only. Get the status, progress and clips of a job by id. Clips come ranked by virality score (0-100, highest first; ties broken by clip_index). Each clip is { url, captions_url, title, score, clip_index, hd }: when status is 'completed' every url is a finished, downloadable clip; hd is true once the 1080p high-quality render is ready. hd=false does NOT mean broken — the url already works, the 1080p is just still rendering in the background (and stays the standard render on the free plan). The job-level hd_ready flag turns true once every clip is hd, i.e. the URLs are final and won't be swapped again (status='completed' fires earlier). Returns 404 for an unknown id.katto_list_jobsRead-only. List your recent jobs, newest first. Paginate with 'cursor' (pass the previous next_cursor); optional 'status' filter. Returns { jobs: [{id, status, source, created_at, completed_at}], next_cursor }.katto_get_clipsRead-only convenience: the clips of a job as { url, captions_url, title, score, clip_index, hd }, ranked by score (highest first). hd=true means the 1080p render is ready; hd=false means the url is the standard render (HD still finishing, or the free plan). Empty until the first clip is ready.katto_get_usageRead-only. Your current plan and monthly video quota: { plan, videos_used, videos_limit, videos_remaining }. Call before katto_create_clip_job to confirm remaining quota.katto_get_transcriptRead-only. The transcript of a completed job as timestamped segments [{ start, end, text }]. Returns 404 while the job is still processing.katto_cancel_jobCancel a still-running job (queued/processing) and refund the video back to your monthly quota. Safe to retry (idempotent). Returns an error if the job already finished, failed, or was cancelled.katto_get_accountRead-only. The account behind this key: plan, this key's scopes (read/write), and monthly quota { videos_used, videos_limit, videos_remaining }.katto_list_sourcesRead-only. The link sources Katto can clip from (YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Vimeo, Zoom, Google Drive, Dropbox, Loom, LinkedIn, Facebook, Rumble, Dailymotion, Medal.tv, or a direct https link to a video file), each with an example URL. Use it to confirm a URL is supported before calling katto_create_clip_job; for a local file use katto_upload_video instead.katto_list_clip_lengthsRead-only. The valid values for the optional config.clipLength on katto_create_clip_job (target clip-duration buckets). Note: clipLength is fixed at creation and cannot be changed by re-render.katto_list_caption_stylesRead-only. The valid caption_style preset names for katto_rerender_clip (id + label), e.g. 'hormozi' for bold word-by-word highlight. Call this before re-rendering so you pass a real preset instead of guessing.katto_rerender_clipRe-render one already-finished clip with a new reframe layout and/or caption style (get valid caption_style values from katto_list_caption_styles). Free — does NOT use video quota. Each call starts a new render (not idempotent); the original clip is kept. Returns a rerender_id; poll katto_get_rerender for the new clip url.- +17 more on the listing page
MCP Arr tools 11
arr_statusGet status of all supported *arr services. No local *arr services are currently configured, but TRaSH reference tools remain available.searchSearch across configured *arr libraries plus TRaSH Guides reference profiles. This is the primary discovery tool for remote MCP clients such as ChatGPT.fetchFetch a specific item returned by search. Accepts an opaque item id from the search tool.arr_search_allSearch across all configured *arr services for any mediatrash_list_profilesList available TRaSH Guides quality profiles for Radarr or Sonarr. Shows recommended profiles for different use cases (1080p, 4K, Remux, etc.)trash_get_profileGet a specific TRaSH Guides quality profile with all custom format scores, quality settings, and implementation detailstrash_list_custom_formatsList available TRaSH Guides custom formats. Can filter by category: hdr, audio, resolution, source, streaming, anime, unwanted, release, languagetrash_get_namingGet TRaSH Guides recommended naming conventions for your media server (Plex, Emby, Jellyfin, or standard)trash_get_quality_sizesGet TRaSH Guides recommended min/max/preferred sizes for each quality leveltrash_compare_profileCompare your quality profile against TRaSH Guides recommendations. Shows missing custom formats, scoring differences, and quality settings. Requires the corresponding *arr service to be configured.trash_compare_namingCompare your naming configuration against TRaSH Guides recommendations. Requires the corresponding *arr service to be configured.
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.
Katto
{
"mcpServers": {
"katto": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"katto-mcp"
],
"env": {
"KATTO_API_KEY": "YOUR_KATTO_API_KEY_HERE",
"KATTO_API_URL": "YOUR_KATTO_API_URL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
MCP Arr
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-arr": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-arr-server"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Katto is categorized under Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Arr belongs to Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Katto for multimedia process work and MCP Arr for multimedia process.
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.
Katto is listed as freemium — a free tier with paid plans. MCP Arr is listed as free. Auth: api key required. 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 katto and mcp-arr as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Katto has a quality signal of 63/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 3 GitHub stars. MCP Arr has 69/100 (Great) with 3 views, 0 installs and 234 GitHub stars.