What is the key difference between Kernel MCP Server and Native DevTools?

Kernel MCP Server belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution, while Native DevTools belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Kernel MCP Server or Native DevTools 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 Kernel MCP Server and Native DevTools free or paid?

Kernel MCP Server operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Native DevTools operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Kernel MCP Server lists 25 tools with 0 views and 33 GitHub stars. Native DevTools lists 13 tools with 0 views and 129 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Kernel MCP Server and Native DevTools 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.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Kernel MCP Server vs Native DevTools

In-depth architectural comparison of the Kernel MCP Server and Native DevTools 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

Kernel MCP Server

Developer Tools · Local stdio

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

Native DevTools

Developer Tools · Local stdio

Quality: 53/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Kernel MCP Server if you need specialized Developer Tools tools running via a local process. Choose Native DevTools 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?

Choose Kernel MCP Server 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).
Primary tools included: manage_browsers, manage_profiles, manage_projects.

Explore Kernel MCP Server Details

Choose Native DevTools 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).
Primary tools included: android_list_devices, android_connect, android_disconnect.

Explore Native DevTools Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Kernel MCP Server Developer Tools	N Native DevTools Developer Tools
Summary	Access Kernel's cloud-based browsers and app actions via MCP (remote HTTP + OAuth).	MCP server for desktop, browser (CDP), and Android automation. Screenshot, OCR, click, type.
Category & Scope	Developer Tools	Developer Tools
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Kernel MCP Server Tools (25)

manage_browsers

Create, update, list, get, and delete browser sessions, and read archived telemetry for active or deleted sessions. Supports headless/stealth modes, profiles, proxies, viewports, extensions, names and tags, and SSH tunneling. The browser tools (`manage_browsers`, `computer_action`, `execute_playwri…

manage_profiles

Setup (with guided live browser session), search/list with pagination, get, and delete browser profiles for persisting cookies and logins.

manage_projects

Create, list, get, update, and delete organization projects. Inspect and update per-project resource limits.

manage_api_keys

Create, list, get, update, and delete org-wide or project-scoped API keys. Create returns the plaintext key once.

manage_browser_pools

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).

Kernel MCP Server Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kernel-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Native DevTools Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "native-devtools": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "native-devtools-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Kernel MCP Server is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Native DevTools belongs to Developer Tools using local stdio subprocess. Select Kernel MCP Server when you need capabilities focused on developer tools and Native DevTools when you require tools for developer tools.

More alternatives to Kernel MCP Server More alternatives to Native DevTools Developer Tools category hub