Notion Private API MCP vs MCP Server

In-depth architectural comparison of the Notion Private API MCP and MCP Server 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.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Notion Private API MCP when:

• You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
• You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
• Your security boundary fits: API Key required (Free / Open Source).
• You have access to required keys: NOTION_TOKEN_V2.
• Primary tools included: get_page, get_block, get_block_children.

Explore Notion Private API MCP Details

Choose MCP Server when:

• You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
• You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
• Your security boundary fits: API Key required (BYOK (Pay Provider Direct)).
• You have access to required keys: UNMARKDOWN_API_KEY.
• Primary tools included: .

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Notion Private API MCP kirvigen Workplace & Productivity	MCP Server UnMarkdown Workplace & Productivity
Summary	Unofficial Notion server via the private API (tokenv2): full read/write across your entire workspace with no integration token and no per-page sharing.	The document publishing layer for AI tools. Convert markdown to formatted documents for Google Docs, Word, Slack, OneNote, Email, and Plain Text with 62 templates.
Category & Scope

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

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).

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kirvigen-notion-private-api-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "kirvigen-notion-private-api-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "NOTION_TOKEN_V2": "YOUR_NOTION_TOKEN_V2_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "unmarkdown-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@un-markdown/mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "UNMARKDOWN_API_KEY": "YOUR_UNMARKDOWN_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

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