Local MCP vs Ox MCP

A side-by-side look at the Local MCP and Ox MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Local MCP logoLocal MCPCommunication · Local subprocess (stdio)Connect Claude, Cursor, Windsurf and other AI agents to macOS native apps: Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, Notes, iMessage, Finder, Safari, OmniFocus, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, and Office documents. 82 tools. Runs entirely on your Mac — no cloud, no tokens, no API keys.63GoodAuth: no auth requiredOx MCP logoOx MCPCommunication · Local subprocess (stdio)Email (IMAP/SMTP), mail filters (Sieve), calendar (CalDAV), contacts (CardDAV), and free/busy scheduling for Open-Xchange and standards-based mail platforms. Published on the official MCP Registry.61GoodAuth: other

Verdict: choose Local MCP for communication work as a local process; choose Ox MCP for communication as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Local MCP logoChoose Local MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
Explore Local MCP

Ox MCP logoChoose Ox MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: other.
  • You have the keys it needs: OX_MCP_MAIL_SERVER, OX_MCP_MAIL_USER, OX_MCP_MAIL_APP_PASSWORD, OX_MCP_CALDAV_SERVER, OX_MCP_CALDAV_USER, OX_MCP_CALDAV_APP_PASSWORD, OX_MCP_CARDDAV_SERVER, OX_MCP_CARDDAV_USER.
  • You want tools like list_servers, server, email_search.
Explore Ox MCP

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecLocal MCP logoLocal MCPOx MCP logoOx MCP
CategoryCommunicationCommunication
Quality signal63/100 · Good61/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthNo auth requiredother
PricingFreeFree
Required env varsNone listedOX_MCP_MAIL_SERVEROX_MCP_MAIL_USEROX_MCP_MAIL_APP_PASSWORDOX_MCP_CALDAV_SERVEROX_MCP_CALDAV_USEROX_MCP_CALDAV_APP_PASSWORDOX_MCP_CARDDAV_SERVEROX_MCP_CARDDAV_USER
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars731
Directory activity 7 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
ToolsNot listed27

Tools & capabilities

Local MCP tools

No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.

Ox MCP tools 27

  • list_servers
  • server
  • email_search
  • folder
  • ox-api
  • body
  • text
  • email_mark_spam
  • email_archive
  • email_reply
  • email_reply_all
  • In-Reply-To
  • +15 more on the listing page

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.

Local MCP

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lanchuske-local-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "local-mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Ox MCP

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rheopyrin-ox-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@rheopyrin/ox-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "OX_MCP_MAIL_SERVER": "YOUR_OX_MCP_MAIL_SERVER_HERE",
        "OX_MCP_MAIL_USER": "YOUR_OX_MCP_MAIL_USER_HERE",
        "OX_MCP_MAIL_APP_PASSWORD": "YOUR_OX_MCP_MAIL_APP_PASSWORD_HERE",
        "OX_MCP_CALDAV_SERVER": "YOUR_OX_MCP_CALDAV_SERVER_HERE",
        "OX_MCP_CALDAV_USER": "YOUR_OX_MCP_CALDAV_USER_HERE",
        "OX_MCP_CALDAV_APP_PASSWORD": "YOUR_OX_MCP_CALDAV_APP_PASSWORD_HERE",
        "OX_MCP_CARDDAV_SERVER": "YOUR_OX_MCP_CARDDAV_SERVER_HERE",
        "OX_MCP_CARDDAV_USER": "YOUR_OX_MCP_CARDDAV_USER_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Local MCP is categorized under Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Ox MCP belongs to Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Local MCP for communication work and Ox MCP 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.

Local MCP is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Ox MCP is listed as free. Auth: other. 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 lanchuske-local-mcp and rheopyrin-ox-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Local MCP has a quality signal of 63/100 (Good) with 7 views, 0 installs and 73 GitHub stars. Ox MCP has 61/100 (Good) with 6 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.