Email MCP vs Nestr MCP

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

Email MCP logoEmail MCPCommunication · Local subprocess (stdio)Unified MCP server for email across Gmail (REST API), Outlook (Microsoft Graph), iCloud, and generic IMAP/SMTP. 24 tools for search, send, organize, and batch-manage emails with built-in OAuth2 and encrypted credential storage.68GreatAuth: otherNestr MCP logoNestr MCPCommunication · Local subprocess (stdio)Connect AI to Nestr for Holacracy, Sociocracy, and self-organizing teams.60GoodAuth: api key required

Verdict: choose Email MCP for communication work as a local process; choose Nestr 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?

Email MCP logoChoose Email MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: other.
  • You want tools like email_list_accounts, email_add_account, email_remove_account.
Explore Email MCP

Nestr MCP logoChoose Nestr MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: API key required.
  • You have the keys it needs: NESTR_API_KEY, NESTR_OAUTH_TOKEN.
  • You want tools like nestr_list_workspaces, nestr_get_workspace, nestr_create_workspace.
Explore Nestr MCP

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecEmail MCP logoEmail MCPNestr MCP logoNestr MCP
CategoryCommunicationCommunication
Quality signal68/100 · Great60/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthotherAPI key required
PricingFreeNot declared
Required env varsNone listedNESTR_API_KEYNESTR_OAUTH_TOKEN
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars266
Directory activity 8 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools3369

Tools & capabilities

Email MCP tools 33

  • email_list_accountsList all configured email accounts and their connection status
  • email_add_accountAdd a new IMAP or iCloud email account (Gmail and Outlook require the setup wizard for OAuth)
  • email_remove_accountRemove an email account: deletes its stored credentials, revokes the Google grant for Gmail accounts, and removes Outlook tokens from the local token cache. The result reports whether provider-side revocation succeeded.
  • email_test_accountTest an email account connection
  • email_list_foldersList all email folders for an account
  • email_searchSearch emails with filters. By default returns compact results without full body content to save context. Set returnBody=true to include full email bodies.
  • email_getGet a single email by ID
  • email_get_threadGet an email thread by thread ID
  • email_get_attachmentGet an email attachment by ID, returns base64 encoded data
  • email_save_attachmentDownload an email attachment and save it directly to disk, returning metadata only (no base64 in the response) — avoids paying the token cost of round-tripping large attachments through the calling model. outputPath is relative to a fixed downloads directory (/home/user/.email-mcp/downloads, override with EMAIL_MCP_DOWNLOADS_DIR) and cannot escape it.
  • email_sendSend a new email
  • email_replyReply to an existing email
  • +21 more on the listing page

Nestr MCP tools 69

  • nestr_list_workspacesList accessible workspaces
  • nestr_get_workspaceGet workspace details
  • nestr_create_workspaceCreate a new workspace (OAuth only)
  • nestr_searchSearch for nests (tasks, projects, roles)
  • nestr_get_meGet current user identity and workspace list
  • nestr_get_nestGet details of a specific nest (supports batch fetch with comma-separated IDs; single-nest `provenance`/`rights`/`whoCan` flags available)
  • nestr_explain_nestDiagnose one nest: field/property provenance (which label/circle defines each), the caller's composed rights with a deny trace, and (with `whoCan`) who can act on it and who to contact
  • nestr_get_nest_childrenGet child nests
  • nestr_create_nestCreate a new nest
  • nestr_update_nestUpdate nest properties
  • nestr_delete_nestDelete a nest
  • nestr_reorder_nestReorder a nest relative to another
  • +57 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.

Email MCP

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

Nestr MCP

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-348": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@nestr/mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "NESTR_API_KEY": "YOUR_NESTR_API_KEY_HERE",
        "NESTR_OAUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_NESTR_OAUTH_TOKEN_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

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

Email MCP is listed as free. Auth: other. Nestr MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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 marlinjai-email-mcp and mcp-348 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Email MCP has a quality signal of 68/100 (Great) with 8 views, 0 installs and 26 GitHub stars. Nestr MCP has 60/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 6 GitHub stars.