Runware MCP vs MCP Image
A side-by-side look at the Runware MCP and MCP Image MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Runware MCP for multimedia process work as a local process; choose MCP Image 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 Runware MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
RUNWARE_API_KEY. - You want tools like
run, model_schema, list_models.
Choose MCP Image 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 have the keys it needs:
GEMINI_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, ARK_API_KEY, IMAGE_PROVIDER, IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR, IMAGE_QUALITY, SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multimedia Process | Multimedia Process |
| Quality signal | 55/100 · Good | 53/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | BYOK (pay the provider) |
| Required env vars | RUNWARE_API_KEY | GEMINI_API_KEYOPENAI_API_KEYARK_API_KEYIMAGE_PROVIDERIMAGE_OUTPUT_DIRIMAGE_QUALITYSKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 181 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 12 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Runware MCP | View MCP Image |
Tools & capabilities
Runware MCP tools 12
runexecute any Runware inference task (image, video, audio, 3D, upscaling, captioning, etc.) on a given modelmodel_schemafetch the parameter schema for a specific modellist_modelslist Runware's official, curated model integrations (supports `capability`, `category`, `creator`, `search` filters)model_detailsget full metadata for a curated model by AIRmodel_examplesget sample input/output pairs for a curated modelmodel_pricingget pricing overview + per-configuration examples for a curated modellist_capabilitieslist every model capability (e.g. `io:text-to-image`, `op:upscale`) with labelsmodel_searchsearch the community model catalog (Civitai fine-tunes, custom uploads)media_storagestore media (images, video, audio, 3D models) for use as input, or delete stored mediamodel_uploadupload a custom modelaccountretrieve account information including balance and usageget_task_detailsretrieve the original request and response for a previous task
MCP Image tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from 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.
Runware MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-203": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@runware/mcp"
],
"env": {
"RUNWARE_API_KEY": "YOUR_RUNWARE_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
MCP Image
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-image": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-image"
],
"env": {
"GEMINI_API_KEY": "YOUR_GEMINI_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"ARK_API_KEY": "YOUR_ARK_API_KEY_HERE",
"IMAGE_PROVIDER": "YOUR_IMAGE_PROVIDER_HERE",
"IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR": "YOUR_IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR_HERE",
"IMAGE_QUALITY": "YOUR_IMAGE_QUALITY_HERE",
"SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT": "YOUR_SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Runware MCP is categorized under Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Image belongs to Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Runware MCP for multimedia process work and MCP Image 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.
Runware MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. MCP Image is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. 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 mcp-203 and mcp-image as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Runware MCP has a quality signal of 55/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. MCP Image has 53/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 181 GitHub stars.