MCP Cost Optimizer vs Mdma
A side-by-side look at the MCP Cost Optimizer and Mdma MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose MCP Cost Optimizer for conversational ai work as a local process; choose Mdma for conversational ai as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose MCP Cost Optimizer when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Conversational AI domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You have the keys it needs:
CONTROL_PLANE_URL. - You want tools like
estimate_llm_cost, analyze_llm_usage, compare_llm_models.
Choose Mdma when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Conversational AI domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
get-spec, get-prompt, list-prompt-variants.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Conversational AI | Conversational AI |
| Quality signal | 56/100 · Good | 59/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | CONTROL_PLANE_URL | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 71 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 3 | 8 |
| Full listing | View MCP Cost Optimizer | View Mdma |
Tools & capabilities
MCP Cost Optimizer tools 3
estimate_llm_costSingle-request estimateanalyze_llm_usageCosts by model, unpriced models, duplicate opportunitycompare_llm_modelsIndependent migration scenario
Mdma tools 8
get-specReturns the full MDMA specification: component types, JSON schemas, binding syntax, external data sources (`{ source, params }` refs and the `rows` / `series` / `options` kinds), and authoring rulesget-promptReturns a named prompt (`mdma-author`, `mdma-reviewer`, or `mdma-fixer`). For `mdma-author`, accepts an optional `variantId` (e.g. `google/gemini-2.5-pro`) to return the model-optimised variantlist-prompt-variantsReturns all available `MDMA_AUTHOR` prompt variants (id, label, description) — use the id with `get-prompt` to fetch the model-optimised promptbuild-system-promptGenerates a custom MDMA prompt from structured input (domain, components, fields, steps, business rules). Pass `dataSources` (an external data-source catalog of `rows` / `series` / `options` entries) to get the full system prompt with the catalog and the rule to reference data via `{ source, params…validate-promptValidates a custom prompt against MDMA conventions — returns warnings, suggestions, and constraint referencelist-packagesReturns all MDMA packages with purpose, install command, and usage examplelist-docsReturns the catalog of MDMA documentation files (path, title, description) available for fetching from the public GitHub repoget-docFetches the latest version of an MDMA documentation file from `raw.githubusercontent.com/MobileReality/mdma`. Supports optional `ref` (branch/tag/SHA, defaults to `main`)
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.
MCP Cost Optimizer
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-cost-optimizer": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-cost-optimizer"
],
"env": {
"CONTROL_PLANE_URL": "YOUR_CONTROL_PLANE_URL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Mdma
{
"mcpServers": {
"mdma": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@mobile-reality/mdma-cli"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
MCP Cost Optimizer is categorized under Conversational AI and uses a local stdio subprocess. Mdma belongs to Conversational AI and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick MCP Cost Optimizer for conversational ai work and Mdma for conversational ai.
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.
MCP Cost Optimizer is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Mdma has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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-cost-optimizer and mdma as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, MCP Cost Optimizer has a quality signal of 56/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Mdma has 59/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 71 GitHub stars.