MCP Server vs Nominatim
A side-by-side look at the MCP Server and Nominatim MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose MCP Server for location services work as a local process; choose Nominatim for location services as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You want tools like
uri.
Choose Nominatim when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
search_address, reverse_geocode, lookup.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Location Services | Location Services |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 53/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 362 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 1 | 3 |
| Full listing | View MCP Server | View Nominatim |
Tools & capabilities
MCP Server tools 1
uriThe resource URI to read (e.g., `mapbox://categories`, `mapbox://categories/ja`)
Nominatim tools 3
search_addressSearch for coordinates of an address or place name. Returns latitude, longitude, display name, and place type for matched locations.reverse_geocodeConvert latitude/longitude coordinates to a human-readable address. Returns nearest address, place name, and administrative boundaries.lookupGet details for OpenStreetMap locations by ID (e.g., "N123456" for node, "W654321" for way, "R111" for relation). Returns coordinates, names, and metadata.
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 Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-server-139": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@mapbox/mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
Nominatim
{
"mcpServers": {
"nominatim": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-nominatim"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
MCP Server is categorized under Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Nominatim belongs to Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick MCP Server for location services work and Nominatim for location services.
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 Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Auth: api key required. Nominatim 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-server-139 and nominatim as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, MCP Server has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 362 GitHub stars. Nominatim has 53/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.