What is the key difference between MCP Server Imap and Email MCP?

MCP Server Imap belongs to the Communication category with local stdio execution, while Email MCP belongs to the Communication category with local stdio execution.

How do I install MCP Server Imap or Email MCP in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are MCP Server Imap and Email MCP free or paid?

MCP Server Imap operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Email MCP operates under a Free / Open Source model (other).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

MCP Server Imap lists 10 tools with 1 views and 1 GitHub stars. Email MCP lists 47 tools with 3 views and 113 GitHub stars.

Can I use both MCP Server Imap and Email MCP together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

MCP Server Imap vs Email MCP

In-depth architectural comparison of the MCP Server Imap and Email MCP MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

MCP Server Imap

Communication · Local stdio

Quality: 55/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Email MCP

Communication · Local stdio

Quality: 65/100 (Great) | Auth: other

Verdict Summary: Choose MCP Server Imap if you need specialized Communication tools running via a local process. Choose Email MCP if your workspace requires Communication integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose MCP Server Imap when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: email_list, email_read, email_search.

Explore MCP Server Imap Details

Choose Email MCP when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: other (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: MCP_EMAIL_ADDRESS, MCP_EMAIL_PASSWORD, MCP_EMAIL_IMAP_HOST, MCP_EMAIL_SMTP_HOST, EMAIL_ACCOUNTS.
Primary tools included: list_accounts, list_mailboxes, list_emails.

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	MCP Server Imap Communication	Email MCP codefuturist Communication
Summary	Email tools for any IMAP/SMTP provider: list, read, search, send, and manage messages.	IMAP/SMTP email MCP server with 42 tools for reading, searching, sending, scheduling, and managing emails across multiple accounts. Supports IMAP IDLE push, AI triage, desktop notifications, and auto-detects providers like Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud.
Category & Scope	Communication

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

MCP Server Imap Tools (10)

email_list

List emails from a folder

email_read

Read a single message with full body

email_search

Search by from/to/subject/date/unread

email_folders

List all folders with message counts

email_move

Move messages between folders

email_flag

Set read/star/flag status

email_delete

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

MCP Server Imap Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-server-imap": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@aiwerk/mcp-server-imap"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Email MCP Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codefuturist-email-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@codefuturist/email-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MCP_EMAIL_ADDRESS": "YOUR_MCP_EMAIL_ADDRESS_HERE",
        "MCP_EMAIL_PASSWORD": "YOUR_MCP_EMAIL_PASSWORD_HERE",
        "MCP_EMAIL_IMAP_HOST": "YOUR_MCP_EMAIL_IMAP_HOST_HERE",
        "MCP_EMAIL_SMTP_HOST": "YOUR_MCP_EMAIL_SMTP_HOST_HERE",
        "EMAIL_ACCOUNTS": "YOUR_EMAIL_ACCOUNTS_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

MCP Server Imap is categorized under Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Email MCP belongs to Communication using local stdio subprocess. Select MCP Server Imap when you need capabilities focused on communication and Email MCP when you require tools for communication.

More alternatives to MCP Server Imap More alternatives to Email MCP Communication category hub Canonical compare URL