Glyphic vs PaperBanana
A side-by-side look at the Glyphic and PaperBanana MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Glyphic for data visualization work as a local process; choose PaperBanana for data visualization as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Glyphic when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
get_schema, render_diagram.
Choose PaperBanana when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
OPENAI_API_KEY, GOOGLE_API_KEY, OPENAI_BASE_URL, GOOGLE_BASE_URL, GOOGLE_VLM_MODEL, GOOGLE_IMAGE_MODEL.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Data Visualization | Data Visualization |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 47/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | OPENAI_API_KEYGOOGLE_API_KEY |
Tools & capabilities
Glyphic tools 2
get_schemaReturns the JSON schema of the DiagramInput payload to help the AI understand supported diagram types and properties.render_diagramRenders a declarative JSON diagram into a visual representation. The input MUST conform to the DiagramInput schema.
PaperBanana 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.
Glyphic
{
"mcpServers": {
"ms-teja-glyphic": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@glyphicjs/mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
PaperBanana
{
"mcpServers": {
"paperbanana": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"paperbanana"
],
"env": {
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_BASE_URL": "YOUR_OPENAI_BASE_URL_HERE",
"GOOGLE_BASE_URL": "YOUR_GOOGLE_BASE_URL_HERE",
"GOOGLE_VLM_MODEL": "YOUR_GOOGLE_VLM_MODEL_HERE",
"GOOGLE_IMAGE_MODEL": "YOUR_GOOGLE_IMAGE_MODEL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Glyphic is categorized under Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. PaperBanana belongs to Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Glyphic for data visualization work and PaperBanana for data visualization.
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.
Glyphic is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. PaperBanana 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 ms-teja-glyphic and paperbanana as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Glyphic has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 7 views, 0 installs and 10 GitHub stars. PaperBanana has 47/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 2,390 GitHub stars.