Nanobanana MCP vs MCP Image
A side-by-side look at the Nanobanana 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 Nanobanana 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 Nanobanana MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
GEMINI_API_KEY, GOOGLE_API_KEY, NANOBANANA_MODEL, NANOBANANA_VIDEO_MODEL, NANOBANANA_OUTPUT_DIR. - You want tools like
generate_image, edit_image, 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:
IMAGE_PROVIDER, GEMINI_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, ARK_API_KEY, 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 | 52/100 · 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 | GEMINI_API_KEYGOOGLE_API_KEYNANOBANANA_MODELNANOBANANA_VIDEO_MODELNANOBANANA_OUTPUT_DIR | IMAGE_PROVIDERGEMINI_API_KEYOPENAI_API_KEYARK_API_KEYIMAGE_OUTPUT_DIRIMAGE_QUALITYSKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 181 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 3 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Nanobanana MCP | View MCP Image |
Tools & capabilities
Nanobanana MCP tools 3
generate_imageedit_imageSame params, plus:list_modelsTakes no params. Lists the image and video model ids your API key can use, in two
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.
Nanobanana MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"nanobanana-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@nanobanana/mcp"
],
"env": {
"GEMINI_API_KEY": "YOUR_GEMINI_API_KEY_HERE",
"GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_API_KEY_HERE",
"NANOBANANA_MODEL": "YOUR_NANOBANANA_MODEL_HERE",
"NANOBANANA_VIDEO_MODEL": "YOUR_NANOBANANA_VIDEO_MODEL_HERE",
"NANOBANANA_OUTPUT_DIR": "YOUR_NANOBANANA_OUTPUT_DIR_HERE"
}
}
}
}
MCP Image
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-image": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-image"
],
"env": {
"IMAGE_PROVIDER": "YOUR_IMAGE_PROVIDER_HERE",
"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_OUTPUT_DIR": "YOUR_IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR_HERE",
"IMAGE_QUALITY": "YOUR_IMAGE_QUALITY_HERE",
"SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT": "YOUR_SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Nanobanana 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 Nanobanana 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.
Nanobanana 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 nanobanana-mcp and mcp-image as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Nanobanana MCP has a quality signal of 52/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. MCP Image has 53/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 181 GitHub stars.