Nlqueries vs MCP Alchemy
A side-by-side look at the Nlqueries and MCP Alchemy MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Nlqueries for databases work as a local process; choose MCP Alchemy for databases as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Nlqueries when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, QDRANT_API_KEY, NLQ_MCP_STATIC_TOKEN.
Choose MCP Alchemy when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: other.
- You have the keys it needs:
DB_URL. - You want tools like
q, table_names, query.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Databases | Databases |
| Quality signal | 49/100 · Fair | 64/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | other |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | ANTHROPIC_API_KEY |
Tools & capabilities
Nlqueries tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
MCP Alchemy tools 4
qtable_namesqueryparams
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.
Nlqueries
{
"mcpServers": {
"nlqueries-nlqueries": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"nlqueries-core"
],
"env": {
"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"QDRANT_API_KEY": "YOUR_QDRANT_API_KEY_HERE",
"NLQ_MCP_STATIC_TOKEN": "YOUR_NLQ_MCP_STATIC_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
MCP Alchemy
{
"mcpServers": {
"runekaagaard-mcp-alchemy": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"--from",
"mcp-alchemy==2026.9.5.185701",
"--refresh-package",
"mcp-alchemy",
"mcp-alchemy"
],
"env": {
"DB_URL": "YOUR_DB_URL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Nlqueries is categorized under Databases and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Alchemy belongs to Databases and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Nlqueries for databases work and MCP Alchemy for databases.
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.
Nlqueries has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. MCP Alchemy is listed as free. Auth: other. 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 nlqueries-nlqueries and runekaagaard-mcp-alchemy as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Nlqueries has a quality signal of 49/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 4 GitHub stars. MCP Alchemy has 64/100 (Good) with 5 views, 0 installs and 420 GitHub stars.