Openaq vs Gagelink

In-depth architectural comparison of the Openaq and Gagelink 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.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

O

Choose Openaq when:

• You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
• You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
• Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
• Primary tools included: air_quality_near, find_stations, get_latest.

Explore Openaq Details

Choose Gagelink when:

• You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
• You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
• Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
• Primary tools included: find_locations, describe_location, get_latest.

Explore Gagelink Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	O Openaq Developer Tools	Gagelink Developer Tools
Summary	OpenAQ MCP — wraps OpenAQ v2 API (free, no auth required)	River level, streamflow, flood forecasts and basins from USGS, NOAA and SWOT, with units and datums
Category & Scope	Developer Tools	Developer Tools
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

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).

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openaq": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "openaq"
      ]
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gagelink": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "--from",
        "gagelink",
        "gagelink-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

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