OpenProject vs ProductBrain
A side-by-side look at the OpenProject and ProductBrain MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
P
ProductBrainProduct Management · Local subprocess (stdio)Drive your ProductBrain product plan (goals, needs, bets, jobs) from any MCP client.56GoodAuth: api key requiredVerdict: choose OpenProject for product management work as a local process; choose ProductBrain for product management as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose OpenProject when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Product Management domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
OPENPROJECT_URL, OPENPROJECT_API_KEY. - You want tools like
search_work_packages, list_work_packages, get_work_package.
PChoose ProductBrain when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Product Management domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
PRODUCTBRAIN_API_KEY, PRODUCTBRAIN_PROJECT_ID, PRODUCTBRAIN_API_URL. - You want tools like
search, list_nodes, get_tree.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | P ProductBrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Product Management | Product Management |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 56/100 · 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 | OPENPROJECT_URLOPENPROJECT_API_KEY | PRODUCTBRAIN_API_KEYPRODUCTBRAIN_PROJECT_IDPRODUCTBRAIN_API_URL |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 4 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 80 | 26 |
| Full listing | View OpenProject | View ProductBrain |
Tools & capabilities
OpenProject tools 80
search_work_packagesFind work packages by text when you do not know their ids.list_work_packagesList work packages with structured filters — the workhorse read tool.get_work_packageRead one work package in full: description, dates, custom fields, parent and progress.create_work_packageCreate a work package, validated through OpenProject's own form endpoint first.update_work_packageChange any writable field of a work package, with optimistic locking.bulk_update_work_packagesPreview or apply up to 50 updates with per-item diffs, validation and conflict results.delete_work_packagePermanently delete a work package and everything attached to it.list_work_package_commentsRead the comment thread and change history of a work package.add_work_package_commentPost a comment on a work package.edit_work_package_commentRewrite the text of an existing work-package comment.add_work_package_watcherSubscribe a user to a work package's notifications.remove_work_package_watcherUnsubscribe a user from a work package's notifications.- +68 more on the listing page
ProductBrain tools 26
searchSemantic search — **use first** for any lookuplist_nodesBulk read, optional type/iteration filterget_treeA node in context (ancestors/siblings/children/subtree)mutateCreate/update/delete nodes + phases; pass `idempotencyKey` to make retries safelist_iterationsPhases; `current:true` for the active onerun_workflowStory-Mapping methodology (add / task-curate / phase-assign)export_okfThe plan as a portable OKF file bundleget_changelogPlan history: every add/update/delete/restore, attributed to the app or a named agentset_viewDrive / read the live canvaslist_projectsProjects you own or are a member of; `includeArchived` for the restcreate_projectBootstrap a brain — seeds the system "Later" phase. Pass an explicit `id`: `addProject` runs before mutate reads `Idempotency-Key`, so it is not retry-saferename_projectChange the display name; the id is immutable- +14 more on 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.
OpenProject
{
"mcpServers": {
"openproject": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"openproject-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"OPENPROJECT_URL": "YOUR_OPENPROJECT_URL_HERE",
"OPENPROJECT_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENPROJECT_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
ProductBrain
{
"mcpServers": {
"productbrain": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@productbrain-com/mcp"
],
"env": {
"PRODUCTBRAIN_API_KEY": "YOUR_PRODUCTBRAIN_API_KEY_HERE",
"PRODUCTBRAIN_PROJECT_ID": "YOUR_PRODUCTBRAIN_PROJECT_ID_HERE",
"PRODUCTBRAIN_API_URL": "YOUR_PRODUCTBRAIN_API_URL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
OpenProject is categorized under Product Management and uses a local stdio subprocess. ProductBrain belongs to Product Management and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick OpenProject for product management work and ProductBrain for product management.
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.
OpenProject has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. ProductBrain 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 openproject and productbrain as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, OpenProject has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 4 GitHub stars. ProductBrain has 56/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.
