Pg Readonly MCP vs Postgres
A side-by-side look at the Pg Readonly MCP and Postgres MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
P
Pg Readonly MCPDatabases · Local subprocess (stdio)A read-only Postgres MCP server that parses SQL rather than pattern-matching it.41FairAuth: otherVerdict: choose Pg Readonly MCP for databases work as a local process; choose Postgres for databases as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
PChoose Pg Readonly MCP 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:
PG_READONLY_MCP_DSN.
Choose Postgres when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Databases domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
DATABASE_URL. - You want tools like
query, schema, table_info.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | P Pg Readonly MCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Databases | Databases |
| Quality signal | 41/100 · Fair | 51/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | other | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | PG_READONLY_MCP_DSN | DATABASE_URL |
| Verified owner |
Tools & capabilities
Pg Readonly MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Postgres tools 5
queryExecute SQL (SELECT, WITH, EXPLAIN, SHOW, ANALYZE). Returns a text table.schemaTables in a schema (default `public`) with columns and approximate row countstable_infoOne table: columns, types, null/default, PK, exact row countexplainEXPLAIN (FORMAT TEXT), optional ANALYZElist_schemasList non-system schemas
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.
Pg Readonly MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"pg-readonly-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"pg-readonly-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PG_READONLY_MCP_DSN": "YOUR_PG_READONLY_MCP_DSN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Postgres
{
"mcpServers": {
"postgres": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-pg-server"
],
"env": {
"DATABASE_URL": "YOUR_DATABASE_URL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Pg Readonly MCP is categorized under Databases and uses a local stdio subprocess. Postgres belongs to Databases and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Pg Readonly MCP for databases work and Postgres 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.
Pg Readonly MCP is listed as free. Auth: other. Postgres 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 pg-readonly-mcp and postgres as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Pg Readonly MCP has a quality signal of 41/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Postgres has 51/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.