Postcodes vs Magic MCP
A side-by-side look at the Postcodes and Magic MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Postcodes for location services work as a local process; choose Magic MCP for architecture & design as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Postcodes when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
lookup_postcode, nearest_postcodes, validate_postcode.
Choose Magic MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY, API_KEY_21ST.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Location Services | Architecture & Design |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 53/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Paid service |
| Required env vars | None listed | TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEYAPI_KEY_21ST |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 6,138 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 16 views 1 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 4 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Postcodes | View Magic MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Postcodes tools 4
lookup_postcodeGet geographic details for a UK postcode (e.g., 'SW1A 1AA'). Returns coordinates, region, district, ward, and constituency.nearest_postcodesFind nearby UK postcodes sorted by distance from a given postcode (e.g., 'SW1A 1AA'). Returns list with coordinates.validate_postcodeValidate a UK postcode format (e.g., 'SW1A 1AA'). Returns whether it's valid and format details.random_postcodeGet a random valid UK postcode with full geographic details. Returns coordinates, region, district, ward, and constituency.
Magic MCP 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.
Postcodes
{
"mcpServers": {
"postcodes": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-postcodes"
]
}
}
}
Magic MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"21st-dev-magic-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@21st-dev/cli@latest"
],
"env": {
"TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY": "YOUR_TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY_HERE",
"API_KEY_21ST": "YOUR_API_KEY_21ST_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Postcodes is categorized under Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Magic MCP belongs to Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Postcodes for location services work and Magic MCP for architecture & design.
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.
Postcodes has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Magic MCP is listed as a paid service. 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 postcodes and 21st-dev-magic-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Postcodes has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Magic MCP has 53/100 (Good) with 16 views, 1 installs and 6,138 GitHub stars.