Rail Score vs Shellward
A side-by-side look at the Rail Score and Shellward MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Rail Score for security work over a hosted endpoint; choose Shellward for security as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Rail Score when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- You want tools like
rail_evaluate, rail_check_compliance, rail_detect_injection.
Choose Shellward when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You have the keys it needs:
SHELLWARD_MODE, SHELLWARD_LOCALE, SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD, SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Security | Security |
| Quality signal | 43/100 · Fair | 60/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Remote HTTP/SSE | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | No auth required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | SHELLWARD_MODESHELLWARD_LOCALESHELLWARD_THRESHOLDSHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 139 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 9 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Rail Score | View Shellward |
Tools & capabilities
Rail Score tools 9
rail_evaluateScore content across the 8 RAIL dimensions (optional `policy` enforcement)rail_check_complianceCheck against gdpr, ccpa, hipaa, eu_ai_act, india_dpdp, india_ai_govrail_detect_injectionDetect prompt injection in untrusted textrail_evaluate_tool_callAllow/warn/block a tool call before it runsrail_scan_tool_resultScan a tool's output for PII + injection, return redacted textrail_safe_regenerateIteratively regenerate content until it passes (slow)rail_dpdp_scanScan for Indian personal data under the DPDP Act 2023rail_dpdp_gateReal-time DPDP processing gate (allow/block/require_action)rail_dpdp_complianceDPDP workflow: emit, require, evidence, session, timers
Shellward 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.
Rail Score
{
"mcpServers": {
"rail-score": {
"url": "https://mcp.responsibleailabs.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
Shellward
{
"mcpServers": {
"jnmetacode-shellward": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"shellward"
],
"env": {
"SHELLWARD_MODE": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_MODE_HERE",
"SHELLWARD_LOCALE": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_LOCALE_HERE",
"SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD_HERE",
"SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Rail Score is categorized under Security and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Shellward belongs to Security and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Rail Score for security work and Shellward for security.
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.
Rail Score has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Shellward is listed as free. Auth: no auth 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 rail-score and jnmetacode-shellward as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Rail Score has a quality signal of 43/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Shellward has 60/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 139 GitHub stars.