Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP vs Sparks Scribe
A side-by-side look at the Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP and Sparks Scribe MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
S
Sparks ScribeFinance & Fintech · Remote HTTP/SSEOfficial first-party facts about Sparks Scribe: what it is, pricing, trial.41FairAuth: not declaredVerdict: choose Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP for finance & fintech work as a local process; choose Sparks Scribe for finance & fintech over a hosted endpoint. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Finance & Fintech domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
REF_API_KEY. - You want tools like
query, url.
SChoose Sparks Scribe when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Finance & Fintech domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | S Sparks Scribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Finance & Fintech | Finance & Fintech |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 41/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Remote HTTP/SSE |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | REF_API_KEY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1,183 | — |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 2 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP | View Sparks Scribe |
Tools & capabilities
Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP tools 2
queryurl
Sparks Scribe 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.
Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"ref-tools-ref-tools-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"ref-tools-mcp@latest"
],
"env": {
"REF_API_KEY": "YOUR_REF_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Sparks Scribe
{
"mcpServers": {
"sparks-scribe": {
"url": "https://sparkscribe.app/mcp"
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP is categorized under Finance & Fintech and uses a local stdio subprocess. Sparks Scribe belongs to Finance & Fintech and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Pick Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP for finance & fintech work and Sparks Scribe for finance & fintech.
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.
Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Sparks Scribe 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 ref-tools-ref-tools-mcp and sparks-scribe as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP has a quality signal of 63/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1,183 GitHub stars. Sparks Scribe has 41/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.