Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP vs Xero MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP and Xero MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP for finance & fintech work as a local process; choose Xero MCP Server for finance & fintech as a local process. 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.
Choose Xero MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Finance & Fintech domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: OAuth 2.0.
- You have the keys it needs:
XERO_CLIENT_ID, XERO_CLIENT_SECRET, XERO_SCOPES, XERO_CLIENT_BEARER_TOKEN.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Finance & Fintech | Finance & Fintech |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 57/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | OAuth 2.0 |
| Pricing | Not declared | BYOK (pay the provider) |
| Required env vars | REF_API_KEY | XERO_CLIENT_IDXERO_CLIENT_SECRETXERO_SCOPESXERO_CLIENT_BEARER_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1,183 | 383 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 2 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP | View Xero MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP tools 2
queryurl
Xero MCP Server 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"
}
}
}
}
Xero MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"xeroapi-xero-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@xeroapi/xero-mcp-server@latest"
],
"env": {
"XERO_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_XERO_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
"XERO_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_XERO_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE",
"XERO_SCOPES": "YOUR_XERO_SCOPES_HERE",
"XERO_CLIENT_BEARER_TOKEN": "YOUR_XERO_CLIENT_BEARER_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP is categorized under Finance & Fintech and uses a local stdio subprocess. Xero MCP Server belongs to Finance & Fintech and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP for finance & fintech work and Xero MCP Server 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. Xero MCP Server is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: oauth 2.0. 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 xeroapi-xero-mcp-server 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. Xero MCP Server has 57/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 383 GitHub stars.