What is the key difference between Refd and Research?

Refd belongs to the Research category with local stdio execution, while Research belongs to the Research category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution.

How do I install Refd or Research in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Refd and Research free or paid?

Refd operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Research operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Refd lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. Research lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Refd and Research together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

How do I install Refd or Research in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Refd and Research free to use, or do they require API keys?

Refd is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Research operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Refd and Research at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both refd and research as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Refd has a Quality Score of 33 /100 ( Emerging ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars. Research holds a Quality Score of 42 /100 ( Fair ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Refd vs Research

In-depth architectural comparison of the Refd and Research MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Refd

Research · Local stdio

Quality: 33/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

Research

Research · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 42/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Refd if you need specialized Research tools running via a local process. Choose Research if your workspace requires Research integration with remote web transport. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Refd when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Research domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Refd Details

Choose Research when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Research domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Research Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	R Refd Research	R Research Research
Summary	Read AI search visibility, competitors, citations, prompts, and answer evidence from refd.	The only MCP server for Arabic academic research — search, read & cite Arabic + English papers.
Category & Scope	Research	Research
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Refd Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Research Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Refd Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "refd": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "refd"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Research Configuration