Scholar vs Magic MCP
A side-by-side look at the Scholar 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 Scholar for research 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 Scholar when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Research domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
SCOPUS_API_KEY, S2_API_KEY, SCIHUB_MIRRORS, LIBGEN_MIRRORS, SCOPUS_INST_TOKEN, CONTACT_EMAIL. - You want tools like
search_papers_tool, search_papers_s2_tool, get_paper_details_tool.
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 | Research | Architecture & Design |
| Quality signal | 48/100 · Fair | 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 | SCOPUS_API_KEYS2_API_KEYSCIHUB_MIRRORSLIBGEN_MIRRORSSCOPUS_INST_TOKENCONTACT_EMAIL | TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEYAPI_KEY_21ST |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 6,193 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 16 views 1 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 27 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Scholar | View Magic MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Scholar tools 27
search_papers_toolSearch papers via Scopus (Boolean syntax) or OpenAlex. Sort by `cited_by_count` or `publication_year`.search_papers_s2_toolSearch papers via Semantic Scholar. Note: strictly rate-limited to 1 request/sec.get_paper_details_toolFetch full metadata and abstract by Scopus ID, DOI, or OpenAlex ID (with automatic routing).get_paper_details_s2_toolFetch full metadata from Semantic Scholar, including **AI-generated TLDRs**. Accepts S2 ID or DOI.search_titles_unpaywall_toolSearch Unpaywall's database directly by title. Set `is_oa=True` for strictly OA results.get_related_works_toolFind related/similar papers using OpenAlex's bibliographic coupling.search_books_toolSearch for book metadata via Google Books or Open Library.get_book_details_toolFetch complete book details, descriptions, and ISBNs.search_libgen_toolSearch Library Genesis for books to retrieve their download MD5 hashes.interact_with_book_toolSmart extraction from Libgen. Actions: `toc` (Table of Contents), `search` (keywords), `pages` (range).autocomplete_authors_toolRapidly disambiguate author names and resolve OpenAlex Author IDs.search_authors_toolDetailed bibliometric profiles: H-index, i10-index, ORCID, and research concepts.- +15 more on the listing page
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.
Scholar
{
"mcpServers": {
"scholar": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"scholar-academic-mcp"
],
"env": {
"SCOPUS_API_KEY": "YOUR_SCOPUS_API_KEY_HERE",
"S2_API_KEY": "YOUR_S2_API_KEY_HERE",
"SCIHUB_MIRRORS": "YOUR_SCIHUB_MIRRORS_HERE",
"LIBGEN_MIRRORS": "YOUR_LIBGEN_MIRRORS_HERE",
"SCOPUS_INST_TOKEN": "YOUR_SCOPUS_INST_TOKEN_HERE",
"CONTACT_EMAIL": "YOUR_CONTACT_EMAIL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
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
Scholar is categorized under Research and uses a local stdio subprocess. Magic MCP belongs to Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Scholar for research 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.
Scholar 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 scholar and 21st-dev-magic-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Scholar has a quality signal of 48/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Magic MCP has 53/100 (Good) with 16 views, 1 installs and 6,193 GitHub stars.