Stepgate vs Taskhold
A side-by-side look at the Stepgate and Taskhold MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
T
TaskholdCoding AgentsHosted task list shared by a developer and their coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Windsurf). Remote MCP server with 16 tools: take the next task, add notes, block a task with a question for you, complete with a summary, file TODOs from code with file and line. Every change is marked human or agent. Paid: $12/month or $120/year, 7-day trial.45FairAuth: not declaredVerdict: choose Stepgate for coding agents work as a local process; choose Taskhold for coding agents. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Stepgate when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Coding Agents domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
TAVILY_API_KEY. - You want tools like
stepgate_call, stepgate_submit, stepgate_guide.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | T Taskhold | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Coding Agents | Coding Agents |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 45/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | — |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Paid service |
| Required env vars | TAVILY_API_KEY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 13 | — |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 8 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Stepgate | View Taskhold |
Tools & capabilities
Stepgate tools 8
stepgate_callCalls one of the current step's operations for a Stepgate run and returns its result. Stepgate makes the request and adds any credentials.stepgate_submitSubmits the current step's output for a Stepgate run. Returns the next step, the gate failures to fix, or the finished run's outputs.stepgate_guideReturns how to write a stepfile: the authoring workflow, the full format reference and the JSON Schema. Call it before writing or editing a stepfile.stepgate_examplesLists the catalog's stepfiles, or with a name returns that stepfile's YAML and README, to copy a working pattern from.stepgate_validateChecks a draft stepfile against the schema and every load-time rule. Returns each issue with its path, or the stepfile's identity and whether stepgate_try accepts it.stepgate_inspect_apiFetches a public OpenAPI document or MCP server without credentials and reports what a stepfile needs: the document's sha256, servers, security schemes and operationIds, or an MCP server's tools and their schema_sha256.stepgate_outlineTurns a SKILL.md or markdown SOP into a skeleton stepfile: one step per numbered item or second-level heading, each rule it states marked as a gate to write, and TODO markers where only an author can decide. stepgate_validate lists the markers left.stepgate_tryStarts a run of a draft stepfile from its text, without adding it to the server. Drive it with stepgate_call and stepgate_submit. Drafts may call only public https URLs, and use only the credentials and settings the operator granted to drafts.
Taskhold 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.
Stepgate
{
"mcpServers": {
"stepgate": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"stepgate"
],
"env": {
"TAVILY_API_KEY": "YOUR_TAVILY_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Taskhold
No confirmed install command for Taskhold yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
Stepgate is categorized under Coding Agents and uses a local stdio subprocess. Taskhold belongs to Coding Agents and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick Stepgate for coding agents work and Taskhold for coding agents.
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. Taskhold has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Stepgate has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Taskhold is listed as a paid service. 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 stepgate and taskhold as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Stepgate has a quality signal of 63/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 13 GitHub stars. Taskhold has 45/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.