What is the key difference between MCP Server and Rakuten MCP?

MCP Server belongs to the E-Commerce category with local stdio execution, while Rakuten MCP belongs to the E-Commerce category with local stdio execution.

How do I install MCP Server or Rakuten MCP 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 MCP Server and Rakuten MCP free or paid?

MCP Server operates under a Freemium model (API Key required). Rakuten MCP operates under a Free / Open Source model (API Key required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

MCP Server lists 30 tools with 2 views and 2 GitHub stars. Rakuten MCP lists 28 tools with 4 views and 5 GitHub stars.

Can I use both MCP Server and Rakuten MCP 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.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

MCP Server vs Rakuten MCP

In-depth architectural comparison of the MCP Server and Rakuten MCP 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

MCP Server

E-Commerce · Local stdio

Quality: 57/100 (Good) | Auth: API Key required

Rakuten MCP

E-Commerce · Local stdio

Quality: 60/100 (Good) | Auth: API Key required

Verdict Summary: Choose MCP Server if you need specialized E-Commerce tools running via a local process. Choose Rakuten MCP if your workspace requires E-Commerce integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose MCP Server when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the E-Commerce domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: API Key required (Freemium).
You have access to required keys: THE402_API_KEY, THE402_API_BASE.
Primary tools included: search_catalog, get_service, get_platform_info.

Explore MCP Server Details

Choose Rakuten MCP when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the E-Commerce domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: API Key required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: RAKUTEN_APP_ID, RAKUTEN_ACCESS_KEY, RAKUTEN_AFFILIATE_ID, RAKUTEN_MAX_RETRIES.
Primary tools included: ichiba_item_search, ichiba_genre_search, ichiba_tag_search.

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	MCP Server the402ai E-Commerce	Rakuten MCP mrslbt E-Commerce
Summary	AI agent service marketplace with x402 micropayments (USDC on Base). 30 tools for browsing services, purchasing, managing conversation threads, listing services as a provider, handling subscriptions, and tracking earnings. Install via npx -y @the402/mcp-server.	Rakuten API integration for product search, hotel and travel booking, and recipe lookup across Japan's largest e-commerce platform. Install via npx rakuten-mcp.
Category & Scope

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

MCP Server Tools (30)

search_catalog

Search services by keyword, category, type, price range

get_service

Get full service details — pricing, input schema, provider reputation

get_platform_info

Platform health, status, referral program details

inquire_service

Start a conversation about a service ($0.001)

list_threads

List your threads with status filter

get_thread

Get thread details + message history

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).

MCP Server Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "the402ai-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@the402/mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "THE402_API_KEY": "YOUR_THE402_API_KEY_HERE",
        "THE402_API_BASE": "YOUR_THE402_API_BASE_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Rakuten MCP Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mrslbt-rakuten-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "rakuten-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "RAKUTEN_APP_ID": "YOUR_RAKUTEN_APP_ID_HERE",
        "RAKUTEN_ACCESS_KEY": "YOUR_RAKUTEN_ACCESS_KEY_HERE",
        "RAKUTEN_AFFILIATE_ID": "YOUR_RAKUTEN_AFFILIATE_ID_HERE",
        "RAKUTEN_MAX_RETRIES": "YOUR_RAKUTEN_MAX_RETRIES_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

MCP Server is categorized under E-Commerce and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Rakuten MCP belongs to E-Commerce using local stdio subprocess. Select MCP Server when you need capabilities focused on e-commerce and Rakuten MCP when you require tools for e-commerce.

More alternatives to MCP Server More alternatives to Rakuten MCP E-Commerce category hub Canonical compare URL