Z Image MCP vs MCP Image
A side-by-side look at the Z Image MCP and MCP Image MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Z Image MCP for multimedia process work as a local process; choose MCP Image for multimedia process as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Z Image MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
RUNAPI_API_KEY. - You want tools like
login, text_to_image, get_task.
Choose MCP Image when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
GEMINI_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, ARK_API_KEY, IMAGE_PROVIDER, IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR, IMAGE_QUALITY, SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multimedia Process | Multimedia Process |
| Quality signal | 59/100 · Good | 53/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | BYOK (pay the provider) |
| Required env vars | RUNAPI_API_KEY | GEMINI_API_KEYOPENAI_API_KEYARK_API_KEYIMAGE_PROVIDERIMAGE_OUTPUT_DIRIMAGE_QUALITYSKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 181 |
| Directory activity | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 4 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Z Image MCP | View MCP Image |
Tools & capabilities
Z Image MCP tools 4
loginAuthenticate RunAPI by opening a browser PKCE login flow and saving the API key to ~/.config/runapi/config.json.text_to_imageCreate a Z Image task on RunAPI (text to image). Returns a task id, status, and output URLs.get_taskFetch the current status and latest result payload for a z-image task.check_pricingLook up RunAPI pricing for the z-image model line.
MCP Image 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.
Z Image MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"z-image-mcp-2": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@runapi.ai/z-image-mcp"
],
"env": {
"RUNAPI_API_KEY": "YOUR_RUNAPI_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
MCP Image
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-image": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-image"
],
"env": {
"GEMINI_API_KEY": "YOUR_GEMINI_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"ARK_API_KEY": "YOUR_ARK_API_KEY_HERE",
"IMAGE_PROVIDER": "YOUR_IMAGE_PROVIDER_HERE",
"IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR": "YOUR_IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR_HERE",
"IMAGE_QUALITY": "YOUR_IMAGE_QUALITY_HERE",
"SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT": "YOUR_SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Z Image MCP is categorized under Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Image belongs to Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Z Image MCP for multimedia process work and MCP Image for multimedia process.
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.
Z Image MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. MCP Image is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. 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 z-image-mcp-2 and mcp-image as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Z Image MCP has a quality signal of 59/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. MCP Image has 53/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 181 GitHub stars.