Zenodo vs Zenodo MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Zenodo and Zenodo MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Zenodo for research work as a local process; choose Zenodo MCP Server for research as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Zenodo when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Research domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
search, record, record_files.
Choose Zenodo MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Research domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
zenodo_search_records, zenodo_get_record, zenodo_list_versions.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Research | Research |
| Quality signal | 57/100 · Good | 56/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 5 | 6 |
| Full listing | View Zenodo | View Zenodo MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Zenodo tools 5
searchSearch Zenodo open-research repository for datasets, publications, software, and other research outputs by keyword query. Filterable by type, community, and sort order (mostrecent/bestmatch/mostviewed); returns metadata, DOI, and file links.recordSingle record by Zenodo id.record_filesList files attached to a Zenodo record by its numeric id. Returns file names, sizes, checksums, and direct download URLs.communitiesList or search Zenodo communities (thematic collections of records) by optional keyword query; returns community id, title, description, and record count.community_recordsFetch paginated records belonging to a Zenodo community by its slug id (e.g. "openaire"). Returns record metadata, DOIs, and file links for all items in the community.
Zenodo MCP Server tools 6
zenodo_search_recordsSearch deposits by keyword plus type, community, funder, grant, ORCID, file type, license, access, and date filters, with facet countszenodo_get_recordResolve one deposit from a record id, DOI, concept DOI, or URL to its full metadata, first 25 files, and an optional citationzenodo_list_versionsList every version of a deposit's version series, newest firstzenodo_list_filesPage a deposit's file manifest, or list the members of one of its `.zip` fileszenodo_read_fileRead a byte-capped text excerpt of one file or `.zip` memberzenodo_lookup_vocabularyResolve community, funder, grant, license, and resource-type names to the ids search filters take
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.
Zenodo
{
"mcpServers": {
"zenodo": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-zenodo"
]
}
}
}
Zenodo MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"zenodo-mcp-server": {
"command": "bunx",
"args": [
"@cyanheads/zenodo-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Zenodo is categorized under Research and uses a local stdio subprocess. Zenodo MCP Server belongs to Research and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Zenodo for research work and Zenodo MCP Server for research.
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.
Zenodo has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Zenodo MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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 zenodo and zenodo-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Zenodo has a quality signal of 57/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Zenodo MCP Server has 56/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.