Apify MCP server vs n8n-MCP
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A hosted server that lets AI agents run ready-made web scrapers and automation tools from Apify Store.
Open source · MIT
An MCP server that gives AI assistants knowledge of n8n nodes so they can help build n8n workflows.
The short answer
Choose Apify MCP server if you need…
- Developers who want an AI agent to pull data from websites without writing scrapers themselves
- Marketers or researchers who need search, map, or e-commerce data gathered by an agent
- Teams already using MCP-compatible clients such as Claude, Cursor, or VS Code
- People who want one connection instead of installing a separate MCP server per site
Choose n8n-MCP if you need…
- People already using n8n who want an AI assistant to draft or check workflows
- Developers using Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, or VS Code who want n8n knowledge in their editor
- Users who want to start quickly with the hosted option instead of self-hosting
- Teams that run n8n behind Cloudflare Access or manage an instance-level MCP endpoint
Side-by-side
| Apify MCP server | n8n-MCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI model / agent | AI model / agent |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.3k | 23.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Use it in the browser (or self-host) | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Apify MCP server
The Apify MCP server connects an AI agent to Apify Store, a marketplace of ready-made scrapers, crawlers, and automation tools called Actors. The agent can search the store, check an Actor's input and pricing, run it, and read the structured results. It can be used with many AI clients, either through a hosted endpoint or run locally over stdio.
n8n-MCP
n8n-MCP is a Model Context Protocol server that sits between AI coding assistants (such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, or Windsurf) and n8n, a workflow automation platform. It gives the AI structured access to documentation, properties, and operations for n8n's nodes, plus templates and examples, so it can design and check workflows more accurately. The README says it can be used through a hosted dashboard with a free tier, or self-hosted via npx, Docker, Railway, or a local install.
Best for
Apify MCP server
- Developers who want an AI agent to pull data from websites without writing scrapers themselves
- Marketers or researchers who need search, map, or e-commerce data gathered by an agent
- Teams already using MCP-compatible clients such as Claude, Cursor, or VS Code
- People who want one connection instead of installing a separate MCP server per site
n8n-MCP
- People already using n8n who want an AI assistant to draft or check workflows
- Developers using Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, or VS Code who want n8n knowledge in their editor
- Users who want to start quickly with the hosted option instead of self-hosting
- Teams that run n8n behind Cloudflare Access or manage an instance-level MCP endpoint
Strengths
Apify MCP server
- The README describes one connection giving access to thousands of ready-made Actors
- Supports both a hosted server with OAuth and a local npx-based option
- Ships in several forms, including an npm package, a Docker catalog listing, and an MCPB bundle
n8n-MCP
- Covers a large catalog of n8n nodes, including community nodes, according to the README
- Works with several popular AI coding tools and has setup guides for each
- Open source under the MIT license with a large community, as shown by its star count
Not ideal for
Apify MCP server
- People who need to run everything offline or without an Apify account, since the README describes Apify sign-in and tokens for use
- Users who want a fully self-contained tool with no third-party service involved, because Actors run on Apify's platform
- Anyone who cannot review third-party scraper behavior or pricing before running it
n8n-MCP
- People who do not use n8n, since the tool only helps with n8n workflows
- Anyone who wants AI to edit live production workflows without backups; the README explicitly warns against this
- Users who need a fully managed service with no setup, if they prefer not to rely on the hosted tier limits described in the README
Trade-offs
Apify MCP server
- Actor runs may incur costs; the README points to a Pricing and limits section but the details were not in the provided text
- Quality and behavior depend on each individual Actor from the store, which vary
- The hosted option requires signing in to Apify, and local use requires an Apify token
n8n-MCP
- AI output can be unpredictable, and the README itself recommends testing in a copy of the workflow first
- Coverage figures in the README (such as operations at 66.5%) mean some node actions are not fully documented
- Self-hosting and n8n-instance connections require API keys and some configuration
Getting started
Apify MCP server
Add the hosted server to Claude Code
claude mcp add apify "https://mcp.apify.com" -t httpInstall config for Cursor via Apify CLI
apify mcp install cursorn8n-MCP
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/czlonkowski/n8n-mcpFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Apify MCP server and n8n-MCP?
Apify MCP server: A hosted server that lets AI agents run ready-made web scrapers and automation tools from Apify Store. n8n-MCP: An MCP server that gives AI assistants knowledge of n8n nodes so they can help build n8n workflows. Apify MCP server suits developers who want an ai agent to pull data from websites without writing scrapers themselves, while n8n-MCP suits people already using n8n who want an ai assistant to draft or check workflows.
Are Apify MCP server and n8n-MCP free?
Apify MCP server: Free and open source. n8n-MCP: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Apify MCP server or n8n-MCP?
Apify MCP server is easier to get started with (rated beginner); n8n-MCP is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Apify MCP server or n8n-MCP more popular?
n8n-MCP has more GitHub stars (23.2k) than Apify MCP server (14.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Apify MCP server and n8n-MCP?
Other options people compare them with include Context7, SuperAGI, Open SWE, MagenticLite, MCP for Blender.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.