Comparison
arcade-mcp vs mcp-toolbox
Verdict
Pick arcade-mcp if arcade-MCP is an MCP Server Framework and Tool Development Library specifically built for incorporating custom capabilities into AI agents using the Model Context Protocol; pick mcp-toolbox if mCP Toolbox for Databases is an open-source tool that connects IDEs with multiple databases and automates tasks through AI features.
Markdown twin · arcade-mcp alternatives · mcp-toolbox alternatives
GraphCanon updated 2d
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | arcade-mcp | mcp-toolbox |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of 3w · github_public_v1 | Very active (0d since push) As of 2d · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of 3w · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of 2d · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 1mo · osv@v1 | Published findings As of 1mo · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- arcade-mcp
- MCP Server Framework and Tool Development Library for Custom Agent Capabilities
- mcp-toolbox
- MCP Toolbox for Databases is an open source server enabling database-aware interactions and code generation via AI agents.
Stars
- arcade-mcp
- 981
- mcp-toolbox
- 16k
Forks
- arcade-mcp
- 101
- mcp-toolbox
- 1.7k
Open issues
- arcade-mcp
- 16
- mcp-toolbox
- 242
Language
- arcade-mcp
- Python
- mcp-toolbox
- Go
Adopt for
- arcade-mcp
- Arcade-MCP is an MCP Server Framework and Tool Development Library specifically built for incorporating custom capabilities into AI agents using the Model Context Protocol.
- mcp-toolbox
- MCP Toolbox for Databases is an open-source tool that connects IDEs with multiple databases and automates tasks through AI features.
Persona
- arcade-mcp
- -
- mcp-toolbox
- -
Runtime
- arcade-mcp
- -
- mcp-toolbox
- -
License
- arcade-mcp
- MIT
- mcp-toolbox
- Apache-2.0
Last pushed
- arcade-mcp
- Jul 26, 2026
- mcp-toolbox
- Aug 19, 2026
Categories
- arcade-mcp
- AI Agents
- mcp-toolbox
- AI Agents, Data & Retrieval
Trust and health
Open issues (now)
- arcade-mcp
- 16
- mcp-toolbox
- 242
Stars delta
- arcade-mcp
- Unknown
- mcp-toolbox
- +217 (30d)
Open issues delta
- arcade-mcp
- Unknown
- mcp-toolbox
- -5 (30d)
OSV dependency advisories
- arcade-mcp
- No lockfile (source not queried)
- mcp-toolbox
- Published findings
Full report
- arcade-mcp
- Trust report
- mcp-toolbox
- Trust report
Choose arcade-mcp if…
- arcade-mcp is primarily Python; mcp-toolbox is Go.
- License: arcade-mcp is MIT, mcp-toolbox is Apache-2.0.
- Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM.
- Tags unique to arcade-mcp: arcade-ai, mcp-framework, model-context-protocol, python.
- When you need to build detailed, custom interactions between your AI agent and a structured environment that requires specific context management capabilities through the MCP protocol.
When NOT to use arcade-mcp
- If your project does not involve interaction with an environment that relies on the Model Context Protocol for its core functionality, Arcade-MCP may offer unnecessary complexity.
- When working in environments where direct support and integration of tools are crucial, arcade-mcp might have less support compared to more mainstream AI agent frameworks.
Choose mcp-toolbox if…
- mcp-toolbox is primarily Go; arcade-mcp is Python.
- License: mcp-toolbox is Apache-2.0, arcade-mcp is MIT.
- Tags unique to mcp-toolbox: agent, agents, bigquery, clickhouse.
- Also covers Data & Retrieval.
- mcp-toolbox ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
- - Use when you need to automate schema discovery, management, and code generation specific to your database.
When NOT to use mcp-toolbox
- - Avoid if your IDE or client is not compatible with the MCP protocol.
- - If you're looking for managed services rather than self-hosted solutions, as MCP Toolbox requires local setup and configuration.
- - Not recommended if your development workflow strictly adheres to non-Google ecosystem tools and integrations.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (ArcadeAI/arcade-mcp) · observed Jul 27, 2026
- GitHub forks (ArcadeAI/arcade-mcp) · observed Jul 27, 2026
- Last push (ArcadeAI/arcade-mcp) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Jul 27, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 16, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (googleapis/mcp-toolbox) · observed Aug 19, 2026
- GitHub forks (googleapis/mcp-toolbox) · observed Aug 19, 2026
- Last push (googleapis/mcp-toolbox) · observed Aug 19, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Aug 19, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: arcade-mcp 981 · mcp-toolbox 16k (synced Jul 27, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between arcade-mcp and mcp-toolbox?
- arcade-mcp: MCP Server Framework and Tool Development Library for Custom Agent Capabilities. mcp-toolbox: MCP Toolbox for Databases is an open source server enabling database-aware interactions and code generation via AI agents.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose arcade-mcp over mcp-toolbox?
- Choose arcade-mcp over mcp-toolbox when arcade-mcp is primarily Python; mcp-toolbox is Go; License: arcade-mcp is MIT, mcp-toolbox is Apache-2.0; Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM; Tags unique to arcade-mcp: arcade-ai, mcp-framework, model-context-protocol, python; When you need to build detailed, custom interactions between your AI agent and a structured environment that requires specific context management capabilities through the MCP protocol.
- When should I choose mcp-toolbox over arcade-mcp?
- Choose mcp-toolbox over arcade-mcp when mcp-toolbox is primarily Go; arcade-mcp is Python; License: mcp-toolbox is Apache-2.0, arcade-mcp is MIT; Tags unique to mcp-toolbox: agent, agents, bigquery, clickhouse; Also covers Data & Retrieval; mcp-toolbox ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; - Use when you need to automate schema discovery, management, and code generation specific to your database.
- When should I avoid arcade-mcp?
- If your project does not involve interaction with an environment that relies on the Model Context Protocol for its core functionality, Arcade-MCP may offer unnecessary complexity. When working in environments where direct support and integration of tools are crucial, arcade-mcp might have less support compared to more mainstream AI agent frameworks.
- When should I avoid mcp-toolbox?
- - Avoid if your IDE or client is not compatible with the MCP protocol. - If you're looking for managed services rather than self-hosted solutions, as MCP Toolbox requires local setup and configuration. - Not recommended if your development workflow strictly adheres to non-Google ecosystem tools and integrations.
- Is arcade-mcp or mcp-toolbox more popular on GitHub?
- mcp-toolbox has more GitHub stars (16,197 vs 981). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are arcade-mcp and mcp-toolbox open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (arcade-mcp: MIT, mcp-toolbox: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to arcade-mcp or mcp-toolbox?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at arcade-mcp alternatives and mcp-toolbox alternatives (arcade-mcp markdown twin, mcp-toolbox markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, arcade-mcp or mcp-toolbox?
- arcade-mcp: Very active. mcp-toolbox: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for arcade-mcp and mcp-toolbox?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: arcade-mcp trust report; mcp-toolbox trust report.