Comparison
exa-mcp-server vs web-search-mcp
Verdict
Pick exa-mcp-server if the exa-mcp-server is centered around web search and crawling activities using TypeScript, leveraging the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for its operations; pick web-search-mcp if web-search-mcp is a locally hosted Web Search MCP server implemented in TypeScript and licensed under MIT for use with local language models.
Markdown twin · exa-mcp-server alternatives · web-search-mcp alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026
12views this month
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Trust & integrity
| Signal | exa-mcp-server | web-search-mcp |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active (29d since push) As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Dormant (407d since push) As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Personal account As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 11, 2026 · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 15, 2026 · 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
- exa-mcp-server
- Platform for web search and crawling using Model Context Protocol.
- web-search-mcp
- A locally hosted Web Search MCP server compatible with Local LLMs
Stars
- exa-mcp-server
- 5.0k
- web-search-mcp
- 1.1k
Forks
- exa-mcp-server
- 394
- web-search-mcp
- 163
Open issues
- exa-mcp-server
- 47
- web-search-mcp
- 38
Language
- exa-mcp-server
- TypeScript
- web-search-mcp
- TypeScript
Adopt for
- exa-mcp-server
- The exa-mcp-server is centered around web search and crawling activities using TypeScript, leveraging the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for its operations.
- web-search-mcp
- web-search-mcp is a locally hosted Web Search MCP server implemented in TypeScript and licensed under MIT for use with local language models.
Persona
- exa-mcp-server
- -
- web-search-mcp
- -
Runtime
- exa-mcp-server
- -
- web-search-mcp
- -
License
- exa-mcp-server
- MIT
- web-search-mcp
- MIT
Last pushed
- exa-mcp-server
- Aug 21, 2026
- web-search-mcp
- Aug 8, 2025
Categories
- exa-mcp-server
- Data & Retrieval
- web-search-mcp
- Data & Retrieval
Trust and health
Maintenance
- exa-mcp-server
- Active (82%)
- web-search-mcp
- Dormant (18%)
Days since push
- exa-mcp-server
- 29d
- web-search-mcp
- 407d
Open issues (now)
- exa-mcp-server
- 47
- web-search-mcp
- 38
Stars delta
- exa-mcp-server
- +255 (30d)
- web-search-mcp
- +67 (30d)
Open issues delta
- exa-mcp-server
- +8 (30d)
- web-search-mcp
- +2 (30d)
Owner type
- exa-mcp-server
- Organization
- web-search-mcp
- User
Full report
- exa-mcp-server
- Trust report
- web-search-mcp
- Trust report
Choose exa-mcp-server if…
- Tags unique to exa-mcp-server: code-search, crawling, model-context-protocol.
- exa-mcp-server ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
- Use when needing a specialized platform for web searches and crawls that integrates with MCP.
When NOT to use exa-mcp-server
- Avoid for environments strictly requiring support from languages other than TypeScript as there is no alternative language implementation available in the repository.
- Not recommended for scenarios where integration with technologies outside of MCP is essential to workflow as this server tightly binds operations to the MCP.
Choose web-search-mcp if…
- Requirements: Requires a local language model to operate effectively..
- Tags unique to web-search-mcp: llm, lmstudio, local-llm, mcp.
- Use web-search-mcp when you need a lightweight, locally-hosted solution that integrates seamlessly with existing local language models without requiring cloud services.
When NOT to use web-search-mcp
- Avoid using web-search-mcp when your application demands the robustness and scalability that come with third-party hosted or cloud-based web search services.
- Do not use if real-time updates or dynamic content from external sources are essential, as the tool focuses on local resources.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (exa-labs/exa-mcp-server) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (exa-labs/exa-mcp-server) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (exa-labs/exa-mcp-server) · observed Aug 21, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (mrkrsl/web-search-mcp) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (mrkrsl/web-search-mcp) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (mrkrsl/web-search-mcp) · observed Aug 8, 2025
- License file (MIT) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: exa-mcp-server 5.0k · web-search-mcp 1.1k (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between exa-mcp-server and web-search-mcp?
- exa-mcp-server: Platform for web search and crawling using Model Context Protocol.. web-search-mcp: A locally hosted Web Search MCP server compatible with Local LLMs. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose exa-mcp-server over web-search-mcp?
- Choose exa-mcp-server over web-search-mcp when Tags unique to exa-mcp-server: code-search, crawling, model-context-protocol; exa-mcp-server ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; Use when needing a specialized platform for web searches and crawls that integrates with MCP.
- When should I choose web-search-mcp over exa-mcp-server?
- Choose web-search-mcp over exa-mcp-server when Requirements: Requires a local language model to operate effectively.; Tags unique to web-search-mcp: llm, lmstudio, local-llm, mcp; Use web-search-mcp when you need a lightweight, locally-hosted solution that integrates seamlessly with existing local language models without requiring cloud services.
- When should I avoid exa-mcp-server?
- Avoid for environments strictly requiring support from languages other than TypeScript as there is no alternative language implementation available in the repository. Not recommended for scenarios where integration with technologies outside of MCP is essential to workflow as this server tightly binds operations to the MCP.
- When should I avoid web-search-mcp?
- Avoid using web-search-mcp when your application demands the robustness and scalability that come with third-party hosted or cloud-based web search services. Do not use if real-time updates or dynamic content from external sources are essential, as the tool focuses on local resources.
- Is exa-mcp-server or web-search-mcp more popular on GitHub?
- exa-mcp-server has more GitHub stars (5,032 vs 1,146). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are exa-mcp-server and web-search-mcp open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (exa-mcp-server: MIT, web-search-mcp: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to exa-mcp-server or web-search-mcp?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at exa-mcp-server alternatives and web-search-mcp alternatives (exa-mcp-server markdown twin, web-search-mcp 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, exa-mcp-server or web-search-mcp?
- exa-mcp-server: Active. web-search-mcp: Dormant. 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 exa-mcp-server and web-search-mcp?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: exa-mcp-server trust report; web-search-mcp trust report.