MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) vs AWS API MCP Server

A side-by-side comparison of two Databases servers — tools, transport, auth, maintenance, and copy-paste config for each.

	MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) Google's official MCP server with prebuilt BigQuery tools, querying datasets via Application Default Credentials. Verified stdio (local) OAuth Go	AWS API MCP Server Official AWS Labs server that lets agents call any AWS API via the AWS CLI surface. Verified stdio (local) API key Python
Category	Databases	DevOps & Cloud
Language	Go	Python
Transport	stdio (local)	stdio (local)
Auth	OAuth	API key
GitHub stars	16k	9.3k
Last commit	13 days ago	7 days ago
Verified
Actively maintained
Install	`brew install mcp-toolbox && toolbox --prebuilt bigquery --stdio`	`uvx awslabs.aws-api-mcp-server@latest`
Repo	Open	Open

Verdict

Pick MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) if you prefer the more popular, battle-tested option, and you need the broadest set of tools.

Pick AWS API MCP Server if you prefer its approach (official aws labs server that lets agents call any aws api via the aws cli surface).

Add MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery)

Install / run

brew install mcp-toolbox && toolbox --prebuilt bigquery --stdio

Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-toolbox-for-databases-bigquery": {
      "command": "/absolute/path/to/toolbox",
      "args": [
        "--prebuilt",
        "bigquery",
        "--stdio"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BIGQUERY_PROJECT": "<your-gcp-project-id>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add AWS API MCP Server

Install / run

uvx awslabs.aws-api-mcp-server@latest

Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aws-api-mcp-server": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "awslabs.aws-api-mcp-server@latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "AWS_REGION": "us-east-1",
        "AWS_PROFILE": "<your-aws-profile>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Requires `uv` (the Python package runner). Install it from https://docs.astral.sh/uv/ if `uvx` is not found.

FAQ

MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) or AWS API MCP Server — which is better?

Pick MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) if you prefer the more popular, battle-tested option, and you need the broadest set of tools. Pick AWS API MCP Server if you prefer its approach (official aws labs server that lets agents call any aws api via the aws cli surface).

Can I use both MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) and AWS API MCP Server?

Yes — MCP clients let you enable multiple servers at once. Add both configs to your client's mcpServers and use whichever tool fits the task.

Do MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) and AWS API MCP Server work with Claude, Cursor and Windsurf?

Both do. Copy the per-client config below into Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf.

View MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) →View AWS API MCP Server →More comparisons →