MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) vs PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol 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	PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol Server Query any PostgreSQL database in natural language via MCP, with safe read-only SQL and streaming. Unverified HTTP (remote) API key Go
Category	Databases	Databases
Language	Go	Go
Transport	stdio (local)	HTTP (remote)
Auth	OAuth	API key
GitHub stars	16k	536
Last commit	2 months ago	2 months ago
Verified
Actively maintained
Install	`brew install mcp-toolbox && toolbox --prebuilt bigquery --stdio`	`brew tap subnetmarco/homebrew-tap && brew install pgmcp`
Repo	Open	Open

Verdict

Pick MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) if you want the official, vendor-maintained server, and you prefer the more popular, battle-tested option.

Pick PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol Server if you want a hosted/remote server with nothing to install.

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 PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol Server

Install / run

brew tap subnetmarco/homebrew-tap && brew install pgmcp

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pgmcp---postgresql-model-context-protocol-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "http://localhost:8080/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop connects to remote servers through the `mcp-remote` proxy (installed on first run via npx). Restart Claude Desktop after saving.

FAQ

MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) or PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol Server — which is better?

Pick MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) if you want the official, vendor-maintained server, and you prefer the more popular, battle-tested option. Pick PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol Server if you want a hosted/remote server with nothing to install.

Can I use both MCP Toolbox for Databases (BigQuery) and PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol 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 PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol 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 PGMCP - PostgreSQL Model Context Protocol Server →More comparisons →