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Web search and extraction · MCP server

Scribefy: MCP server, setup and security

Scribefy is an open-source MCP server published on GitHub that lets an AI agent search YouTube videos and extract transcripts with accurate time markers. Its repository has 1 stars and its last commit is from June 10, 2026 and it is licensed under MIT.

Score
48/100
Adoption (stars) 0/40
Maintenance 18/30
Framework (licence, registry, official) 30/30
OfficialLast commit 5 months agoNeeds secrets

What Scribefy does

According to its repository: “Extract timestamped YouTube transcripts, plus video search, metadata and related videos.”

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard plug between an AI agent and an outside service: once the server is connected, its tools show up in the agent, which decides when to call them. Scribefy is listed under Web search and extraction, a category of 159 servers in the directory, where it ranks #147 by stars.

Topics declared by the repository: ai-agents, claude, cursor, transcript, windsurf, youtube.

Installing and connecting Scribefy

Distribution modes declared in the official MCP registry:

  • npm package (Node.js, usually started with npx)

It works with any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and most recent agents). You add one entry to the client's MCP configuration: server name, start command or URL, environment variables. Project language: TypeScript.

The registry lists one secret variable to provide (API key, access token). Keep them in the client's environment variables, never in a shared file or a repository.

Security: what to check

Connecting an MCP server means installing software that talks straight to your agent: it runs with your rights and the model trusts its tool descriptions. The risk therefore depends on what it can touch and how far its code can be trusted.

Points found for Scribefy:

  • Secrets: the server acts with your credentials. Create a dedicated key with minimum rights and an expiry date.

Good practice: grant only the rights needed (least privilege), require human approval for irreversible actions, and run the AI agent security check.

Project activity and maintenance

Created on June 1, 2026, the MKirovBG/scribefy-mcp repository has 1 stars and 0 forks, with 0 open issues. It has more stars than 7% of the servers in the directory. Last change 5 months ago. Version published in the registry: 0.3.5 (June 2, 2026).

Stars measure attention, not quality: a recent, heavily promoted project can collect them fast, while a useful but niche server will have few.

WigoloWigolo : 5.5K5.5KExa MCP serverExa MCP server : 5.2K5.2KJobSpyJobSpy : 4.6K4.6KTolgeeTolgee : 4.1K4.1KArxiv MCP serverArxiv MCP server : 3.2K3.2KTrieveTrieve : 2.7K2.7KTavily MCPTavily MCP : 2.5K2.5KOpen webSearchOpen webSearch : 1.9K1.9KScribefyScribefy : 11
GitHub stars of the most followed servers in the category (log scale); Scribefy in orange. Checked October 25, 2026.

Verdict

Scribefy is still a modest project: read its code and compare it with the alternatives before using it.

Strengths

  • Maintained by the service's own vendor
  • Listed in the official MCP registry
  • Permissive licence (MIT)

Limitations

  • Requires an API key or token
  • Few visible users

Avoid if…

  • You do not want to give credentials to an agent

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Scribefy?

Scribefy is distributed as npm package (Node.js, usually started with npx). Add it to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code…) following the README of MKirovBG/scribefy-mcp.

Is Scribefy free?

The code is published under the MIT licence and can be used free of charge. It needs an API key: the service it connects to may be paid.

Is Scribefy safe?

Points to watch: secrets. Give it minimum rights and approve sensitive actions.

Is it an official server?

Yes: the awesome-mcp-servers list marks it as the service vendor's official implementation.

What are the alternatives to Scribefy?

In the same category: Exa MCP server, Brave search MCP server, Arxiv MCP server, and JobSpy. Exa MCP server and Brave search MCP server score higher on our grid.

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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score