Shadow MCP Server vs toolhive — Trust Score Comparison

Side-by-side trust comparison of Shadow MCP Server and toolhive. Scores based on security, compliance, maintenance, popularity, and ecosystem signals.

Shadow MCP Server scores 70.5/100 (E) while toolhive scores 0.0/100 (A) on the Nerq Trust Score. Shadow MCP Server leads by 70.5 points. Shadow MCP Server is a infrastructure agent with 136 stars, Nerq Verified. toolhive is a infrastructure agent with 1,610 stars.
70.5
E verified
Categoryinfrastructure
Stars136
Sourcepulsemcp
Maintenance0
Documentation0
vs
0.0
A
Categoryinfrastructure
Stars1,610
Sourcegithub
Security1
Compliance85
Maintenance1
Documentation1

Detailed Metric Comparison

Metric Shadow MCP Server toolhive
Trust Score70.5/1000.0/100
GradeEA
Stars1361,610
Categoryinfrastructureinfrastructure
SecurityN/A1
ComplianceN/A85
Maintenance01
Documentation01
EU AI Act RiskN/AN/A
VerifiedYesNo

Verdict

Shadow MCP Server leads with a trust score of 70.5/100 compared to toolhive's 0.0/100 (a 70.5-point difference). However, toolhive has stronger community adoption (1,610 vs 136 stars). Both agents should be evaluated based on your specific requirements.

Detailed Analysis

Security

Security scores measure dependency vulnerabilities, CVE exposure, and security practices. Shadow MCP Server scores N/A and toolhive scores 1 on this dimension.

Maintenance & Activity

toolhive demonstrates stronger maintenance activity (1/100 vs 0/100). This metric captures commit frequency, issue response times, and release cadence. Actively maintained tools receive faster security patches and are less likely to accumulate technical debt.

Documentation

toolhive has better documentation (1/100 vs 0/100). Good documentation reduces onboarding time and helps teams adopt the tool safely. This score evaluates README completeness, API documentation, code examples, and tutorial availability.

Community & Adoption

Shadow MCP Server has 136 GitHub stars while toolhive has 1,610. toolhive has significantly broader community adoption, which typically means more Stack Overflow answers, more third-party tutorials, and faster ecosystem development.

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Shadow MCP Server if you need:

  • Higher overall trust score — more reliable for production use

Choose toolhive if you need:

  • Stronger security profile with fewer known vulnerabilities
  • More actively maintained with faster release cadence
  • Larger community (1,610 vs 136 stars)
  • Better documentation for faster onboarding

Switching from Shadow MCP Server to toolhive (or vice versa)

When migrating between Shadow MCP Server and toolhive, consider these factors:

  1. API Compatibility: Shadow MCP Server (infrastructure) and toolhive (infrastructure) share similar interfaces since they are in the same category.
  2. Security Review: Run a security audit after migration. Check the Shadow MCP Server safety report and toolhive safety report for known issues.
  3. Testing: Ensure your test suite covers all integration points before switching in production.
  4. Community Support: Shadow MCP Server has 136 stars and toolhive has 1,610. Larger communities typically mean better Stack Overflow answers and migration guides.
Shadow MCP Server Safety Report toolhive Safety Report Shadow MCP Server Alternatives toolhive Alternatives

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer, Shadow MCP Server or toolhive?
Based on Nerq's independent trust assessment, Shadow MCP Server has a trust score of 70.5/100 (E) while toolhive scores 0.0/100 (A). The 70.5-point difference suggests Shadow MCP Server has a stronger trust profile. Trust scores are based on security, compliance, maintenance, documentation, and community adoption.
How do Shadow MCP Server and toolhive compare on security?
Shadow MCP Server has a security score of N/A/100 and toolhive scores 1/100. There is a notable difference in their security assessments. Shadow MCP Server's compliance score is N/A/100 (EU risk: N/A), while toolhive's is 85/100 (EU risk: N/A).
Should I use Shadow MCP Server or toolhive?
The choice depends on your requirements. Shadow MCP Server (infrastructure, 136 stars) and toolhive (infrastructure, 1,610 stars) serve similar use cases. On trust, Shadow MCP Server scores 70.5/100 and toolhive scores 0.0/100. Review the full KYA reports for each agent before making a decision. Consider factors like integration requirements, documentation quality (0 vs 1), and maintenance activity (0 vs 1).

Related Comparisons

Last updated: 2026-11-01 | Data refreshed weekly
Disclaimer: Nerq trust scores are automated assessments based on publicly available signals. They are not endorsements or guarantees. Always conduct your own due diligence.

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