Shodan vs WhoisXML API MCP Server
Shodan is an MCP server published by Cyreslab-AI. Marketplaces we read that list it: 1 (Docker MCP Catalog). WhoisXML API MCP Server is an MCP server published by whois-api-llc. Marketplaces we read that list it: 1 (Official MCP Registry). As of our marketplace pass on 2026-11-09. This pair was picked by a reader, not by our comparison rule, so search engines are asked not to index the page.
Where each is published
| Marketplace |  Shodan |   WhoisXML API MCP Server |
|---|---|---|
| Docker MCP Catalog | Listed Version: sha256:f99f2d2d6955 Forks (GitHub): 12 Pulls (Docker Hub): 47 210 Stars (Docker Hub): 8 Stars (GitHub): 53 Not marked · First seen |
Not listed |
| Official MCP Registry | Not listed | Listed Version: 1.16.1 Downloads/month (npm): 1 073 Downloads/week (npm): 700 Forks (GitHub): 0 Stars (GitHub): 0 Not marked · First seen |
Each figure is the marketplace's own and is never added up across marketplaces. A marketplace that publishes no figure shows none: no number is not zero.
The facts side by side
| Fact | Shodan | WhoisXML API MCP Server |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplaces that list it | 1 | 1 |
| Stars (GitHub) (differs) | 53 (better) | 0 (worse) |
| Pulls (Docker Hub) (differs) | 47 210 | No figure on Docker Hub |
| Forks (GitHub) (differs) | 12 (better) | 0 (worse) |
| Last release (differs) | Not published | 2026-11-06 |
| Where it runs (differs) | On your machine (mcp/cyreslab-ai-shodan) | Remote server (mcp-hosted.whoisxmlapi.com/mcp) |
| Transport (differs) | stdio | Streamable HTTP |
| Tools it declares (differs) | 5 | Not published |
| Environment variables it asks for | 1, secrets among them: 1 | 1, secrets among them: 1 |
| Licence (differs) | MIT | Not stated |
| Repository (differs) | github.com/cyreslab-ai/shodan-mcp-server | github.com/whoisxmlapi/mcp-whoisxmlapi |
| Changes in the last 7 days (differs) | 0 | 5 |
| First seen | 2026-10-11 | 2026-10-11 |
| Endpoint at the last check (differs) | no remote endpoint we check | Responded 9 h ago, requires authentication |
Lines where the two differ have a tinted background and bold values. Where the data itself says which value is better (more marketplaces, a larger figure of the same marketplace, a fresher release, a verified mark on a marketplace that lists both), the better one is also marked green with ▲ and the worse one red with ▼. Where it runs, the transport, the tools, the settings, hooks, the bundle's parts, the licence and the week's changes are marked only as different: more or fewer is not better in itself.
What each says it does
Shodan
MCP server for Shodan — host/network recon, CVE and exploit lookup, InternetDB, and persistent alerts (34 tools).
WhoisXML API MCP Server
35 WHOIS, DNS, IP, threat intelligence, email, and bulk tools for AI agents via WhoisXML API.
How to run each
Shodan As a local MCP server: Docker image
claude mcp add --env "SHODAN_API_KEY=<YOUR_SHODAN_API_KEY>" --transport stdio cyreslab-ai-shodan -- docker run -i --rm -e SHODAN_API_KEY mcp/cyreslab-ai-shodanRequires: SHODAN_API_KEY (secret)
WhoisXML API MCP Server As a remote MCP server
claude mcp add --transport http mcp-whoisxmlapi https://mcp-hosted.whoisxmlapi.com/mcpRequires: WHOISXMLAPI_TOKEN (secret)
Commands built only from what the marketplaces declare; the full set for every client is on each card.
Only WhoisXML API MCP Server has a remote endpoint we check. How we check endpoints
Tools each declares
The marketplaces of WhoisXML API MCP Server publish no list of tools, so we do not compare tools.
Settings each asks for
Only Shodan asks for
SHODAN_API_KEY (secret)
Only WhoisXML API MCP Server asks for
WHOISXMLAPI_TOKEN (secret)
Settings as each marketplace publishes them. Asking for fewer is not better in itself.
What it can do: Shodan · What it can do: WhoisXML API MCP Server · Compare two other plugins
Data comes from the Docker MCP Catalog (desktop.docker.com/mcp/catalog) and Docker Hub. Data comes from the Official MCP Registry (registry.modelcontextprotocol.io), CC0 1.0. Figures come from our own regular passes over the marketplaces, last read on . We publish no contact details for plugin publishers.