On the Cheap vs LibraryAPI
On the Cheap is no longer listed on any marketplace we read: these are its last known data, as of 2026‑10‑15.
On the Cheap is a plugin bundle for AI coding tools published by Chris Hall. No marketplace we read lists it any more. LibraryAPI is an MCP server published by libraryapi.dev. Marketplaces we read that list it: 1 (Official MCP Registry). As of our marketplace pass on 2026-10-18. A plugin in this pair is no longer listed on any marketplace we read, so search engines are asked not to index the page.
Where each is published
| Marketplace |  LibraryAPI | |
|---|---|---|
| Community marketplace chrischall/charlotteonthecheap-mcp | Removed on 2026-10-15 Version: 1.1.7 Forks (GitHub): 0 Stars (GitHub): 0 Not marked · First seen |
Not listed |
| Official MCP Registry | Not listed | Listed Version: 0.1.3 Downloads/month (PyPI): 203 Downloads/week (PyPI): 43 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 | On the Cheapno longer listed · | LibraryAPI |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplaces that list it (differs) | 0 | 1 |
| Stars (GitHub) | 0 | 0 |
| Forks (GitHub) | 0 | 0 |
| Last release | Not published | Not published |
| Where it runs (differs) | Installs as a plugin bundle | On your machine (libraryapi-mcp) |
| Transport (differs) | Not stated | stdio |
| Tools it declares | Not published | Not published |
| Environment variables it asks for (differs) | Not published | 1, secrets among them: 1 |
| Parts of the bundle (differs) | 3 | Not a bundle |
| Licence (differs) | MIT | Not stated |
| Repository (differs) | github.com/chrischall/charlotteonthecheap-mcp | github.com/library-api/libraryapi-mcp |
| Changes in the last 7 days (differs) | 4 | 0 |
| First seen (differs) | 2026-10-13 | 2026-10-11 |
Lines where the two differ have a tinted background and bold values. No value is marked better or worse: a plugin no marketplace lists any more is shown with its last known data, which we do not rank against current figures.
What to use instead of On the Cheap
Plugins still listed whose own names, descriptions, tools and skills are closest in meaning to it. Comparable, not endorsed.
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onthecheap-mcp io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp
On the Cheap MCP — free and cheap events, deals and local guides across 14 US cities
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groupon-mcp io.github.chrischall/groupon-mcp
Groupon deals for Claude — search and browse local, goods, and travel deals
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event-synoptic com.eventsynoptic.go/event-synoptic
Live LA events, ticket price comparison, bars & nightlife with real-time happy hours
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Events with dates, venues, prices and organisers from Eventbrite and Meetup.
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AI-agent-first offers directory: search and publish listings via MCP.
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Live Las Vegas shows, restaurants, attractions and resorts. Read-only, no API key needed.
What each says it does
On the Cheap
MCP server for the On the Cheap network — daily event listings with times, prices and venues, plus searchable deals and local guides for 14 US cities
LibraryAPI
US public libraries and branches near any address, with collections from the IMLS survey
How to run each
On the Cheap
No data for an automatic command: what its marketplaces declare does not say unambiguously how to connect it.
LibraryAPI As a local MCP server: PyPI package
claude mcp add --env "LIBRARYAPI_KEY=<YOUR_LIBRARYAPI_KEY>" --transport stdio libraryapi-mcp -- uvx libraryapi-mcpRequires: LIBRARYAPI_KEY (secret)
Commands built only from what the marketplaces declare; the full set for every client is on each card.
Tools each declares
Neither one's marketplaces publish a list of tools, so there is nothing to compare.
Settings each asks for
The marketplaces of On the Cheap publish no settings it asks for, so we do not compare settings.
What it can do: On the Cheap · What it can do: LibraryAPI · Compare two other plugins
Data comes from public marketplace files in GitHub repositories of their authors. 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.