{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "microsoft-learn-mcp",
      "name": "Microsoft Learn MCP Server",
      "vendor": "Microsoft",
      "vendorUrl": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/support/mcp",
      "kind": "mcp",
      "category": "code",
      "summary": "Microsoft's hosted documentation server at learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/microsoft-learn-mcp",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/microsoft-learn-mcp.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/microsoft-learn-mcp.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/microsoft-learn-mcp.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/mcp",
      "license": "proprietary",
      "transports": [
        "streamable-http"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp",
      "packages": [],
      "auth": "none",
      "authNotes": "Public endpoint, no key or login. The FAQ says rate limits exist for fair use but gives no numbers.",
      "pricing": "free",
      "pricingNotes": "Free. No account, no key, no card.",
      "priceSummary": "Free",
      "where": "hosted",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "Free public endpoint, nothing to pay.",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": 3,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-09-26"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/support/mcp-developer-reference",
      "registryName": "com.microsoft/microsoft-learn-mcp",
      "capabilities": [
        "code.docs",
        "docs.microsoft"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "official",
        "hosted",
        "no-auth",
        "docs",
        "keyless"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-03-23",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 47.9,
        "grade": "D",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 626,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 722,
        "categoryRank": 8,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 58,
          "maintenance": 28,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 20,
          "schema": 57,
          "security": 60,
          "transparency": 54
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Access requires no account, key or card. No status page was found, and the FAQ does not specify numeric rate limits.",
        "bestFor": "Coding and support agents working on Azure, .NET, Microsoft 365 or other Microsoft technologies, at no cost.",
        "strengths": [
          "No account, key or card, so an agent connects in one step",
          "Three tools, each a read with one required parameter",
          "`maxTokenBudget` on the URL caps search-result size",
          "Generally available since 7 November 2025 and listed in the official registry under com.microsoft"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "No status page, and the FAQ admits rate limits without giving numbers",
          "Microsoft says tools can change at any time and doesn't version them",
          "No statement of what the endpoint logs or keeps",
          "`microsoft_docs_fetch` returns whole pages with no size control",
          "Microsoft content only"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Append `?maxTokenBudget=2000` to the endpoint URL to cap search results; it doesn't affect fetch",
          "Call `microsoft_docs_search` first and fetch only the one or two URLs that matter, because fetch returns the full page",
          "Re-read `tools/list` after any 400 or 404; Microsoft changes tools without versioning them",
          "Pass `language` to `microsoft_code_sample_search` when you want samples in one language"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 3.5,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "D",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 47.9
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 58,
          "maintenance": 28,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 20,
          "schema": 57,
          "security": 60,
          "transparency": 28
        },
        "provenanceScore": 80
      },
      "connect": {
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http microsoft-learn https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "microsoft.docs.mcp": {
              "type": "http",
              "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/code.docs",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/microsoft-learn-mcp"
      },
      "sameCompany": [
        "azure-foundry-fine-tuning",
        "azure-ai-content-safety",
        "azure-speech-to-text",
        "azure-text-to-speech",
        "microsoft-agent-framework",
        "microsoft-execution-containers",
        "microsoft-entra-agent-id",
        "azure-key-vault",
        "azure-devops-mcp",
        "playwright-mcp",
        "azure-mcp",
        "azure-maps",
        "azure-translator",
        "microsoft-graph-calendar",
        "microsoft-teams",
        "dynamics-365-sales",
        "power-automate",
        "microsoft-advertising-api",
        "microsoft-excel-graph",
        "outlook-mail-graph"
      ],
      "area": "developer",
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Microsoft Corporation",
        "domain": "microsoft.com",
        "domainRegistered": "1991-05-02",
        "domainNote": "microsoft.com publishes a security.txt, but it passed its Expires date on 2026-09-23.",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": true,
        "terms": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/termsofuse",
        "privacy": "https://privacy.microsoft.com/privacystatement",
        "statusPage": "",
        "changelog": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/support/mcp-release-notes",
        "securityTxt": "expired",
        "checked": "2026-09-26",
        "score": 80
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/microsoft-learn-mcp.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "microsoft-learn-mcp",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp",
          "method": "mcp-initialize",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-08T21:12:15.733581363Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 200,
          "lastMs": 142,
          "lastNote": "initialize answered",
          "authRequired": false,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 100,
          "p50ms24h": 156,
          "p95ms24h": 410,
          "samples24h": 271,
          "samples30d": 3111,
          "days": [
            {
              "date": "2026-09-27",
              "probes": 132,
              "ok": 132
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-09-28",
              "probes": 285,
              "ok": 285
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-09-29",
              "probes": 286,
              "ok": 286
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-09-30",
              "probes": 286,
              "ok": 286
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-01",
              "probes": 276,
              "ok": 276
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-02",
              "probes": 248,
              "ok": 248
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-03",
              "probes": 271,
              "ok": 271
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-04",
              "probes": 272,
              "ok": 272
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-05",
              "probes": 272,
              "ok": 272
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-06",
              "probes": 272,
              "ok": 272
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-07",
              "probes": 272,
              "ok": 272
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-08",
              "probes": 239,
              "ok": 239
            }
          ]
        },
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "mcp-registry",
            "name": "com.microsoft/microsoft-learn-mcp",
            "version": "1.0.0",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-08T02:42:52.272076636Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 1937,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://microsoft.com/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "expired",
          "expires": "2026-09-23T16:00:00.000Z",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:39:08.216544687Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "microsoft.com",
          "registered": "1991-05-02",
          "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/microsoft.com",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:04:13.488857536Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/support/mcp-release-notes",
            "kind": "changelog",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:21:46.432944823Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "316012aed737"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://privacy.microsoft.com/privacystatement",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:23:24.751841779Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-08T18:23:24.751841779Z",
            "fingerprint": "a09d318fe2fe"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/termsofuse",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:21:40.120966371Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "40a90e024129"
          }
        ],
        "mcpTools": {
          "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-07T21:26:51.666290687Z",
          "status": "ok",
          "protocol": "2026-07-28",
          "tools": [
            {
              "name": "microsoft_docs_search",
              "title": "Microsoft Docs Search",
              "description": "Search official Microsoft/Azure documentation to find the most relevant and trustworthy content for a user's query. This tool returns up to 10 high-quality content chunks (each max 500 tokens), extracted from Microsoft Learn and other official sources. Each result includes the article title, URL, and a self-contained content excerpt optimized for fast retrieval and reasoning. Always use this tool to quickly ground your answers in accurate, first-party Microsoft/Azure knowledge.\n\n## Follow-up Pattern\nTo ensure completeness, use microsoft_docs_fetch when high-value pages are identified by search. The fetch tool complements search by providing the full detail. This is a required step for comprehensive results.",
              "inputSchema": {
                "properties": {
                  "SessionId": {
                    "const": "d28674a4-149f-40d9-8be2-fbe2181c12cf",
                    "default": "d28674a4-149f-40d9-8be2-fbe2181c12cf",
                    "description": "The logical session identifier provided by tools/list; use its default value on every Microsoft Learn tool call",
                    "type": [
                      "string",
                      "null"
                    ]
                  },
                  "query": {
                    "default": null,
                    "description": "a query or topic about Microsoft/Azure products, services, platforms, developer tools, frameworks, or APIs",
                    "type": [
                      "string",
                      "null"
                    ]
                  }
                },
                "type": "object"
              },
              "outputSchema": {
                "properties": {
                  "SessionId": {
                    "type": [
                      "string",
                      "null"
                    ]
                  },
                  "results": {
                    "items": {
                      "properties": {
                        "content": {
                          "type": [
                            "string",
                            "null"
                          ]
                        },
                        "contentUrl": {
                          "type": "string"
                        },
                        "content_omitted": {
                          "type": "boolean"
                        },
                        "extensionData": {
                          "type": [
                            "object",
                            "null"
                          ]
                        },
                        "id": {
                          "type": [
                            "string",
                            "null"
                          ]
                        },
                        "title": {
                          "type": "string"
                        }
                      },
                      "type": "object"
                    },
                    "type": "array"
                  }
                },
                "type": "object"
              },
              "annotations": {
                "destructiveHint": false,
                "idempotentHint": true,
                "readOnlyHint": true,
                "title": "Microsoft Docs Search"
              }
            },
            {
              "name": "microsoft_code_sample_search",
              "title": "Microsoft Code Sample Search",
              "description": "Search for code snippets and examples in official Microsoft Learn documentation. This tool retrieves relevant code samples from Microsoft documentation pages providing developers with practical implementation examples and best practices for Microsoft/Azure products and services related coding tasks. This tool will help you use the **LATEST OFFICIAL** code snippets to empower coding capabilities.\n\n## When to Use This Tool\n- When you are going to provide sample Microsoft/Azure related code snippets in your answers.\n- When you are **generating any Microsoft/Azure related code**.\n\n## Usage Pattern\nInput a descriptive query, or SDK/class/method name to retrieve related code samples. The optional parameter `language` can help to filter results.\n\nEligible values for `language` parameter include: csharp javascript typescript python powershell azurecli al sql java kusto cpp go rust ruby php",
              "inputSchema": {
                "properties": {
                  "SessionId": {
                    "const": "d28674a4-149f-40d9-8be2-fbe2181c12cf",
                    "default": "d28674a4-149f-40d9-8be2-fbe2181c12cf",
                    "description": "The logical session identifier provided by tools/list; use its default value on every Microsoft Learn tool call",
                    "type": [
                      "string",
                      "null"
                    ]
                  },
                  "language": {
                    "default": null,
                    "description": "Optional parameter specifying the programming language of code snippets to retrieve. Can significantly improve search quality if provided. Eligible values: csharp javascript typescript python powershell azurecli al sql java kusto cpp go rust ruby php",
                    "type": [
                      "string",
                      "null"
                    ]
                  },
                  "query": {
                    "description": "a descriptive query, SDK name, method name or code snippet related to Microsoft/Azure products, services, platforms, developer tools, frameworks, APIs or SDKs",
                    "type": "string"
                  }
                },
                "required": [
                  "query"
                ],
                "type": "object"
              },
              "outputSchema": {
                "properties": {
                  "SessionId": {
                    "type": [
                      "string",
                      "null"
                    ]
                  },
                  "results": {
                    "items": {
                      "properties": {
                        "codeSnippet": {
                          "type": [
                            "string",
                            "null"
                          ]
                        },
                        "content_omitted": {
                          "type": "boolean"
                        },
                        "description": {
                          "type": "string"
                        },
                        "language": {
                          "type": "string"
                        },
                        "link": {
                          "type": "string"
                        }
                      },
                      "type": "object"
                    },
                    "type": "array"
                  }
                },
                "type": "object"
              },
              "annotations": {
                "destructiveHint": false,
                "idempotentHint": true,
                "readOnlyHint": true,
                "title": "Microsoft Code Sample Search"
              }
            },
            {
              "name": "microsoft_docs_fetch",
              "title": "Microsoft Docs Fetch",
              "description": "Fetch and convert a Microsoft Learn documentation webpage to markdown format. This tool retrieves the latest complete content of Microsoft documentation webpages including Azure, .NET, Microsoft 365, and other Microsoft technologies.\n\n## When to Use This Tool\n- When search results provide incomplete information or truncated content\n- When you need complete step-by-step procedures or tutorials\n- When you need troubleshooting sections, prerequisites, or detailed explanations\n- When search results reference a specific page that seems highly relevant\n- For comprehensive guides that require full context\n\n## Usage Pattern\nUse this tool AFTER microsoft_docs_search when you identify specific high-value pages that need complete content. The search tool gives you an overview; this tool gives you the complete picture.\n\n## URL Requirements\n- The URL must be a valid HTML documentation webpage from the microsoft.com domain\n- Binary files (PDF, DOCX, images, etc.) are not supported\n\n## Output Format\nmarkdown with headings, code blocks, tables, and links preserved.",
              "inputSchema": {
                "properties": {
                  "SessionId": {
                    "const": "d28674a4-149f-40d9-8be2-fbe2181c12cf",
                    "default": "d28674a4-149f-40d9-8be2-fbe2181c12cf",
                    "description": "The logical session identifier provided by tools/list; use its default value on every Microsoft Learn tool call",
                    "type": [
                      "string",
                      "null"
                    ]
                  },
                  "url": {
                    "description": "URL of the Microsoft documentation page to read",
                    "type": "string"
                  }
                },
                "required": [
                  "url"
                ],
                "type": "object"
              },
              "annotations": {
                "destructiveHint": false,
                "idempotentHint": true,
                "readOnlyHint": true,
                "title": "Microsoft Docs Fetch"
              }
            }
          ],
          "schemaTokens": 1441,
          "changedAt": "2026-09-28T21:55:53.802088388Z",
          "check": {
            "checker": "anchor-check/1.0",
            "totalTokens": 1441,
            "counts": {
              "error": 0,
              "note": 1,
              "warn": 1
            },
            "findings": [
              {
                "rule": "TC20",
                "severity": "warn",
                "tool": "microsoft_docs_search",
                "message": "the description steers the model",
                "fix": "Say what the tool is good at and let the model choose."
              },
              {
                "rule": "TC24",
                "severity": "note",
                "message": "1 of 3 tools have no outputSchema",
                "fix": "Declare outputSchema for tools that return structured data, and return structuredContent that matches it."
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T21:12:15.733581363Z"
      }
    },
    "answer": "Ref scores 59.4 (C) on agent readiness against Microsoft Learn MCP Server's 47.9 (D), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Microsoft Learn MCP Server leads on payments \u0026 pricing.",
    "b": {
      "slug": "ref",
      "name": "Ref",
      "vendor": "Ref Software, Inc",
      "vendorUrl": "https://ref.tools",
      "kind": "mcp",
      "category": "code",
      "summary": "Ref Context is a hosted MCP server from Ref Software, Inc. Its two tools search public documentation and a user's private repositories and PDFs, then read a page as Markdown trimmed to the relevant sections.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ref",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ref.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ref.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ref.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/ref-tools/ref-tools-mcp",
      "license": "Proprietary hosted service under Ref's terms of service. The stdio MCP server in ref-tools/ref-tools-mcp is MIT",
      "transports": [
        "streamable-http",
        "stdio"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://api.ref.tools/mcp",
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "ref-tools-mcp"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "An account is required. The hosted endpoint takes an API key in the `x-ref-api-key` header, the same key as an `?apiKey=` query parameter, or OAuth when neither is sent. OAuth runs through Scalekit, and `/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource/mcp` lists the scopes `public_docs:read` and `private_docs:read`. Keys come from ref.tools/keys after a browser sign-up with Google, GitHub or email. Teams have Admin, Writer and Reader roles, and SAML or OIDC single sign-on is a $200 a month add-on. The stdio package reads `REF_API_KEY`.",
      "pricing": "freemium",
      "pricingNotes": "Free: 200 one-time credits that never expire. Each `ref_search_documentation` or `ref_read_url` call costs one credit. Pro is $50 a month with 6,000 credits, Max $200 a month with 30,000, and extra credits cost $10 per 1,000 on Pro and above. Credits are shared with Ref Plans. The docs do not say whether sign-up needs a card (https://docs.ref.tools/usage/pricing, checked 2026-10-08).",
      "priceSummary": "$10 / 1k calls",
      "where": "both",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs, the pricing page or the MCP server source (checked 2026-10-08).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": 2,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 1179,
        "npmWeekly": 596,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-08"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://docs.ref.tools",
      "llmsTxt": "https://docs.ref.tools/llms.txt",
      "registryName": "tools.ref/ref-tools-mcp",
      "capabilities": [
        "code.docs",
        "web.fetch"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "official",
        "mcp",
        "hosted",
        "local",
        "docs",
        "freemium",
        "oauth",
        "read-only",
        "llms-txt",
        "status-page"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2025-11-04",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 59.4,
        "grade": "C",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 431,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 722,
        "categoryRank": 5,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 67,
          "maintenance": 50,
          "payments": 35,
          "reliability": 58,
          "schema": 68,
          "security": 64,
          "transparency": 68
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-08"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Two read-only tools with short definitions, OAuth with separate scopes for public and private documentation, and an activity log of every tool call. The API key may be passed in the URL query string, no rate limit or 429 guidance is documented, and the free allowance is 200 one-time credits.",
        "bestFor": "Coding agents that need current library documentation plus search over a team's private repositories and PDFs through two small tools.",
        "strengths": [
          "Two tools, `ref_search_documentation` and `ref_read_url`, each with one required string and `readOnlyHint: true`",
          "OAuth at `https://api.ref.tools/mcp` advertises two scopes, `public_docs:read` and `private_docs:read`",
          "The activity log at ref.tools/activity records user identity, tool calls and arguments, per the security page",
          "Each tool call costs one credit, and extra credits cost $10 per 1,000 on Pro and above, on a public page",
          "The security page names 19 subprocessors with what each can see, and says model providers run under zero-data-retention terms"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "The install docs give `?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY` in the URL as a documented way to authenticate",
          "No rate limit, 429 handling or SLA was found in the reviewed documentation",
          "The free plan is 200 one-time credits, and an account needs a browser sign-up",
          "The `ref-tools-mcp` npm package was last published on 4 November 2025, and the changelog index stops at July 2026",
          "The terms of service forbid access \"through automated or non-human means\", which the MCP product itself requires"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Send the key in the `x-ref-api-key` header, not the `?apiKey=` query parameter, so it stays out of URLs and logs",
          "Add `ref_src=private` to the `query` text to search private repositories and PDFs. Searches cover public documentation only by default",
          "Pass `ref_read_url` the exact URL from a search result. Reads return the sections most relevant to the session's searches, about 5,000 tokens at most per the README",
          "Keep one MCP session per task. Repeated similar searches in a session never return the same result twice, so refine the query to see more",
          "Treat tool errors as text. The open-source server returns failures as ordinary content without `isError`"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 0,
        "avgRating": 0,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "C",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 59.4
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 67,
          "maintenance": 50,
          "payments": 35,
          "reliability": 58,
          "schema": 68,
          "security": 64,
          "transparency": 53
        },
        "provenanceScore": 82
      },
      "connect": {
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http Ref https://api.ref.tools/mcp --header \"x-ref-api-key: \u003cYOUR_API_KEY\u003e\"",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "Ref": {
              "args": [
                "ref-tools-mcp@latest"
              ],
              "command": "npx",
              "env": {
                "REF_API_KEY": "\u003cYOUR_API_KEY\u003e"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/code.docs",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/ref"
      },
      "area": "developer",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "Additional credits, Pro and above",
          "unit": "1k-calls",
          "usd": 10,
          "note": "One credit per search or read call"
        },
        {
          "item": "Pro plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 50,
          "note": "6,000 credits a month"
        },
        {
          "item": "Max plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 200,
          "note": "30,000 credits a month"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Ref Software, Inc",
        "domain": "ref.tools",
        "domainRegistered": "2025-01-20",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": true,
        "terms": "https://ref.tools/terms",
        "privacy": "https://ref.tools/privacy",
        "statusPage": "https://ref.tools/status",
        "changelog": "https://docs.ref.tools/changelog",
        "securityTxt": "valid",
        "checked": "2026-10-08",
        "notes": [
          "The terms of service name Ref Software, Inc, a Delaware corporation doing business as Ref and ref.tools, at 2261 Market Street, STE 86969, San Francisco, CA 94114.",
          "ref.tools is a single-page application. The terms, privacy policy and status page are drawn by script, and we read their text from the script files the pages load.",
          "The privacy policy is dated 27 May 2025 and defines the company only as Ref.",
          "ref.tools/.well-known/security.txt gives security@ref.tools and expires on 1 July 2027.",
          "RDAP for ref.tools gives a registration date of 2025-01-20.",
          "The changelog page is an index of monthly newsletters hosted on mailchi.mp. Its last entry is July 2026, though a 30 September 2026 update exists at mailchi.mp/ref/september2026."
        ],
        "score": 82
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ref.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "ref",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://api.ref.tools/mcp",
          "method": "mcp-initialize",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-08T21:12:19.768127713Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 401,
          "lastMs": 164,
          "lastNote": "asks for credentials",
          "authRequired": true,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 100,
          "p50ms24h": 174,
          "p95ms24h": 268,
          "samples24h": 21,
          "samples30d": 21,
          "days": [
            {
              "date": "2026-10-08",
              "probes": 21,
              "ok": 21
            }
          ]
        },
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://ref.tools/status",
          "indicator": "unknown",
          "summary": "no machine-readable status found",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T19:39:06.971045674Z"
        },
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T21:12:19.768127713Z"
      }
    },
    "facts": [
      {
        "a": "MCP server",
        "b": "MCP server",
        "name": "Kind"
      },
      {
        "a": "Microsoft",
        "b": "Ref Software, Inc",
        "name": "Vendor"
      },
      {
        "a": "https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp",
        "b": "https://api.ref.tools/mcp",
        "name": "Hosted endpoint"
      },
      {
        "a": "Streamable HTTP",
        "b": "Streamable HTTP, stdio",
        "name": "Transports"
      },
      {
        "a": "None",
        "b": "OAuth or key",
        "name": "Auth"
      },
      {
        "a": "Free",
        "b": "Freemium",
        "name": "Pricing"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "x402"
      },
      {
        "a": "proprietary",
        "b": "Proprietary hosted service under Ref's terms of service. The stdio MCP server in ref-tools/ref-tools-mcp is MIT",
        "name": "Licence"
      },
      {
        "a": "3",
        "b": "2",
        "name": "Tools exposed"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "Read-only variant documented"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "llms.txt"
      },
      {
        "a": "com.microsoft/microsoft-learn-mcp",
        "b": "tools.ref/ref-tools-mcp",
        "name": "MCP registry"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-03-23",
        "b": "2025-11-04",
        "name": "Last release"
      },
      {
        "a": "no date given",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Terms last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-09-01",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Privacy policy last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Customer content may train models"
      },
      {
        "a": "not found in the text",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Terms restrict automated access"
      },
      {
        "a": "not found in the text",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking"
      },
      {
        "a": "not found in the text",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Terms or service can change without notice"
      },
      {
        "a": "not found in the text",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver"
      },
      {
        "a": "none",
        "b": "1.2k stars, 596 npm/wk",
        "name": "Popularity"
      },
      {
        "a": "3.5/5 (2)",
        "b": "none",
        "name": "Agent reviews"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "answer": "Ref scores 59.4 (C) on agent readiness against Microsoft Learn MCP Server's 47.9 (D), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Microsoft Learn MCP Server leads on payments \u0026 pricing.",
        "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Microsoft Learn MCP Server or Ref?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Microsoft Learn MCP Server needs no key. Ref takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.",
        "question": "Do Microsoft Learn MCP Server and Ref need an API key?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Yes. Microsoft Learn MCP Server has a hosted endpoint at https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp and Ref at https://api.ref.tools/mcp.",
        "question": "Can an agent call Microsoft Learn MCP Server and Ref without installing anything?"
      }
    ],
    "goodFor": [
      {
        "aheadOn": [
          "Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 35"
        ],
        "also": [
          "No key needed to call it"
        ],
        "goodFor": "Coding and support agents working on Azure, .NET, Microsoft 365 or other Microsoft technologies, at no cost.",
        "slug": "microsoft-learn-mcp",
        "watchFor": "No status page, and the FAQ admits rate limits without giving numbers"
      },
      {
        "aheadOn": [
          "Reliability, 58 against 20",
          "Schema \u0026 documentation, 68 against 57",
          "Agent ergonomics, 67 against 58",
          "Maintenance \u0026 community, 50 against 28",
          "Transparency \u0026 trust, 68 against 54"
        ],
        "also": [
          "Runs on your own machine"
        ],
        "goodFor": "Coding agents that need current library documentation plus search over a team's private repositories and PDFs through two small tools.",
        "slug": "ref",
        "watchFor": "The install docs give `?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY` in the URL as a documented way to authenticate"
      }
    ],
    "job": {
      "capability": "code.docs",
      "name": "Documentation lookup"
    },
    "others": [
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/context7-vs-microsoft-learn-mcp.json",
        "title": "Context7 vs Microsoft Learn MCP Server",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/context7-vs-microsoft-learn-mcp"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/context7-vs-ref.json",
        "title": "Context7 vs Ref",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/context7-vs-ref"
      }
    ],
    "scores": [
      {
        "by": 38,
        "edge": "ref",
        "key": "reliability",
        "microsoft-learn-mcp": 20,
        "name": "Reliability",
        "ref": 58,
        "weight": 16
      },
      {
        "key": "performance",
        "name": "Performance",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "by": 11,
        "edge": "ref",
        "key": "schema",
        "microsoft-learn-mcp": 57,
        "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation",
        "ref": 68,
        "weight": 13
      },
      {
        "by": 9,
        "edge": "ref",
        "key": "ergonomics",
        "microsoft-learn-mcp": 58,
        "name": "Agent ergonomics",
        "ref": 67,
        "weight": 13
      },
      {
        "by": 4,
        "edge": "ref",
        "key": "security",
        "microsoft-learn-mcp": 60,
        "name": "Security \u0026 auth",
        "ref": 64,
        "weight": 14
      },
      {
        "by": 25,
        "edge": "microsoft-learn-mcp",
        "key": "payments",
        "microsoft-learn-mcp": 60,
        "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing",
        "ref": 35,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "key": "tasks",
        "name": "Task success",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "by": 22,
        "edge": "ref",
        "key": "maintenance",
        "microsoft-learn-mcp": 28,
        "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community",
        "ref": 50,
        "weight": 7
      },
      {
        "by": 14,
        "edge": "ref",
        "key": "transparency",
        "microsoft-learn-mcp": 54,
        "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust",
        "ref": 68,
        "weight": 7
      }
    ],
    "summary": "Ref scores 59.4 (C) on agent readiness against Microsoft Learn MCP Server's 47.9 (D), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Microsoft Learn MCP Server leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do documentation lookup.",
    "verdicts": {
      "microsoft-learn-mcp": "Access requires no account, key or card. No status page was found, and the FAQ does not specify numeric rate limits.",
      "ref": "Two read-only tools with short definitions, OAuth with separate scopes for public and private documentation, and an activity log of every tool call. The API key may be passed in the URL query string, no rate limit or 429 guidance is documented, and the free allowance is 200 one-time credits."
    }
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  "links": {
    "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json",
    "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/microsoft-learn-mcp-vs-ref",
    "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/microsoft-learn-mcp-vs-ref.json",
    "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt",
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  "markdown": "Ref scores 59.4 (C) on agent readiness against Microsoft Learn MCP Server's 47.9 (D), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Microsoft Learn MCP Server leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do documentation lookup.\n\n- Microsoft Learn MCP Server: grade D, 47.9/100, rank #626 of 722. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/microsoft-learn-mcp.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/microsoft-learn-mcp.json\n- Ref: grade C, 59.4/100, rank #431 of 722. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ref.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ref.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Microsoft Learn MCP Server (D)\n\nGood for: Coding and support agents working on Azure, .NET, Microsoft 365 or other Microsoft technologies, at no cost.\n\nAhead on:\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 35\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- No key needed to call it\n\nWatch for: No status page, and the FAQ admits rate limits without giving numbers\n\n### Ref (C)\n\nGood for: Coding agents that need current library documentation plus search over a team's private repositories and PDFs through two small tools.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 58 against 20\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 68 against 57\n- Agent ergonomics, 67 against 58\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 50 against 28\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 68 against 54\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Runs on your own machine\n\nWatch for: The install docs give `?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY` in the URL as a documented way to authenticate\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Microsoft Learn MCP Server | Ref | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 20 | 58 | Ref +38 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 57 | 68 | Ref +11 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 58 | 67 | Ref +9 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 60 | 64 | Ref +4 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 35 | Microsoft Learn MCP Server +25 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 28 | 50 | Ref +22 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 54 | 68 | Ref +14 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **47.9 · D** | **59.4 · C** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Microsoft Learn MCP Server | Ref |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | MCP server | MCP server |\n| Vendor | Microsoft | Ref Software, Inc |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp` | `https://api.ref.tools/mcp` |\n| Transports | Streamable HTTP | Streamable HTTP, stdio |\n| Auth | None | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Free | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | proprietary | Proprietary hosted service under Ref's terms of service. The stdio MCP server in ref-tools/ref-tools-mcp is MIT |\n| Tools exposed | 3 | 2 |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | yes |\n| llms.txt | no | yes |\n| MCP registry | `com.microsoft/microsoft-learn-mcp` | `tools.ref/ref-tools-mcp` |\n| Last release | 2026-03-23 | 2025-11-04 |\n| Terms last updated | no date given | couldn't be read |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-09-01 | couldn't be read |\n| Customer content may train models | yes | couldn't be read |\n| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | couldn't be read |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | couldn't be read |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | couldn't be read |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | couldn't be read |\n| Popularity | none | 1.2k stars, 596 npm/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 3.5/5 (2) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Microsoft Learn MCP Server.** Access requires no account, key or card. No status page was found, and the FAQ does not specify numeric rate limits.\n\n**Ref.** Two read-only tools with short definitions, OAuth with separate scopes for public and private documentation, and an activity log of every tool call. The API key may be passed in the URL query string, no rate limit or 429 guidance is documented, and the free allowance is 200 one-time credits.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Microsoft Learn MCP Server\n\n1. Append `?maxTokenBudget=2000` to the endpoint URL to cap search results; it doesn't affect fetch\n2. Call `microsoft_docs_search` first and fetch only the one or two URLs that matter, because fetch returns the full page\n3. Re-read `tools/list` after any 400 or 404; Microsoft changes tools without versioning them\n4. Pass `language` to `microsoft_code_sample_search` when you want samples in one language\n\n### Ref\n\n1. Send the key in the `x-ref-api-key` header, not the `?apiKey=` query parameter, so it stays out of URLs and logs\n2. Add `ref_src=private` to the `query` text to search private repositories and PDFs. Searches cover public documentation only by default\n3. Pass `ref_read_url` the exact URL from a search result. Reads return the sections most relevant to the session's searches, about 5,000 tokens at most per the README\n4. Keep one MCP session per task. Repeated similar searches in a session never return the same result twice, so refine the query to see more\n5. Treat tool errors as text. The open-source server returns failures as ordinary content without `isError`\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Microsoft Learn MCP Server or Ref?\n\nRef scores 59.4 (C) on agent readiness against Microsoft Learn MCP Server's 47.9 (D), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Microsoft Learn MCP Server leads on payments \u0026 pricing.\n\n### Do Microsoft Learn MCP Server and Ref need an API key?\n\nMicrosoft Learn MCP Server needs no key. Ref takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.\n\n### Can an agent call Microsoft Learn MCP Server and Ref without installing anything?\n\nYes. Microsoft Learn MCP Server has a hosted endpoint at https://learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp and Ref at https://api.ref.tools/mcp.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/microsoft-learn-mcp-vs-ref.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/microsoft-learn-mcp-vs-ref.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"microsoft-learn-mcp\", \"b\": \"ref\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare microsoft-learn-mcp ref`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/microsoft-learn-mcp.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/ref.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Microsoft Learn MCP Server or Ref\n\n- [Context7 vs Microsoft Learn MCP Server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/context7-vs-microsoft-learn-mcp.md)\n- [Context7 vs Ref](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/context7-vs-ref.md)\n",
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    "description": "Ref scores 59.4 (C) on agent readiness against Microsoft Learn MCP Server's 47.9 (D), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Microsoft Learn MCP Server leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do documentation lookup. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.",
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    "section": "tools",
    "title": "Microsoft Learn MCP Server vs Ref for AI agents, D 47.9 vs C 59.4",
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