AI Research SKILLs vs Exa MCP Server
For the Idea phase, AI Research SKILLs leads Exa MCP Server on adoption - 12.3k vs 5k GitHub stars. Both are plugins; pick by fit, not just rank - the full side-by-side is below.
A side-by-side comparison of two plugin options for the Idea phase - adoption, what each is for, and how to install them.
Ranked by Skillselion · adoption from the skills.sh registry & GitHub.
AI Research SKILLs vs Exa MCP Server
| AI Research SKILLs | Exa MCP Server | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 12.3k | 5k |
| Installs | 0 | 0 |
| Adoption rank (this phase) | #4 | #5 |
| Built for | Claude Code | Claude Code |
| What it is | Comprehensive open-source library of AI research and engineering skills for any AI model. Package the skills and your claude code/codex/gemini agent will be an AI research agent with full horsepower. Maintained by Orchestra Research. | Exa MCP for web search and web crawling! |
| Install | /plugin install orchestra-research-ai-research-skills@Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs | /plugin install exa-labs-exa-mcp-server@exa-labs/exa-mcp-server |
Common questions
AI Research SKILLs vs Exa MCP Server: which is better for idea?
AI Research SKILLs ranks higher by adoption (12.3k vs 5k GitHub stars), but both are plugins for the Idea phase - choose by fit.
How do I install AI Research SKILLs?
Run: /plugin install orchestra-research-ai-research-skills@Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs
How do I install Exa MCP Server?
Run: /plugin install exa-labs-exa-mcp-server@exa-labs/exa-mcp-server
More for the Idea phase
See the full ranked shortlist of best plugin options for idea, browse every Plugins, or see every best-of shortlist.