Official ida-mcp vs ida-pro-mcp
Unofficial guide. This site is an independent community guide and is not affiliated with the REA project. For authoritative docs see the official REA website and the morluto/rea GitHub repository. Commands here are taken from the official README/docs (checked 2026-10-13); REA changes quickly, so verify against the official docs.
This page covers third-party tools. reaguide.com is not affiliated with Hex-Rays, LaurieWired, mrexodia, bethington, clearbluejar or any project below. Commands are copied from each project's own README/docs (checked 2026-10-13) — these projects release often, so check the linked source before running.
Two similarly named projects cause a lot of confusion: HexRaysSA/ida-mcp (official, 2026) and mrexodia/ida-pro-mcp (community, since 2025). The top of the ida-pro-mcp README now says: “I recommend using the Official Hex-Rays IDA MCP Server instead!” — and mrexodia is the maintainer answering issues on the official repo.
| HexRaysSA/ida-mcp (official) | mrexodia/ida-pro-mcp | |
|---|---|---|
| IDA versions | 9.4+ (Home, Pro, Classroom) with idalib | IDA Pro 8.3+ (9 recommended); IDA Free not supported |
| Python | 3.11+, launched via uv | 3.11+ (switch with idapyswitch) |
| Tool surface | 6 tools: open_database, execute_python, reference, list_databases, save_database, close_database | Many typed tools, e.g. decompile_function, list_functions, get_xrefs_to |
| Who decides the analysis | The agent writes IDAPython (ida-domain API) and looks up APIs via reference | The agent picks from fixed operations |
| Headless | Yes (idalib), optional GUI plugin | Primarily a plugin in a running IDA |
| Install | uvx ida-hcli mcp install | See its README |
The tool lists come from the official server's ida_mcp/mcp.py and from REA's analysis in morluto/rea#1416, which found the two surfaces share no tool names.
Should I migrate?
- On IDA 9.4+: the official server is the maintained path and both authors point to it.
- On IDA 8.x or 9.0–9.3: the official server's prerequisites exclude you; ida-pro-mcp remains the option.
- Using REA with IDA: REA's IDA provider is built on ida-pro-mcp's typed tools and does not work with the official server yet (#1416, open). Keep ida-pro-mcp for REA — see IDA with REA and REA vs ida-mcp.
Migration tips
- Disable the old server first — Hex-Rays recommends not running several IDA MCP servers at once.
- Expect to re-check your agent's MCP entries: in ida-mcp#26 a user lost entries during the ida-pro-mcp → ida-mcp migration.
Related guides
Sources: ida-pro-mcp README · HexRaysSA/ida-mcp README · ida_mcp/mcp.py · rea#1416
FAQ
Is ida-pro-mcp deprecated?
Its README now recommends the official Hex-Rays IDA MCP Server instead. The repository is still online.
Which IDA MCP works with IDA Free?
Neither officially: ida-pro-mcp says IDA Free is not supported, and Hex-Rays ida-mcp lists IDA Home, Pro or Classroom 9.4+. REA documents an experimental ida-free-mcp plugin path.