AgentIndex icon
AgentIndex
buoy logo
buoy
★ 691
vs
inspector logo
inspector
★ 11.1k

buoy vs inspector

buoy: Buoy is an in-app developer toolkit that provides a floating menu to inspect and modify the state of a running application. It allows developers to check web calls, storage, query caches, routes, renders, and performance, facilitating on-the-fly debugging and environment manipulation.; inspector: MCP Inspector is a developer tool designed for testing and debugging MCP servers, featuring both a React-based web UI client and a Node.js proxy server. It acts as a protocol bridge, enabling interactive interaction with MCP servers through various transport methods.

01

TL;DR

buoy logo
buoyDev Tooling · ★ 691

Quickly switch environments or sign in as a different customer directly within the running app.

Read buoy full review →
inspector logo
inspectorDev Tooling · ★ 11.1k

Testing and debugging MCP server implementations during development.

Read inspector full review →
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
buoy logobuoy
inspector logoinspector
Category
Dev Tooling
Dev Tooling
Stars
★ 691
★ 11.1k
License
NOASSERTION
Apache-2.0 / MIT (transitioning)
Install Command
npm install @buoy-gg/core @buoy-gg/network && npx --package=@buoy-gg/core buoy login
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector
Updated
1d ago
2d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Website
↗ Visit
↗ Visit
GitHub
↗ GitHub
↗ GitHub
Tags
In-app DevTools, Debugging, Performance Monitoring
Developer Tools, Debugging, Testing
03

Features

buoy logobuoy
01Floating in-app menu for inspecting and modifying application state.
02Monitor and override network requests, storage, and query caches.
03Edit cached data, force loading/error states, and rewind application state (Time Machine).
04Integration with Buoy Desktop for multi-device debugging and an AI agent (Ask Buoy) inside the app.
05Specialized tools for various frameworks/libraries like React Query, Redux, Zustand, Jotai.
inspector logoinspector
01Interactive Web UI for testing and debugging MCP servers.
02Supports multiple transport protocols (stdio, SSE, streamable-http).
03CLI mode for scripting, automation, and integration.
04Export server launch configurations for external clients (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code).
05Robust security features including token authentication and local-only binding.
04

Use Cases

buoy logobuoy
↳Quickly switch environments or sign in as a different customer directly within the running app.
↳Force specific error states or rewind the application to a previous state for debugging.
↳Inspect and modify UI components, routes, and performance metrics during development.
↳Debug React Native, Expo, Flutter, Capacitor, or Three.js applications effectively on device.
↳Utilize an AI agent (Ask Buoy) for in-app assistance and modifications.
inspector logoinspector
↳Testing and debugging MCP server implementations during development.
↳Programmatic interaction with MCP servers via CLI for scripting and automation.
↳Configuring and managing MCP server settings for different environments or projects.
05

Best For

buoy logobuoy
Trending
inspector logoinspector
Most PopularTrending
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between buoy and inspector?
Both buoy and inspector are in the Dev Tooling category. buoy has 691 stars, while inspector has 11.1k stars.
Which is better, buoy or inspector?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose buoy if Quickly switch environments or sign in as a different customer directly within the running app., and inspector if Testing and debugging MCP server implementations during development..
Is buoy free or open source?
Yes, buoy is open source on GitHub (NOASSERTION).
Is inspector free or open source?
Yes, inspector is open source on GitHub (Apache-2.0 / MIT (transitioning)).
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Related

Alternatives to buoy →Alternatives to inspector →buoy details →inspector details →