io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp
NPM · ONTHECHEAP-MCP · SCANNED SEP 20
On the Cheap MCP — free and cheap events, deals and local guides across 14 US cities
Available components
How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically from public evidence about the published package, including repeated runs of it in an isolated sandbox, and we only credit what we can confirm. How we score → Why this is hard to score →
Supply Chain Security100
- No malware found by supply-chain analysis.Pass
- No known CVEs affecting this package version or its production dependencies.Pass
- No install/post-install scripts declared.Pass
- 0 of 16 dependencies flagged as unhealthy. View diagnostics → Pass
Provenance & Transparency97
- Source repository is publicly reachable at the declared URL. View diagnostics → Pass
- Cryptographically verified build provenance (signed, bound to chrischall/onthecheap-mcp). View diagnostics → Pass
- Clear OSI-approved license (MIT).Pass
- Actively maintained (last published 0 days ago).Pass
- Disclosure check failed: no security disclosure policy was found in the source repository. See how to fix → Fail
Schema Quality & AI Usability70
- AI-judged instruction clarity (excellent).Pass
- Context-footprint check failed: tool/resource definitions use about 1833 tokens (~229/item across 8 items; 8 tools + 0 resources), over budget; trim descriptions and params. See how to fix → Fail
- Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples. See how to fix → Fail
Stability & Change Management90
- Stability observed for 27 of 30 days with no destabilising changes; credit accrues until the full window elapses.Partial
Tool Coverage100
- 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).Pass
- 100% of tool parameters carry a description.Pass
Tool Safety100
- No prompt-injection markers were found in the server instructions, tool names or descriptions we captured.Pass
- We read all 8 captured tool definition(s), and no name or description among them implies an irreversible operation.Pass
- An AI judge read all 8 captured unit(s) of tool text and found none that tries to manipulate the model reading it.Pass
Capabilities100
- Implements a current MCP spec version (2026-07-28).Pass
How do I install the io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp server?
io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp runs locally as an npm package, launched with npx -y onthecheap-mcp. Ready-made configuration for Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and 5 more is on this page, copied from each client's own documentation.
npm · onthecheap-mcp
claude mcp add chrischall-onthecheap-mcp -- npx -y onthecheap-mcp
{
"mcpServers": {
"chrischall-onthecheap-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"onthecheap-mcp"
]
}
}
} {
"servers": {
"chrischall-onthecheap-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"onthecheap-mcp"
]
}
}
} codex mcp add chrischall-onthecheap-mcp -- npx -y onthecheap-mcp
{
"$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
"mcp": {
"chrischall-onthecheap-mcp": {
"type": "local",
"command": [
"npx",
"-y",
"onthecheap-mcp"
],
"enabled": true
}
}
} openclaw mcp add chrischall-onthecheap-mcp --command npx --arg -y --arg onthecheap-mcp
mcp_servers:
chrischall-onthecheap-mcp:
command: "npx"
args: ["-y", "onthecheap-mcp"] {
"McpServers": {
"chrischall-onthecheap-mcp": {
"Transport": "stdio",
"Command": "npx",
"Arguments": [
"-y",
"onthecheap-mcp"
]
}
}
} assistant mcp add chrischall-onthecheap-mcp -t stdio -c npx -a -y onthecheap-mcp
{
"mcpServers": {
"chrischall-onthecheap-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"onthecheap-mcp"
]
}
}
} Every change we have recorded for this component, newest first. Security-relevant changes are always shown. ▲ marks a change for the better, ▼ a change for the worse; unmarked changes are neutral.
- 20 Sept 26 +1
- MCP protocol: Implements a current MCP spec version (2026-07-28). functional
- Package version: 1.0.0 → 1.1.0 functional
- 19 Sept 26 +1
- Stability: 0.83 → unverified ▼ security
- Tool safety: pass → unverified ▼ security
- Capabilities: pass → unverified ▼ functional
- Tool coverage: 100 → unverified ▼ functional
- Dependency health: 0.87 → 1.00 ▲ functional
- Schema quality: Schema quality not yet verified: we do not have a sandbox capture of the MCP schema this version of the package serves yet. functional
- Package version: 0.4.3 → 1.0.0 functional
- 17 Sept 26 −2
- Security disclosure: unverified → fail ▼ functional
- Stability: pass → 0.80 functional
- 16 Sept 26 0
- Stability: 0.97 → pass security
- Security disclosure: fail → unverified ▼ functional
- 15 Sept 26 +16
- Malware scan: unverified → pass ▲ security
- 14 Sept 26 −15
- Stability: 0.90 → unverified ▼ security
- Malware scan: pass → unverified ▼ security
- Tool safety: pass → unverified ▼ security
- Capabilities: pass → unverified ▼ functional
- Tool coverage: 100 → unverified ▼ functional
- Schema quality: Schema quality not yet verified: we do not have a sandbox capture of the MCP schema this version of the package serves yet. functional
- Package version: 0.4.2 → 0.4.3 functional
- 13 Sept 26 0
- Security disclosure: unverified → fail ▼ functional
- 12 Sept 26 +16
- Malware scan: unverified → pass ▲ security
- Security disclosure: fail → unverified ▼ functional
Diagnostic detail from the automated scan of this channel: what the scanner observed at each step, so you can see exactly where a check passed or failed. It is informational only and never changes the trust score.
Captured 20 Sept 2026 · Analysed npm/onthecheap-mcp@1.1.0
Provenance Verified
A signed build attestation was found and verified, binding this exact artifact to the source repository it claims to come from.
| Result | Verified |
|---|---|
| Ecosystem | npm |
| Reason | Verified |
| Discovered via | Registry attestation endpoint |
| Source repo | chrischall/onthecheap-mcp |
| Certificate issuer | https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com |
| Certificate SAN | https://github.com/chrischall/onthecheap-mcp/.github/workflows/release-please.yml@refs/heads/main |
| Rekor log index | 2893922023 |
| Predicate type | https://slsa.dev/provenance/v1 |
| Subject digest | sha512:11ef6e7e95169146b779fbf75ddc9f7c5f0f343e77f5222d4bdefb7077b5551c10be372d3a86fe75ac2d5e4fc36ca89ef72989b6c7266c209065a21b7 |
Background: How many MCP packages publish verified provenance →
Dependencies 16 packages
| Packages resolved | 16 |
|---|---|
| Tree resolution | Complete |
Background: SBOMs and build attestations, explained →
The tools this component advertises to a client, with an estimated token cost for each. Expand a tool to see its parameters and schema. The per-tool counts are indicative and are not scored directly; the schema's total context footprint is one signal in Schema Quality & AI Usability. A tool's description is untrusted text the model reads on every call, which is what makes this list a security surface and not just an inventory: how tool poisoning works →
otc_events_month_overview Overview of a city’s events across a month ~265
Day-by-day overview of a whole month from an "on the Cheap" city’s events calendar: for each day, the true number of listings and a short preview of them. Pass the `site` key for the city (see otc_list_sites). The calendar shows at most four listings per day, so `events` is a preview while `total` is the real count — call otc_list_events for a specific date to get that day's complete schedule. The national hub has no local calendar and is not a valid `site` here. Use this to find the busiest days or scan a month at a glance. Read-only.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| month | string | – | Month to summarise, as ISO YYYY-MM. Defaults to the current month. |
| site | string | yes | Which "on the Cheap" city to read. Required — there is no default site. One of: charlotte, denver, atlanta, chicago, columbus, seattle, kansascity, miami, orlando, portland, richmond, southernmaine,… |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
otc_get_post Get an On the Cheap article ~233
Fetch one "on the Cheap" article in full by numeric id, slug, or full URL. Pass the `site` key for the city the article belongs to — an id or slug from one site will not resolve on another, and a full URL must match the site you name. Returns the article text as readable plain text by default; set `format` to "html" for the original markup. Read-only.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| format | string | – | Body format: readable text (default) or raw HTML |
| post | string | yes | Post id, slug, or full article URL |
| site | string | yes | Which "on the Cheap" city to read. Required — there is no default site. One of: charlotte, denver, atlanta, chicago, columbus, seattle, kansascity, miami, orlando, portland, richmond, southernmaine,… |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
otc_healthcheck Check an On the Cheap site’s connectivity ~161
Verify one "on the Cheap" site is reachable and its public API is responding. Pass the `site` key for the city (see otc_list_sites). The sites need no credentials, so this checks connectivity only. Read-only.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| site | string | yes | Which "on the Cheap" city to read. Required — there is no default site. One of: charlotte, denver, atlanta, chicago, columbus, seattle, kansascity, miami, orlando, portland, richmond, southernmaine,… |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
otc_list_categories List a city’s article categories ~192
List one "on the Cheap" site's article categories with their ids and post counts (kids, music, food, festivals, art, museums, and so on). Pass the `site` key for the city (see otc_list_sites). Use an id to filter otc_search_posts by topic — ids are per-site, so use them only against the site they came from. Read-only.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| site | string | yes | Which "on the Cheap" city to read. Required — there is no default site. One of: charlotte, denver, atlanta, chicago, columbus, seattle, kansascity, miami, orlando, portland, richmond, southernmaine,… |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
otc_list_events List a city’s events for a day ~263
List everything happening in an "on the Cheap" city on a given date, from that site’s events calendar — each with its time, price (most are free) and venue. Pass the `site` key for the city (see otc_list_sites) and an ISO `date` (YYYY-MM-DD); the date defaults to today. Set `free_only` to keep just the no-cost listings. The national hub has no local calendar and is not a valid `site` here. Use otc_get_post on a listing's url for the full write-up. Read-only.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| date | string | – | Day to list, as ISO YYYY-MM-DD. Defaults to today. |
| free_only | boolean | – | Only listings marked FREE |
| site | string | yes | Which "on the Cheap" city to read. Required — there is no default site. One of: charlotte, denver, atlanta, chicago, columbus, seattle, kansascity, miami, orlando, portland, richmond, southernmaine,… |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
otc_list_locations List a city’s locations ~183
List one "on the Cheap" site's location taxonomy with ids and post counts — the neighbourhoods and surrounding areas it covers. Pass the `site` key for the city (see otc_list_sites). Use an id to filter otc_search_posts geographically — ids are per-site, so use them only against the site they came from. Read-only.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| site | string | yes | Which "on the Cheap" city to read. Required — there is no default site. One of: charlotte, denver, atlanta, chicago, columbus, seattle, kansascity, miami, orlando, portland, richmond, southernmaine,… |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
otc_list_sites List the On the Cheap sites ~74
List every city in the "on the Cheap" network with the `site` key used to select it. This server reads them all — every other tool takes a `site` argument, and there is no default, so start here when you do not already know which key covers the city the user means. Read-only.
Input schema present but exposes no named parameters.
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
otc_search_posts Search a city’s On the Cheap articles ~462
Search and filter one "on the Cheap" site's articles — free and cheap things to do in that city, plus deals, festivals, kids activities and local guides. Pass the `site` key for the city (see otc_list_sites); the national hub is valid here and carries country-wide deals. Filter by full-text `query`, `category` or `location` id (see otc_list_categories / otc_list_locations), and publication date range. Category and location ids are per-site — resolve them against the SAME site you are searching. Retired deals live in an "expired" category and are excluded by default; set `include_expired` to search them too. Returns slim summaries by default — use otc_get_post for an article's full text. Read-only.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| after | string | – | Only posts published on or after this date |
| before | string | – | Only posts published on or before this date |
| category | integer | – | Category id from otc_list_categories, for this same site |
| include_expired | boolean | – | Include retired/expired deals (default false) |
| location | integer | – | Location id from otc_list_locations, for this same site |
| page | integer | – | 1-based page number |
| per_page | integer | – | Results per page (max 100) |
| query | string | – | Full-text search, e.g. "free museum day" |
| site | string | yes | Which "on the Cheap" city to read. Required — there is no default site. One of: charlotte, denver, atlanta, chicago, columbus, seattle, kansascity, miami, orlando, portland, richmond, southernmaine,… |
| tag | integer | – | Tag id |
| view | string | – | Response shape: "compact" (default) drops fields the response already carries elsewhere; "full" returns every field this server understands. compact returns slim summaries AND asks WordPress for only… |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
What is the io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp server?
io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp is listed in the public MCP registry as io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp. On the Cheap MCP, free and cheap events, deals and local guides across 14 US cities. This page covers its npm package (onthecheap-mcp).
Is the io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp server safe to use?
io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp scores 93 out of 100 on VerifyMCP. We found no known CVEs affecting it as of 20 September 2026. It declares no install or post-install scripts. Its build provenance is signed and verified. That is a record of what we were able to check automatically, not an endorsement. The category breakdown on this page shows every signal behind the number, including the ones we could not confirm.
What tools does the io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp server expose?
io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp exposes 8 tools: otc_search_posts, otc_get_post, otc_list_events, otc_events_month_overview, otc_list_categories, and 3 more. Their descriptions and schemas cost roughly 1,833 tokens of context every time the server is loaded.
Is the io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp server still maintained?
io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp is still listed as active in the MCP registry. We last reached this channel on 20 September 2026. Those dates come from our own scans of the registry and the channel itself, not from anything the publisher announced.
What licence is the io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp server under?
io.github.chrischall/onthecheap-mcp declares the MIT licence, which is OSI-approved. That covers the source only, and says nothing about the cost of any service it calls.