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Perplexity MCP servers: which one to use

Use Perplexity's own server for reliable search and research, billed to an API account. Pick a community server only to run on your own Perplexity plan.

Servers
38
active
Official
1
by Perplexity
Hosted
3
nothing to install
Local
24
runs on your machine
OAuth
1
sign in, no key

Perplexity makes its own MCP server, and it is the dependable way to add web search and research with sources to Claude, Cursor or VS Code. Every search is billed to a Perplexity API account, so set up API billing and a spending limit first. Several community servers skip the API and drive your Perplexity website login instead. They use undocumented endpoints, so they can break without notice.

Good for

  • Developers who want Claude Code or Cursor to answer questions with live web sources
  • Researchers who want long cited reports from deep research
  • People who already pay for a Perplexity plan and want to use it instead of API billing
  • Teams who want a hosted connection they can sign in to from claude.ai

Which Perplexity MCP server to use

Use the official server unless you want to avoid API billing. The community servers use your Perplexity website login, which is unofficial and can stop working when Perplexity changes its site.

ServerOfficialRunsSign-inBilled toGitHub stars
PerplexityThis pageOfficialHostedLocalAccount or API keyAPI account2.6K
dainfernalcoderCommunityLocalAPI keyAPI account296
escapewuCommunityLocalSession tokens–177
perplexity-webui-scraperCommunityLocalSession tokenYour plan140
perplexity-zerverCommunityLocalOptional login–98
vscode-perplexityCommunityLocalBrowser loginYour plan78

All Perplexity MCP servers

38 active · 1 official · official first, then by GitHub stars

Show all 38

Questions

Is there an official Perplexity MCP server?

Yes. Perplexity runs a hosted server at https://api.perplexity.ai/mcp and publishes a local version. It is the most starred by a wide margin.

Is the Perplexity MCP server free?

The server is free and open source, but every search is billed at standard Perplexity API prices to your API key or API organization. Plain search requests cost $5 per 1,000.

Does my Perplexity Pro subscription cover it?

Not confirmed for the official server. Perplexity bills it to an API organization, and its setup docs do not mention Pro or other chat plans. Some community servers use your logged-in plan instead.

Do I need an API key?

Not for the hosted version if your app supports sign-in. You sign in and pick an API organization to bill. The local version always needs an API key.

Can I use it in claude.ai?

Yes. Add https://api.perplexity.ai/mcp as a custom connector in claude.ai and sign in with Perplexity.

Can it change anything in my accounts?

No. The official server only searches and reads the web. A signed-in connection can call the API but cannot create keys, see balances or manage your organization.

Which one avoids API billing?

perplexity-webui-scraper and vscode-perplexity use your Perplexity website login instead of an API key, and perplexity-zerver describes itself as keyless, with an optional Pro login. perplexity-webui-scraper says free accounts support text prompts and Pro or Max models need a paid tier.

Are the browser login servers safe to rely on?

Treat them as experimental. perplexity-webui-scraper says it is unofficial and uses undocumented Perplexity endpoints, and vscode-perplexity calls itself experimental and not for production.

Why does deep research time out?

Research runs can take minutes. On the local official server, raise the timeout setting described in Perplexity's README. The default is 5 minutes.

Server facts from the official MCP registry, GitHub, npm, PyPI and the Docker catalog. Archived servers are not listed.