Perplexity Ask MCP Server (zhangyu1818): Setup for Claude and Cursor
Not the official Perplexity MCP server. This one is built by the community. Perplexity makes its own: Perplexity MCP Server →
Lets Claude and Cursor ask a Perplexity model a question through a single tool.
This is a small third-party package that wraps Perplexity's chat models in one tool. It is not Perplexity's own server. It runs on your computer and needs an API key.
The package sends your key and your questions to an API endpoint you can change. The default endpoint is OpenRouter, not Perplexity, so check the endpoint setting matches the service your key belongs to.
Good for
- People who want web-aware answers from Perplexity inside their editor
- Developers who already use OpenRouter and want Sonar through one key
Works in
12 should work
Tap an app to see how to set it up and any known problems.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Supports local MCP servers.
Client does not support this transport.
Client does not support this transport.
Install Perplexity Ask (zhangyu1818) MCP
Claude Code
- 1
Copy this prompt.
Add the Perplexity Ask (zhangyu1818) MCP server to Claude Code. Run this command: claude mcp add perplexity-ask -e PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=<PERPLEXITY_API_KEY> -- npx -y @zhangyu1818/server-perplexity-ask Ask me for PERPLEXITY_API_KEY and only put the values in that config, nowhere else. Then check that it loaded and tell me if I need to sign in or restart.
- 2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.
Requires Node.js.
Built from the package data we hold. Not yet tested by us.
Tools
Asks a Perplexity model a question
Sends a list of role and content messages to a chat model through `API_ENDPOINT` and returns the reply text. The default model is `perplexity/sonar`; `MODEL` changes it.
Try: “Ask Perplexity what changed in the latest Node.js release.”
Network ·
perplexity_ask
Read from the source code
Permissions
low risk · 3 things to watch
Low risk
It can only send questions and read answers, but it sends them to a third-party package's default endpoint with your key. Set the endpoint yourself so the key goes where you expect.
What it can do
- Read your data
- Create and change things
- Delete things
- Read-only modeHow to turn it on
Watch out for
Your key goes to OpenRouter unless you change it
The package sends `PERPLEXITY_API_KEY` as a bearer token to `API_ENDPOINT`, which defaults to openrouter.ai. A Perplexity key will not work there, so set `API_ENDPOINT`, or use an OpenRouter key on purpose. npmjs.com
A third party publishes this package
It is not from Perplexity. Perplexity's own server is a separate listing at /mcp/perplexityai-modelcontextprotocol, so pick that one if you want the vendor's package. npmjs.com
Questions leave your computer
Everything you ask is sent to the endpoint and model provider. Keep private data out of the prompt. npmjs.com
Security advisories
No published security advisories as of Nov 1, 2026.
Technical details
| Turning on read-only | The single tool is marked read-only, so there is nothing to switch off. |
|---|---|
| Talks to | openrouter.ai by default, or the address in the endpoint setting |
| Sign-in and keys | The key is read from the PERPLEXITY_API_KEY environment variable in your client config. |
| Scopes |
|
Questions
Is this the official Perplexity MCP server?
No. It is a third-party package by zhangyu1818, not made by Perplexity. It is a modified copy of Perplexity's server code: it has one tool and adds API_ENDPOINT and MODEL settings. Perplexity's own server is a separate package; see the official Perplexity MCP page.
Do I need an API key?
Yes. The package reads PERPLEXITY_API_KEY and sends it as a bearer token to API_ENDPOINT. The README tells you to get the key from Perplexity's API portal, but the default endpoint is OpenRouter (https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions), so set API_ENDPOINT to the service your key belongs to.
Where do my questions go?
To the address in API_ENDPOINT, which defaults to openrouter.ai, and from there to the model. Change it with API_ENDPOINT and MODEL.
Can it change or delete anything?
No. It has a single tool that asks a question and returns an answer, marked read-only.
How do I add it to Claude Desktop or Cursor?
Use the install box above; it needs only the key. Add API_ENDPOINT and MODEL as extra environment variables if you want something other than the OpenRouter default.
Which model does it use?
perplexity/sonar by default. Set MODEL to use another one.
Information
updated Nov 2, 2026
- Publisher
- Community
- Package
@zhangyu1818/server-perplexity-ask- Registry
- npm
- Transport
- stdio
- Auth
- API key
- Version
- 0.6.1
- License
- MIT
- Last commit
- Oct 21, 2026
Other Perplexity MCP servers
Sources
Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from. Issues, quotes and findings above link to their own source.
Show all 1Hide
- www.npmjs.com · npmjs.com