PlugWiki
Perplexity MCP Server logo

Perplexity MCP Server: hosted setup, tools and API pricing

Official · by PerplexityRemoteLocal
Getnpm@perplexity-ai/mcp-serverperplexityai/modelcontextprotocolDocs
Tools
4
4 read · 0 change
Stars
2.6K
on GitHub
Downloads
22.7K
a week
Works in
6
supported apps
Risk
Low
read only

Lets your AI assistant search the web and get cited answers and research reports from Perplexity.

This is Perplexity's own server. It lets Claude, Cursor, VS Code and other assistants search the web, get quick answers with sources, and run deep research. Every search is billed to a Perplexity API account, so set up API billing before you connect.

Good for

  • Developers who want Claude Code, Cursor or VS Code to look up current docs and news while they work
  • Researchers who want long, sourced reports written inside their assistant
  • Anyone whose assistant has no web search, or weak web search
  • Teams already paying for the Perplexity API who want to reuse it in their tools

Works in

6 supported · 8 should work

Tap an app to see how to set it up and any known problems.

Install Perplexity MCP

Claude Code

  1. 1

    Copy this prompt.

    Add the Perplexity MCP server to Claude Code. Run this command:

claude mcp add --transport http perplexity https://api.perplexity.ai/mcp

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. 2

    Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Sign-in with the vendor account (OAuth), A Perplexity API organization with billing.

Pick the sign-in option unless you already have an API key you want to use. The local and plugin options read the key from your shell, so the key never sits in a config file. If your app fails to start the local server, Perplexity's README suggests npx -yq instead of npx -y, because some strict apps break on npx's install messages.

From the vendor's docs. Source.

Tools

  • Searches the web and returns a ranked list of pages with dates

    Runs a web search and gives your assistant a ranked list of pages with titles, links, snippets and dates. You can limit it to recent pages or to certain sites, and a fast mode trades some depth for speed and cost.

    Try: “Search the web for news about the EU AI Act from the last week.”

    Network · perplexity_search

  • Answers a question quickly using a live web search, with sources

    Sends your question to Perplexity, which searches the web and writes a short answer with sources. Best for quick questions and everyday lookups.

    Try: “What is the latest stable version of Node.js and when was it released?”

    Network · perplexity_ask

  • Works through a harder question step by step using current web sources

    Has Perplexity reason through a more complex question, such as a comparison or trade-off, using what it finds on the web. It takes longer than a quick answer.

    Try: “Compare Postgres and MySQL for a write-heavy app and recommend one, with sources.”

    Network · perplexity_reason

  • Writes a long, sourced research report on a topic; can take a few minutes

    Runs Perplexity's deep research on a topic and returns a detailed report with sources. A run can take several minutes, and clients that support it show progress while it works.

    Try: “Research the current state of solid-state battery manufacturing and write a report with sources.”

    Network · perplexity_research

Read from the source code

Pros and cons

Good

  • Made and maintained by Perplexity.
  • The hosted version needs nothing installed and updates itself.
  • You can sign in with your Perplexity account instead of copying an API key.
  • Answers come with sources you can open and check.
  • One server covers quick lookups, raw search results and long research reports.
  • It only reads the web, so it cannot change anything in your accounts.

Watch out

  • Every call costs money on a Perplexity API account.
  • Signing in needs a Perplexity API organization that you administer and that can pay.
  • Deep research runs can take several minutes and may time out on the local server.
  • Some strict clients fail to start the local server unless you change the npx command.
  • A schema bug once made every tool fail in Claude Desktop and Claude Code until a fix shipped.

Permissions

low risk · 4 things to watch

Low risk

It only reads the web, so the main risk is cost: an agent that searches a lot can run up your Perplexity API bill. Set a spending limit on the API account you connect.

What it can do

Watch out for

  • Every search spends money on your API account

    Each call is billed to your API key or the organization you picked at sign-in. Set a spending limit in the Perplexity API console before you let an agent run on its own. docs.perplexity.ai

  • Web results can carry hidden instructions

    Results come back as plain text with nothing marking them as untrusted web content. Be careful with links or instructions that appear inside answers. github.com

  • Your questions are sent to Perplexity

    What the assistant searches for, which can include text from your files or chat, goes to Perplexity's API. docs.perplexity.ai

  • Keep your API key out of project files

    Perplexity's docs say to reference the key through an environment variable and never commit it to a shared config file. docs.perplexity.ai

Security advisories

No published security advisories as of Nov 1, 2026.

Technical details
Turning on read-onlyAll four tools only search and read the web; none change data. The Anthropic API MCP connector can enable just perplexity_search with mcp_toolset configs.
Talks toapi.perplexity.ai
Sign-in and keysHosted: sign-in with Perplexity, or an API key sent as a bearer header. Local: PERPLEXITY_API_KEY in the environment that starts the server.

Alternatives

Use Perplexity's own server if you want cited answers and research reports and already pay for the Perplexity API. Pick Exa, Brave Search or Tavily if you only need raw search results from another provider.

ServerOfficialRunsSign-inGitHub stars
For Perplexity
PerplexityThis pageOfficialHostedLocalAccount2.6K
perplexity-mcp-zerverCommunity––98
Other tools for the same job
ExaFor ExaOfficialHostedLocalAccount–
Brave SearchOfficialLocal––
TavilyOfficial––2.5K

What people say

People like the quality of Perplexity's search inside their assistant; the main complaint was a bug that briefly broke every tool.

What people like

  • A Hacker News user rates Perplexity's web search above Claude's built-in search.
  • Some developers list it among their favorite add-ons for coding assistants.

Common complaints

  • A schema format bug made all tools fail in Claude Desktop and Claude Code for about two weeks.

In their words

Hacker NewsMar 2025
“mcp-perplexity, so I can essentially have Claude sample from perplexity's various models and/or use it for web search. Somewhat superseded by Claude's own new web search capability, but perplexity's is generally better.”
knowaveragejoeHacker NewsJul 2025
“my favorite mcps so far have been perplexity, context7 and browser-mcp”
WorldPeasGitHub issueAug 2026
“Every tool in `@perplexity-ai/mcp-server` fails immediately in MCP clients that validate embedded schemas as JSON Schema 2020-12.”
jessemaher

Questions

Is the Perplexity MCP server free?

No. The server itself is free and open source, but every search is billed at standard Perplexity API prices to your API key or the API organization you chose at sign-in. Plain search requests cost $5 per 1,000.

Does my Perplexity Pro subscription cover it?

Not confirmed. Perplexity bills the server to an API organization, through an API key or by signing in and picking that organization, and its setup docs do not mention Pro or other chat plans.

What is the Perplexity MCP server URL?

https://api.perplexity.ai/mcp. Sign in with your Perplexity account when your app asks, or send your API key as a bearer token.

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.

Why does sign-in fail or ask me to create an organization?

Signing in needs a Perplexity API organization that you administer and that can pay. If you have none, the sign-in page links you to create one in the API console; then reconnect from your app.

Which tool should I ask for?

Ask for a search when you want a list of links. Ask a question for a fast answer with sources. Ask for research when you want a long report, which can take a few minutes.

Why does deep research time out?

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

Can I use it on 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. It only searches and reads the web. A signed-in connection can call the API but cannot create keys, see balances or manage your organization.

Perplexity MCP vs Exa or Brave Search?

Perplexity gives written answers and reports with sources. Brave Search returns plain search results for your assistant to read itself, and Exa offers its own search and research tools.

Examples

  • Get a quick answer about recent news, with sources.

    What happened in AI this week?

    Source

  • Search one site only, limited to recent pages.

    Search docs.python.org for pages about asyncio task groups from the last month.

  • Have the assistant write a long research report with sources.

    Research the current state of solid-state battery manufacturing and write a report with sources.

  • Work through a harder question that needs reasoning over current facts.

    Compare the latest pricing of the three biggest cloud GPU providers and tell me which is cheapest for a month of training.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Publisher
Perplexity (official)
Package
@perplexity-ai/mcp-server
Registry
npm
Transport
stdio, Streamable HTTP
Auth
OAuth
Version
1.2.1
License
MIT
Last commit
Oct 21, 2026
Open issues
7
Listed in
Official MCP registry, Docker MCP Catalog

WebsitePerplexity MCP docsGitHubDockerDocker MCP CatalogPerplexity API pricingIssues

Other Perplexity MCP servers

See all

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from. Issues, quotes and findings above link to their own source.

Show all 13
  1. Perplexity API MCP Server · docs.perplexity.ai
  2. README · raw.githubusercontent.com
  3. Perplexity API Platform MCP Server · github.com
  4. server.ts · github.com
  5. Proposal: Return search results with an untrusted-source flag · github.com
  6. Pricing · docs.perplexity.ai
  7. All tools unusable in 2020-12-only clients · github.com
  8. news.ycombinator.com · news.ycombinator.com
  9. news.ycombinator.com · news.ycombinator.com
  10. Exa MCP Server · github.com
  11. Brave Search MCP Server · github.com
  12. tavily-mcp · github.com
  13. perplexity-mcp-zerver · github.com

Facts from the official MCP registry, GitHub, npm, PyPI and the Docker catalog. Updated Nov 2, 2026.