modelcontextprotocol
The official MCP server implementation for the Perplexity API Platform
The Perplexity MCP server is an official Model Context Protocol implementation that connects AI assistants to Perplexity's real-time web search, reasoning, and research capabilities. It offers both remote (hosted by Perplexity) and local deployment options, exposing four distinct tools for search, conversational AI, deep research, and advanced reasoning through the Perplexity Agent API and Search API. Developers can integrate it into Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop, and other MCP-compatible clients with a single command or JSON configuration.
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Equipping Claude Code or Cursor with real-time web search for current events and factual lookups
- 02Running deep research tasks that synthesize information from multiple sources over several minutes
- 03Solving complex analytical problems requiring advanced reasoning capabilities
- 04Building multi-tenant AI services that route Perplexity API calls per user or workspace
- 05Deploying shared MCP servers behind corporate firewalls with proxy configuration
- 06Integrating Perplexity search into custom AI workflows via the exported Node.js library
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modelcontextprotocol — FAQ
What is the Perplexity MCP server?+
It's an official Model Context Protocol server that gives AI assistants like Claude access to Perplexity's web search, research, and reasoning APIs. It can run as a remote hosted service or locally via Node.js or Docker.
How do I install the Perplexity MCP server in Claude Code?+
Run 'claude mcp add perplexity --env PERPLEXITY_API_KEY="your_key_here" -- npx -y @perplexity-ai/mcp-server' or use '/plugin marketplace add perplexityai/modelcontextprotocol' followed by '/plugin install perplexity' with the API key exported as an environment variable.
Which AI clients support the Perplexity MCP server?+
It works with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Kiro, Codex, and any MCP-compatible client. Remote server setup is supported in Cursor and VS Code via one-click install badges.
Do I need a Perplexity API key?+
Yes, you must obtain a Perplexity API key from the API Portal at console.perplexity.ai and set it via the PERPLEXITY_API_KEY environment variable or as a bearer token header for remote connections.
Is the Perplexity MCP server free?+
The MCP server software is open source, but using it requires a Perplexity API key, which is subject to Perplexity's API pricing. Check the Perplexity API Portal for current rates.
What's the difference between the remote and local MCP server?+
The remote server is hosted by Perplexity at api.perplexity.ai/mcp and requires no installation or updates, just an API key. The local server runs via npx or Docker on your machine, giving you more control over deployment, logging, and proxy settings.
How do I install modelcontextprotocol?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. modelcontextprotocol is a mcp server — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is modelcontextprotocol free?+
modelcontextprotocol is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.