Perplexity API Platform MCP Server

 
 

The official MCP server implementation for the Perplexity API Platform, providing AI assistants with real-time web search, reasoning, and research capabilities through Sonar models and the Search API.

Available Tools

$3

Direct web search using the Perplexity Search API. Returns ranked search results with metadata, perfect for finding current information.

$3

General-purpose conversational AI with real-time web search using the sonar-pro model. Great for quick questions and everyday searches.

$3

Deep, comprehensive research using the sonar-deep-research model. Ideal for thorough analysis and detailed reports.

$3

Advanced reasoning and problem-solving using the sonar-reasoning-pro model. Perfect for complex analytical tasks.

> [!TIP]
> Available as an optional parameter for perplexity_reason and perplexity_research: strip_thinking
>
> Set to true to remove ... tags from the response, saving context tokens. Default: false

Configuration

$3

1. Get your Perplexity API Key from the API Portal
2. Replace your_key_here in the configurations below with your API key
3. (Optional) Set timeout: PERPLEXITY_TIMEOUT_MS=600000 (default: 5 minutes)
4. (Optional) Set custom base URL: PERPLEXITY_BASE_URL=https://your-custom-url.com (default: https://api.perplexity.ai)
5. (Optional) Set log level: PERPLEXITY_LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG|INFO|WARN|ERROR (default: ERROR)

$3

``bash
claude mcp add perplexity --env PERPLEXITY_API_KEY="your_key_here" -- npx -y @perplexity-ai/mcp-server
`

Or install via plugin:
`bash
export PERPLEXITY_API_KEY="your_key_here"
claude


Then run: /plugin marketplace add perplexityai/modelcontextprotocol

Then run: /plugin install perplexity

`

$3

We recommend using the one-click install badge at the top of this README for Cursor.

For manual setup, all these clients use the same mcpServers format:

| Client | Config File |
|--------|-------------|
| Cursor | ~/.cursor/mcp.json |
| Claude Desktop | claude_desktop_config.json |
| Windsurf | ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json |

`json
{
"mcpServers": {
"perplexity": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@perplexity-ai/mcp-server"],
"env": {
"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your_key_here"
}
}
}
}
`

$3

We recommend using the one-click install badge at the top of this README for VS Code, or for manual setup, add to .vscode/mcp.json:

`json
{
"servers": {
"perplexity": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@perplexity-ai/mcp-server"],
"env": {
"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your_key_here"
}
}
}
}
`

$3

`bash
codex mcp add perplexity --env PERPLEXITY_API_KEY="your_key_here" -- npx -y @perplexity-ai/mcp-server
`

$3

Most clients can be manually configured to use the mcpServers wrapper in their configuration file (like Cursor). If your client doesn't work, check its documentation for the correct wrapper format.

$3

If you are running this server at work—especially behind a company firewall or proxy—you may need to tell the program how to send its internet traffic through your network's proxy. Follow these steps:

1. Get your proxy details

- Ask your IT department for your HTTPS proxy address and port.
- You may also need a username and password.

2. Set the proxy environment variable

The easiest and most reliable way for Perplexity MCP is to use PERPLEXITY_PROXY. For example:

`bash
export PERPLEXITY_PROXY=https://your-proxy-host:8080
`

If your proxy needs a username and password, use:

`bash
export PERPLEXITY_PROXY=https://username:password@your-proxy-host:8080
`

3. Alternate: Standard environment variables

If you'd rather use the standard variables, we support HTTPS_PROXY and HTTP_PROXY.

> [!NOTE]
> The server checks proxy settings in this order: PERPLEXITY_PROXY → HTTPS_PROXY → HTTP_PROXY. If none are set, it connects directly to the internet.
> URLs must include https://. Typical ports are 8080, 3128, and 80.

$3

For cloud or shared deployments, run the server in HTTP mode.

#### Environment Variables

| Variable | Description | Default |
|----------|-------------|---------|
| PERPLEXITY_API_KEY | Your Perplexity API key | Required |
| PERPLEXITY_BASE_URL | Custom base URL for API requests | https://api.perplexity.ai |
| PORT | HTTP server port | 8080 |
| BIND_ADDRESS | Network interface to bind to | 0.0.0.0 |
| ALLOWED_ORIGINS | CORS origins (comma-separated) | * |

#### Docker

`bash
docker build -t perplexity-mcp-server .
docker run -p 8080:8080 -e PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=your_key_here perplexity-mcp-server
`

#### Node.js

`bash
export PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=your_key_here
npm install && npm run build && npm run start:http
`

The server will be accessible at http://localhost:8080/mcp

Troubleshooting

- API Key Issues: Ensure PERPLEXITY_API_KEY is set correctly
- Connection Errors: Check your internet connection and API key validity
- Tool Not Found: Make sure the package is installed and the command path is correct
- Timeout Errors: For very long research queries, set PERPLEXITY_TIMEOUT_MS to a higher value
- Proxy Issues: Verify your PERPLEXITY_PROXY or HTTPS_PROXY setup and ensure api.perplexity.ai isn't blocked by your firewall.
- EOF / Initialize Errors: Some strict MCP clients fail because npx writes installation messages to stdout. Use npx -yq instead of npx -y` to suppress this output.

For support, visit community.perplexity.ai or file an issue.

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