Perplexity MCP server

The Perplexity MCP Server provides a Python-based interface to the Perplexity API that lets you query responses, maintain chat history, and manage conversations. It mimics how users interact with Perplexity Chat in a browser, allowing models to ask questions, continue conversations, and list chats.

Installation and Setup

Prerequisites

Before using the Perplexity MCP Server, ensure you have:

• Python 3.10 or higher
• uvx package manager

Configuration

Configure your client with these settings (the exact method varies by client):

"mcpServers": {
  "mcp-perplexity": {
    "command": "uvx",
    "args": ["mcp-perplexity"],
    "env": {
      "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key",
      "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar-pro",
      "DB_PATH": "chats.db"
    }
  }
}

Using Smithery CLI

You can also run the server using Smithery CLI:

npx -y @smithery/cli@latest run @daniel-lxs/mcp-perplexity --config "{\"perplexityApiKey\":\"pplx-abc\",\"perplexityModel\":\"sonar-pro\"}"

Environment Variables

Configure the server using these environment variables:

Variable	Description	Default Value	Required
PERPLEXITY_API_KEY	Your Perplexity API key	None	Yes
PERPLEXITY_MODEL	Default model for interactions	sonar-pro	No
PERPLEXITY_MODEL_ASK	Specific model for ask_perplexity tool	Uses PERPLEXITY_MODEL	No
PERPLEXITY_MODEL_CHAT	Specific model for chat_perplexity tool	Uses PERPLEXITY_MODEL	No
DB_PATH	Path to store chat history database	chats.db	No
WEB_UI_ENABLED	Enable or disable web UI	false	No
WEB_UI_PORT	Port for web UI	8050	No
WEB_UI_HOST	Host for web UI	127.0.0.1	No
DEBUG_LOGS	Enable detailed logging	false	No

Available Tools

ask_perplexity

This tool is used for one-off questions without maintaining chat history. Each request creates a new conversation.

• Uses the PERPLEXITY_MODEL_ASK model (falls back to PERPLEXITY_MODEL)
• Perfect for coding solutions, error debugging, and technical explanations
• Returns responses with source citations and alternative suggestions

chat_perplexity

Maintains ongoing conversations with Perplexity AI by either creating new chats or continuing existing ones.

• Uses the PERPLEXITY_MODEL_CHAT model (falls back to PERPLEXITY_MODEL)
• Maintains full conversation context
• Returns a chat ID (e.g., wild-horse-12) that can be used to continue the conversation
• Ideal for debugging, research, and tasks requiring conversation history

list_chats_perplexity

Lists all available chat conversations with Perplexity AI.

• Returns chat IDs, titles, and creation dates in relative time format (e.g., "5 minutes ago")
• Results are paginated with 50 chats per page
• Specify page number using the page argument (defaults to 1)

read_chat_perplexity

Retrieves the complete conversation history for a specific chat.

• Requires a valid chat_id
• Returns all messages with timestamps and roles (user or assistant)
• Does not make API calls to Perplexity - only reads from local storage

Web UI

The server includes an optional web interface for easier interaction.

Enabling the Web UI

Set WEB_UI_ENABLED to true to access the interface at http://WEB_UI_HOST:WEB_UI_PORT (default: http://127.0.0.1:8050).

Web UI Features

• Interactive chat interface
• Chat history management
• Real-time message display

How to install this MCP server

For Claude Code

To add this MCP server to Claude Code, run this command in your terminal:

claude mcp add-json "mcp-perplexity" '{"command":"uvx","args":["mcp-perplexity"],"env":{"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY":"your-api-key","PERPLEXITY_MODEL":"sonar-pro","DB_PATH":"chats.db"}}'

See the official Claude Code MCP documentation for more details.

For Cursor

There are two ways to add an MCP server to Cursor. The most common way is to add the server globally in the ~/.cursor/mcp.json file so that it is available in all of your projects.

If you only need the server in a single project, you can add it to the project instead by creating or adding it to the .cursor/mcp.json file.

Adding an MCP server to Cursor globally

To add a global MCP server go to Cursor Settings > Tools & Integrations and click "New MCP Server".

When you click that button the ~/.cursor/mcp.json file will be opened and you can add your server like this:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp-perplexity": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-perplexity"
            ],
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key",
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar-pro",
                "DB_PATH": "chats.db"
            }
        }
    }
}

Adding an MCP server to a project

To add an MCP server to a project you can create a new .cursor/mcp.json file or add it to the existing one. This will look exactly the same as the global MCP server example above.

How to use the MCP server

Once the server is installed, you might need to head back to Settings > MCP and click the refresh button.

The Cursor agent will then be able to see the available tools the added MCP server has available and will call them when it needs to.

You can also explicitly ask the agent to use the tool by mentioning the tool name and describing what the function does.

For Claude Desktop

To add this MCP server to Claude Desktop:

1. Find your configuration file:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
• Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

2. Add this to your configuration file:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp-perplexity": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-perplexity"
            ],
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key",
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar-pro",
                "DB_PATH": "chats.db"
            }
        }
    }
}

3. Restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect