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Exa MCP Server

Provides an MCP server to access Exa's web, code, and company research search capabilities.

Installation

Add the following to your MCP client configuration file.

Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exa-labs-exa-mcp-server": {
      "url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "EXA_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

You can connect your AI assistants to Exa’s MCP server to access powerful search capabilities, including web search, code search, and company research. This server enables you to route your prompts to Exa’s data sources and receive structured results for seamless integration.

How to use

Set up an MCP client to communicate with Exa’s hosted MCP server. You will configure the client to point to the Exa MCP URL and, if you use the npm package, provide your API key for authentication. Once connected, you can query Exa’s web, code, and company data sources through your AI workflows.

How to install

Prerequisites: ensure Node.js and npm are installed on your machine.

Choose a connection method below and follow the exact steps.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exa": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Additional setup when using the npm package

If you prefer the npm package flow, you can run the MCP server locally via npx with your API key.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exa": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "exa-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "EXA_API_KEY": "your_api_key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Notes on usage and tips

- Use the HTTP config for remote access to Exa’s MCP server. The URL is required for this method.

- If you run the npm-based flow, replace your_api_key with the API key you obtain from Exa. Keep this key secure.

Configuration details

Two common methods are supported to connect to Exa MCP: an HTTP remote URL and a local npm-based runtime. The HTTP method uses the hosted endpoint, while the npm-based method runs the MCP server via the package on your machine.

Security considerations

Always protect your API key. Do not expose it in client-side code or in public repositories. Prefer environment variables for secrets and use access controls provided by your hosting environment.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot reach the MCP URL, verify network access and that the URL is correct. If you are using the npm-based flow, ensure the API key is set in the environment and that the command is available on your system.

Available tools

web_search_exa

Search the web for topics and retrieve ready-to-use content.

get_code_context_exa

Find code examples, documentation, and programming solutions from GitHub, Stack Overflow, and official docs.

company_research_exa

Research a company to gather business information, news, and insights.