Perplexity MCP server

The Perplexity API Platform MCP server provides AI assistants with real-time web search, reasoning, and research capabilities through Sonar models and the Search API. This implementation allows you to integrate Perplexity's powerful AI tools into your applications.

Available Tools

perplexity_search

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

perplexity_ask

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

perplexity_research

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

perplexity_reason

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

Installation and Configuration

Get Your API Key

1. Get your Perplexity API Key from the API Portal
2. Set it as an environment variable: PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=your_key_here
3. (Optional) Set a timeout for requests: PERPLEXITY_TIMEOUT_MS=600000. The default is 5 minutes.

Setup for Claude

Run in your terminal:

claude mcp add perplexity --transport stdio --env PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=your_key_here -- npx -y perplexity-mcp

Or add to your claude.json:

"mcpServers": {
  "perplexity": {
    "type": "stdio",
    "command": "npx",
    "args": [
      "-y",
      "perplexity-mcp"
    ],
    "env": {
      "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your_key_here",
      "PERPLEXITY_TIMEOUT_MS": "600000"
    }
  }
}

Setup for Cursor

Add to your mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "perplexity": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@perplexity-ai/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your_key_here",
        "PERPLEXITY_TIMEOUT_MS": "600000"
      }
    }
  }
}

Setup for Codex

Run in your terminal:

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

Setup for Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "perplexity": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@perplexity-ai/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your_key_here",
        "PERPLEXITY_TIMEOUT_MS": "600000"
      }
    }
  }
}

Setup for Other MCP Clients

For any MCP-compatible client, use:

npx @perplexity-ai/mcp-server

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

For support, visit community.perplexity.ai or the GitHub issues page.

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 "perplexity-ask" '{"command":"npx","args":["-y","server-perplexity-ask"],"env":{"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY":"YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"}}'

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": {
        "perplexity-ask": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "server-perplexity-ask"
            ],
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
            }
        }
    }
}

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": {
        "perplexity-ask": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "server-perplexity-ask"
            ],
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
            }
        }
    }
}

3. Restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect