Perplexity MCP Server

Perplexity MCP Server is an MCP server that provides real-time web search capabilities directly to Model Context Protocol clients using Perplexity's API. Built with Node.js and TypeScript, it connects language models to live internet queries, allowing assistants to gather up-to-date facts, current news, and cited research without leaving the conversation interface. Developers, researchers, and general users utilize this integration to overcome knowledge cutoff limits during interactive tasks. The server handles query dispatching to Perplexity's Sonar models, returning structured search responses that can be incorporated directly into model context. Users can configure specific Perplexity model tiers based on their reasoning or speed requirements, ranging from the lightweight default Sonar model to deep reasoning options. By exposing search functionality as an MCP tool, the server enables automated browsing and fact-checking whenever an assistant determines that live external data is required to address a user prompt.

Category: Web Search & Research

Tags: perplexity, research, search, web search

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How to install and configure Perplexity MCP Server

1. Ensure Node.js (version 14 or higher) is installed on your machine. 2. Obtain an API key from the Perplexity API settings page. 3. Install automatically for Claude Desktop using Smithery by running: bash npx -y @smithery/cli install @jaacob/perplexity-mcp --client claude 4. Alternatively, clone the repository and build manually: bash git clone https://github.com/jaacob/perplexity-mcp cd perplexity-mcp npm install npm run build 5. Open claude_desktop_config.json and register the server: json { "mcpServers": { "perplexity-server": { "command": "node", "args": ["/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"], "env": { "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here", "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar" } } } } 6. Replace /absolute/path/to with your local path and restart Claude Desktop.

What you can do with Perplexity MCP Server

• Fetching the latest breaking news stories and real-time updates directly into your Claude Desktop chat window. - Researching current documentation, software releases, and technical API changes past your model's knowledge cutoff date. - Finding local business recommendations, restaurant reviews, and travel details with cited search results. - Performing multi-step reasoning web queries by configuring the sonar-reasoning-pro model environment variable. - Verifying factual claims and gathering background references during document drafting and analytical writing workflows.

Key facts

• https://github.com/jaacob/perplexity-mcp
• Web Search & Research
• perplexity, research, search, web search

Part of MCP Servers

What can Perplexity MCP Server do?

Perplexity MCP Server connects your AI client to Perplexity's search API. It allows the assistant to execute web searches, retrieve live news, verify facts beyond model cutoff dates, and fetch online information directly inside your conversational interface.

Which Perplexity models are supported?

The server supports multiple models configured via the PERPLEXITY_MODEL environment variable. Options include the default sonar model, sonar-pro for faster response times, sonar-reasoning for enhanced logic, and sonar-reasoning-pro for complex analytical queries.

Which MCP clients work with Perplexity MCP Server?

The server is documented for use with the Claude Desktop application via its local configuration file or automatic Smithery installation. It also works with any MCP-compliant client capable of running local Node.js process servers.

Is Perplexity MCP Server open source?

Yes, Perplexity MCP Server is open source and released under the MIT license. You can inspect, modify, and build the source code directly from its GitHub repository.