WEB RESEARCH / Exa
Exa MCP
Connects an assistant to Exa web search, content retrieval and optional multi-step research tools.
“Connect to Exa's hosted MCP server:”
01 / THE REASONING
Why this made the selection.
- Supports a hosted endpoint and a separately inspectable local stdio path.
- Documents tool selection and the authentication difference between anonymous search and Exa Agent.
02 / THE REVIEW RECORD
What we actually inspected.
Source review has boundaries.
A clear record is more useful than a “safe” badge.
Material inspected
- README.md (installation, capability and permission sections)
- package.json
- src/stdio.ts
- src/tools/webSearch.ts
- LICENSE
Our findings
- The web-search tool declares readOnlyHint and openWorldHint; returned web content is external data.
- The local implementation supports tool-list configuration; the hosted service is subject to its own account terms.
Not established by this review
- Server startup, authentication and tool execution were not tested.
The review applies to the material and revision named here. A newer upstream release can change its behavior.
03 / PUT IT TO WORK
Connect a server deliberately.
- Add https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp using the official client configuration.
- Authenticate when using Exa Agent or higher account limits; specify all required tools if overriding the defaults.
Before you start
- A remote-capable MCP client; Exa authentication for restricted capabilities.
Documented configuration example
Use the client and authentication context described in the setup guidance. Configuration formats vary between hosts.
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"type": "streamable-http",
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}04 / FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The source trail.
Our notes are separate from the original resource.
Check upstream before adopting a new version.
- Official documentation ↗Checked
https://github.com/exa-labs/exa-mcp-server/blob/15ffb50519e719dc791cdc750ce5ed1934c0a1ed/README.md
Supports: summary, whySelected, bestFor, limitations, install, access, compatibility, transports
- Applicable source licence ↗Checked
https://github.com/exa-labs/exa-mcp-server/blob/15ffb50519e719dc791cdc750ce5ed1934c0a1ed/LICENSE
Supports: license
https://github.com/exa-labs/exa-mcp-server/blob/15ffb50519e719dc791cdc750ce5ed1934c0a1ed/package.json
Supports: language, review
https://github.com/exa-labs/exa-mcp-server/blob/15ffb50519e719dc791cdc750ce5ed1934c0a1ed/src/stdio.ts
Supports: language, review
https://github.com/exa-labs/exa-mcp-server/blob/15ffb50519e719dc791cdc750ce5ed1934c0a1ed/src/tools/webSearch.ts
Supports: language, review