WEB SEARCH AND RESEARCH / Perplexity
Perplexity API MCP
Official search, answer and research tools backed by Perplexity’s Search and Agent APIs, with local and hosted connection options.
“The official MCP server implementation for the Perplexity API Platform”
01 / THE REASONING
Why this made the selection.
- Separates direct search results from synthesized answers and longer research requests.
- The current source maps answer/reason/research tools to managed Agent API presets, avoiding a stale assumption that every tool uses the older Sonar path.
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, package metadata and server registry
- Full src/server.ts tool schemas and request paths
- LICENSE
Our findings
- The direct search path and Agent API preset dispatch were read from the implementation.
- Filters, streaming and cancellation were reviewed statically; no API call, citation accuracy check or billing test was performed.
Not established by this review
- No MCP server or upstream package was installed or run.
- No authenticated account, API request, client handshake or write operation was 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.
DOCUMENTED COMMAND
npx -y @perplexity-ai/mcp-serverCopying does not execute this command. It may retrieve a newer version than the reviewed source.
- For local stdio, supply PERPLEXITY_API_KEY through the client’s secret/environment settings and launch the documented package.
- Alternatively connect to https://api.perplexity.ai/mcp using the supported authenticated HTTP setup.
- Use your client’s actual configuration schema; do not paste another client’s wrapper or store API keys in shared project files.
- The publisher documents npx -yq for strict stdio clients if npm chatter disrupts initialization; use client logs to verify a clean handshake.
Before you start
- An active Perplexity API account/key and applicable API access
- Node.js/npm for local mode, or a client supporting the hosted transport
- Network access to Perplexity APIs
04 / FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The source trail.
Our notes are separate from the original resource.
Check upstream before adopting a new version.
https://github.com/perplexityai/modelcontextprotocol/blob/c73c8561bbc2d9eb666334a53c311b50f4f4cf76/README.md
Supports: summary, upstreamDescription, whySelected, bestFor, install, compatibility, limitations, access
- Source licence ↗Checked
https://github.com/perplexityai/modelcontextprotocol/blob/c73c8561bbc2d9eb666334a53c311b50f4f4cf76/LICENSE
Supports: license, access.cost
https://github.com/perplexityai/modelcontextprotocol/blob/c73c8561bbc2d9eb666334a53c311b50f4f4cf76/src/server.ts
Supports: review, limitations, access, transports
https://github.com/perplexityai/modelcontextprotocol/blob/c73c8561bbc2d9eb666334a53c311b50f4f4cf76/package.json
Supports: review, limitations, access, transports
https://github.com/perplexityai/modelcontextprotocol/blob/c73c8561bbc2d9eb666334a53c311b50f4f4cf76/server.json
Supports: review, limitations, access, transports