Perplexity

by jaacob

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About

Integrates with Perplexity's API to enable real-time web searches for up-to-date information retrieval and context-aware responses.

Details

Author: jaacob
Repository: jaacob/perplexity-mcp
GitHub stars: 4
License: MIT License
Categories: Search, Other, AI, Design, Developer Tools, Infrastructure, Frontend, Knowledge Base
Tags: #web

Setting up with Highlight

This MCP is not yet compatible with Highlight’s one-click setup. However, you can still use it with Highlight by following these steps:

Download and install Highlight from highlightai.com/download
Navigate to the plugins tab and select "Add Custom Plugin"
Configure the plugin with the settings below
Plugin Name Perplexity

Command (node, npx, python, etc.) node
Arguments
- Argument 1 /absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js
Environment
- PERPLEXITY_MODEL sonar
- PERPLEXITY_API_KEY your-api-key-here
Please refer to the README for specific instructions on how to obtain API keys or other required environment variables.
Enable "Start Automatically" if you want the plugin to start when Highlight launches

Setting up with Cursor

Open Cursor's settings
Navigate to the MCP section
Click "Add new Global MCP server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Claude Desktop

Open Claude Desktop's settings
Go to the Integrations tab
Click "Add MCP Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure Claude Desktop is running before attempting to connect.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Windsurf

Open Windsurf's preferences
Go to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Integration"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Cline

Open Cline's settings
Navigate to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure to restart Cline after adding the configuration.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Goose

Open Goose's preferences
Go to the Integrations tab
Select "MCP Servers"
Click "Add New Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

From the repository

After configuring the server and restarting Claude, you can simply ask Claude to search for information. For example:

- "What's the latest news about SpaceX?"
- "Search for the best restaurants in Chicago"
- "Find information about the history of jazz music"

Claude will automatically use the Perplexity search tool to find and return relevant information.

If for whatever reason it decides not to, you can force the issue by prepending your prompt with "Search the web".

To install Perplexity Server for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @jaacob/perplexity-mcp --client claude

1. Clone this repository:

    git clone https://github.com/jaacob/perplexity-mcp
    cd perplexity-mcp

2. Install dependencies:

    npm install

3. Build the server:

    npm run build

Claude Desktop / Cursor

Paste into your MCP client config file to install this server.

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "perplexity": {
            "env": {
                "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
            ],
            "command": "node"
        }
    }
}

Linux

{
    "env": {
        "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
    },
    "args": [
        "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
    ],
    "command": "node"
}

Macos

{
    "env": {
        "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
    },
    "args": [
        "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
    ],
    "command": "node"
}

Windows

{
    "env": {
        "PERPLEXITY_MODEL": "sonar",
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
    },
    "args": [
        "/absolute/path/to/perplexity-mcp/build/index.js"
    ],
    "command": "node"
}

Perplexity MCP Server

An MCP server that provides web search capabilities using Perplexity's API.

Prerequisites

- Node.js (v14 or higher)
- A Perplexity API key (get one at <https://www.perplexity.ai/settings/api>)
- Claude Desktop App

Installation

Installing via Smithery

To install Perplexity Server for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @jaacob/perplexity-mcp --client claude

Manual Installation

1. Clone this repository:

    git clone https://github.com/jaacob/perplexity-mcp
    cd perplexity-mcp

2. Install dependencies:

    npm install

3. Build the server:

    npm run build

Configuration

1. Get your Perplexity API key from <https://www.perplexity.ai/settings/api>

2. Add the server to Claude's config file at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.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"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace /absolute/path/to with the actual path to where you cloned the repository.

Available Models

You can specify which model to use by setting the PERPLEXITY_MODEL environment variable. Available options:

- sonar-reasoning-pro - Most capable model with enhanced reasoning
- sonar-reasoning - Enhanced reasoning capabilities
- sonar-pro - Faster response times
- sonar - Default model (used if no model is specified)

For up-to-date model pricing and availability, visit: <https://docs.perplexity.ai/guides/pricing>

Usage

After configuring the server and restarting Claude, you can simply ask Claude to search for information. For example:

- "What's the latest news about SpaceX?"
- "Search for the best restaurants in Chicago"
- "Find information about the history of jazz music"

Claude will automatically use the Perplexity search tool to find and return relevant information.

If for whatever reason it decides not to, you can force the issue by prepending your prompt with "Search the web".

Development

To modify the server:

1. Edit src/index.ts
2. Rebuild with npm run build
3. Restart Claude to load the changes

License

MIT

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About

Details

Jump to

Setting up with Highlight

From the repository

Claude Desktop / Cursor

Linux

Macos

Windows

Perplexity MCP Server

Prerequisites

Installation

Installing via Smithery

Manual Installation

Configuration

Available Models

Usage

Development

License

Install

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