perplexity-mcp

MCP.Pizza Chef: Alcova-AI

The Perplexity MCP Server is a Go-based MCP server that connects AI assistants like Claude and Cursor to the Perplexity API. It enables seamless access to real-time web search and advanced reasoning capabilities through Perplexity's Sonar Pro and Sonar Reasoning Pro models. This server empowers AI models to retrieve up-to-date information and perform complex reasoning tasks directly within their interfaces, enhancing user experience with current data and specialized insights.

Use This MCP server To

Enable AI assistants to perform real-time web searches Provide up-to-date news and information retrieval Support complex reasoning tasks via Perplexity's reasoning model Integrate Perplexity search capabilities into Claude and Cursor Enhance AI workflows with live data from the web Allow seamless querying of Perplexity API from AI interfaces

README

Perplexity MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the Perplexity API written in Go. This server enables AI assistants like Claude (Code and Desktop) and Cursor to seamlessly access Perplexity's powerful search and reasoning capabilities directly from their interfaces.

Description

The Perplexity MCP Server acts as a bridge between AI assistants and the Perplexity API, allowing them to:

  1. Search the web and retrieve up-to-date information using Perplexity's Sonar Pro model via the perplexity_ask tool
  2. Perform complex reasoning tasks using Perplexity's Sonar Reasoning Pro model via the perplexity_reason tool

This integration lets AI assistants like Claude access real-time information and specialized reasoning capabilities without leaving their interface, creating a seamless experience for users.

Key Benefits

  • Access to real-time information: Get current data, news, and information from the web
  • Enhanced reasoning capabilities: Leverage specialized models for complex problem-solving tasks
  • Seamless integration: Works natively with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and Cursor
  • Simple installation: Quick setup with Homebrew, Go, or pre-built binaries
  • Customizable: Configure which Perplexity models to use for different tasks

Installation

Using Homebrew (macOS and Linux)

brew tap alcova-ai/tap
brew install perplexity-mcp

From Source

Clone the repository and build manually:

git clone https://github.com/Alcova-AI/perplexity-mcp.git
cd perplexity-mcp
go build -o perplexity-mcp-server .

From Binary Releases (Other platforms)

Download pre-built binaries from the releases page.

Usage

This server supports only the stdio protocol for MCP communication.

Setup with Claude Code

Adding to Claude Code:

claude mcp add-json --scope user perplexity-mcp '{"type":"stdio","command":"perplexity-mcp","env":{"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY":"pplx-YOUR-API-KEY-HERE"}}'

That's it! You can now use Perplexity in Claude Code.

Setup with Claude Desktop

Adding to Claude Desktop:

  1. Exit the Claude Desktop MCP config:
code ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  1. Add the Perplexity MCP server:
  {
    "mcpServers": {
+        "perplexity-mcp": {
+            "command": "perplexity-mcp",
+            "args": [
+                "--model",
+                "sonar-pro",
+                "--reasoning-model",
+                "sonar-reasoning-pro"
+            ],
+            "env": {
+                "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "pplx-YOUR-API-KEY-HERE"
+            }
+        }
    }
  }

Command Line Options

  • --model, -m: Specify the Perplexity model to use for search (default: "sonar-pro")
    • Can also be set with the PERPLEXITY_MODEL environment variable
  • --reasoning-model, -r: Specify the Perplexity model to use for reasoning (default: "sonar-reasoning-pro")
    • Can also be set with the PERPLEXITY_REASONING_MODEL environment variable

Example:

perplexity-mcp --model sonar-pro --reasoning-model sonar-reasoning-pro

Direct Execution

If you want to run the server directly (not recommended for most users):

  1. Set your Perplexity API key as an environment variable:

    export PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
  2. Run the server:

    perplexity-mcp

License

MIT

perplexity-mcp FAQ

How does the Perplexity MCP Server integrate with AI assistants?
It acts as a bridge allowing AI assistants like Claude and Cursor to access Perplexity's search and reasoning models via MCP tools.
What programming language is the Perplexity MCP Server written in?
The server is implemented in Go, ensuring efficient and lightweight operation.
Can the Perplexity MCP Server provide real-time information?
Yes, it enables AI assistants to retrieve current data and news from the web using Perplexity's Sonar Pro model.
What reasoning capabilities does this server support?
It supports complex reasoning tasks through Perplexity's Sonar Reasoning Pro model accessible via the MCP protocol.
Is the Perplexity MCP Server limited to specific AI assistants?
While optimized for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and Cursor, it can be integrated with any MCP-compatible AI assistant.
How does this server improve user experience?
By enabling seamless access to live web data and advanced reasoning without leaving the AI assistant interface.
Does the server support multiple Perplexity tools?
Yes, it exposes both the 'perplexity_ask' and 'perplexity_reason' tools for search and reasoning respectively.
What are the benefits of using this MCP server over direct API calls?
It standardizes access via MCP, simplifies integration, and provides a secure, scoped environment for model interactions.