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perplexity-mcp

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A lightweight, easy-to-use Model Context Protocol (MCP) implementation that seamlessly integrates Perplexity's powerful AI models into Claude Desktop. This bridge lets Claude access Perplexity's search and reasoning capabilities through Anthropic's standardized tool interface.

15 stars TypeScriptOthers Updated Jul 7, 2026

Documentation

Perplexity Intelligent MCP Server

An intelligent Perplexity research MCP server for Claude Desktop with automatic model selection, multi-model synthesis, and persistent research history.

Features

  • Intelligent Model Selection: Auto-picks the right Perplexity model based on your query
  • Research History: Saves all research to `~/Documents/Perplexity Research/`
  • Multi-Model Synthesis: Combines multiple models for comprehensive research
  • Search History: Search past research to avoid duplicate queries
  • Built-in Citations: Every response includes sources and references

Quick Setup

Prerequisites

Configure Claude Desktop

Open `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` and add:

json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "perplexity-research": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@familyitguy/perplexity-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace `your-api-key-here` with your Perplexity API key.

Restart Claude Desktop

Quit completely (Cmd+Q) and reopen. You're done!

Available Tools

`research`

Intelligent Perplexity search with auto-logging.

code
Use: "Research the current state of AI in healthcare"

`deep_research`

Multi-model synthesis for comprehensive research.

code
Use: "Do a deep research on renewable energy trends"

`search_research`

Search past research for existing findings.

code
Use: "Search my research for React performance"

`list_research_threads`

List all saved research threads.

`read_research_thread`

Read a specific past research thread.

`list_models`

Show available Perplexity models and when to use each.

Models

ModelBest For
sonarSimple factual lookups, current events
sonar-proMulti-source research, fact-checking
sonar-reasoning-proWhy/how questions, complex analysis (default)
sonar-deep-researchExhaustive research, comprehensive reports

Research Storage

All research is automatically saved to:

code
~/Documents/Perplexity Research/
├── topic-name-2025-01-15.md
├── another-topic-2025-01-16.md
└── ...

You can browse your research history in Finder anytime.

Environment Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
`PERPLEXITY_API_KEY`Your Perplexity API keyRequired
`PERPLEXITY_RESEARCH_DIR`Custom research directory`~/Documents/Perplexity Research/`

License

MIT

Frequently asked questions

What is perplexity-mcp?

perplexity-mcp is A lightweight, easy-to-use Model Context Protocol (MCP) implementation that seamlessly integrates Perplexity's powerful AI models into Claude Desktop. This bridge lets Claude access Perplexity's search and reasoning capabilities through Anthropic's standardized tool interface.

How do I install perplexity-mcp?

Open the GitHub repository and follow its README. Most MCP servers are added to your client's MCP config, then called by your agent.

Is perplexity-mcp open source?

Yes — it is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/Family-IT-Guy/perplexity-mcp and has 15 stars.

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