> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://exa.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Web Search MCP
> Complete setup guide for Exa MCP Server. Connect Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, and 10+ AI assistants to Exa's web search and code search tools.
Exa MCP connects AI assistants to Exa's search capabilities, including web search and code search. It is open-source and available on [GitHub](https://github.com/exa-labs/exa-mcp-server).
# Installation
Exa's Search MCP can be installed in any MCP client with the server URL: `https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp`
### Cursor
[](https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=exa\&config=eyJuYW1lIjoiZXhhIiwidHlwZSI6Imh0dHAiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21jcC5leGEuYWkvbWNwIn0=)
Or add to `~/.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
### VS Code
[](https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=exa\&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22http%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fmcp.exa.ai%2Fmcp%22%7D)
Or add to `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json theme={null}
{
"servers": {
"exa": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
### Claude Code
Run in terminal:
```bash theme={null}
claude mcp add --transport http exa https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp
```
### Claude Desktop
Exa is available as a **native Claude Connector** — no config files or terminal commands needed.
1. Open Claude Desktop and click **+** (or **Add connectors**)
2. Go to the **Connectors** tab
3. Search for **Exa**
4. Click **+** to add it
That's it! Claude will now have access to Exa's search tools.
### Codex
Run in terminal:
```bash theme={null}
codex mcp add exa --url https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp
```
### OpenCode
Add to your `opencode.json`:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcp": {
"exa": {
"type": "remote",
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp",
"enabled": true
}
}
}
```
### Windsurf
Add to `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"serverUrl": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
### Zed
Add to your Zed settings:
```json theme={null}
{
"context_servers": {
"exa": {
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
### Gemini CLI
Add to `~/.gemini/settings.json`:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"httpUrl": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
### Google Antigravity
Go to the three-dot menu in the Agent panel, navigate to **Manage MCP Servers**, then **View Raw config** and add:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"serverUrl": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
### v0 by Vercel
In v0, select **Prompt Tools** > **Add MCP** and enter:
```
https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp
```
### Warp
Go to **Settings** > **MCP Servers** > **Add MCP Server** and add:
```json theme={null}
{
"exa": {
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
```
### Kiro
Add to `~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json`:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
### Roo Code
Add to your Roo Code MCP config:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"type": "streamable-http",
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
### Via npm Package
Standard `mcpServers` format with the npm package. [Get your Exa API key](https://dashboard.exa.ai/api-keys).
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "exa-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"EXA_API_KEY": "your_api_key"
}
}
}
}
```
### Other
For other MCP clients that support remote MCP:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
```
If your client doesn't support remote MCP servers directly:
```json theme={null}
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp"]
}
}
}
```
# Available Tools
**Enabled by default:**
| Tool | Description |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `web_search_exa` | Search the web for any topic and get clean, ready-to-use content |
| `web_fetch_exa` | Read a webpage's full content as clean markdown from one or more URLs |
**Optional** (enable via `tools` parameter):
| Tool | Description |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `web_search_advanced_exa` | Advanced web search with full control over category filters, domain restrictions, date ranges, highlights, summaries, and subpage crawling |
**Deprecated** (still available for backwards compatibility):
| Tool | Use instead |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `get_code_context_exa` | `web_search_exa` |
| `company_research_exa` | `web_search_advanced_exa` |
| `crawling_exa` | `web_fetch_exa` |
| `people_search_exa` | `web_search_advanced_exa` |
| `linkedin_search_exa` | `web_search_advanced_exa` |
| `deep_researcher_start` | [Research API](/reference/research/create-a-task) |
| `deep_researcher_check` | [Research API](/reference/research/get-a-task) |
| `deep_search_exa` | `web_search_advanced_exa` |
Enable specific tools:
```
https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp?tools=web_fetch_exa
```
Enable all tools:
```json theme={null}
{
"exa": {
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp?tools=web_search_exa,web_fetch_exa,web_search_advanced_exa",
"headers": {
"x-api-key": "YOUR_EXA_API_KEY"
}
}
}
```
# API Key
Exa MCP has a generous free plan. To overcome free plan rate limits and enable production use, add your own API key:
```json theme={null}
{
"exa": {
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp",
"headers": {
"x-api-key": "YOUR_EXA_API_KEY"
}
}
}
```
[Get your Exa API key](https://dashboard.exa.ai/api-keys)
# Resources
* [**GitHub**](https://github.com/exa-labs/exa-mcp-server) - View Exa MCP source code
* [**npm**](https://www.npmjs.com/package/exa-mcp-server) - Install Exa MCP npm package
**Web Search**
```
Search for recent developments in AI agents and summarize the key trends.
```
**Code Search**
```
Find Python examples for implementing OAuth 2.0 authentication.
```
**Read a Page**
```
Fetch the full content of https://exa.ai and summarize what the company does.
```
**Rate limit error (429)**
You've hit the free plan rate limit. Add your own API key to continue:
```json theme={null}
{
"exa": {
"url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp",
"headers": {
"x-api-key": "YOUR_EXA_API_KEY"
}
}
}
```
[Get your API key](https://dashboard.exa.ai/api-keys)
**Tools not appearing**
Restart your MCP client after updating the config file. Some clients require a full restart to detect new MCP servers.
**Claude Desktop not connecting**
Use the built-in Connector: click **+** (or **Add connectors**) → **Connectors** tab → search for **Exa** → click **+**.
**Config file not found**
Common config locations:
* Cursor: `~/.cursor/mcp.json`
* VS Code: `.vscode/mcp.json` (in project root)
* Claude Desktop (macOS): `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
* Claude Desktop (Windows): `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`