MCPHub LabRegistryexa-mcp-server
exa-labs

exa mcp server

Built by exa-labs • 4,102 stars

What is exa mcp server?

A high-performance MCP server implementation for exa-mcp-server that bridges the gap between the Model Context Protocol and external services. It allows Large Language Models to interact with your data and tools with low latency and native support.

How to use exa mcp server?

1. Ensure you have an MCP-compatible client (like Claude Desktop) installed. 2. Configure your server with: npx @modelcontextprotocol/exa-mcp-server 3. Restart your client and verify the new tools are available in the system catalog.
🛡️ Scoped (Restricted)
npx @modelcontextprotocol/exa-mcp-server --scope restricted
🔓 Unrestricted Access
npx @modelcontextprotocol/exa-mcp-server

Key Features

Native MCP Protocol Support
High-performance Data Streaming
Type-safe Tool Definitions
Seamless Environment Integration

Optimized Use Cases

Connecting external databases to AI workflows
Automating workflow tasks via natural language
Augmenting developer productivity with specialized tools

exa mcp server FAQ

Q

What is an MCP server?

MCP is an open standard that enables developers to build secure, two-way integrations between AI models and local or remote data sources.

Q

Is this server ready for production?

Yes, this server follows standard MCP security patterns and tool-restricted access.

Official Documentation

View on GitHub
<h1 align="center"> <img src="assets/Exa.svg" alt="Exa" width="64" /> <br> Exa MCP Server </h1> <p align="center">Connect AI agents to Exa for web search, content fetching, and multi-step research.</p> <p align="center"> <a href="https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=exa&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21jcC5leGEuYWkvbWNwIn0="><img src="https://custom-icon-badges.demolab.com/badge/Install_in_Cursor-000000?style=for-the-badge&logo=cursor-ai-white" alt="Install in Cursor" /></a> <a href="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"><img src="https://custom-icon-badges.demolab.com/badge/Install_in_VS_Code-007ACC?style=for-the-badge&logo=vsc&logoColor=white" alt="Install in VS Code" /></a> <a href="https://claude.com/plugins/exa"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Claude_Plugin-C66140?style=for-the-badge&logo=claude&logoColor=white" alt="Install Claude Plugin" /></a> <a href="https://chatgpt.com/plugins/exa?open_in_app"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Codex%2FChatGPT_Plugin-4A5BFE?style=for-the-badge&logo=data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="Install Codex/ChatGPT Plugin" /></a> </p> <p align="center"> <a href="https://docs.exa.ai/reference/exa-mcp"><b>Documentation</b></a> &nbsp;·&nbsp; <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/exa-mcp-server"><b>NPM Package</b></a> &nbsp;·&nbsp; <a href="https://dashboard.exa.ai/api-keys"><b>Get your API key</b></a> </p>

Installation

Connect to Exa's hosted MCP server:

https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp

Or use a plugin when your client supports one.

Agent Plugin

This repository is an Agent Plugin. Install it with any compatible client.

Claude

Install from the Claude Plugin Marketplace, or run:

claude plugin install exa@claude-plugins-official

Codex / ChatGPT

Install via Plugins in ChatGPT, or run:

codex mcp add exa --url https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp

Other MCP Clients

Most clients can be configured manually with the standard mcpServers shape:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exa": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp",
    }
  }
}
<details> <summary><b>Client-specific configs</b></summary>

Exa MCP works with most other clients, point them at https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp.

ClientWhere to add it
KiroUse the Kiro power, or add manually to ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json
LM StudioAdd to LM Studio, or add manually to mcp.json
ReplitAdd to Replit
Grok Build/marketplace → install Exa, then /mcp to sign in
Gemini CLIAdd manually to ~/.gemini/settings.json
OpenCodeAdd manually to opencode.json
WindsurfAdd manually to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json
Google AntigravityAdd manually to mcp_config.json
ZedAdd manually to settings.json under context_servers
WarpSettings → Agents → MCP servers
v0 by VercelSettings → MCP connections
</details>

Available Tools

Default Tools

ToolDescription
web_search_exaSearch the web for any topic and get clean, ready-to-use content
web_fetch_exaRead a webpage's full content as clean markdown from one or more URLs

Optional Tools (enable via the tools parameter)

ToolDescription
agent_runRun an Exa Agent for multi-step research, list-building, enrichment, and structured output
web_search_advanced_exaAdvanced search with filters, domains, dates, highlights, summaries, and subpage crawling

Enable tools by appending them to the MCP URL (this will replace the defaults, so include all you want):

https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp?tools=web_search_advanced_exa
https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp?tools=web_search_exa,web_fetch_exa,agent_run

Exa Agent requires authentication (OAuth or an API key).

Agent Skills

Skills live in skills/ and load with Agent Plugin / Claude plugin installs.

SkillPathUse when
searchskills/search/Deep research, lead gen, competitive analysis, multi-step web investigation
exa-agentskills/exa-agent/Exa Agent runs, enrichment, structured output, Connect providers

Invoke from your client's skill UI (or /skill-name where supported). MCP-only setups still get the tools; skills add orchestration on top.

Authentication

The hosted MCP server works anonymously with rate limits. For higher limits and access to Exa Agent, use either OAuth or an API key.

OAuth is preferred: most clients prompt you to sign in to Exa. To force the login flow (useful for shared connectors and plugins), use https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp?login or https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp/oauth.

If you prefer, you can get an API key from the dashboard and pass it on the URL as ?exaApiKey=…. You can also send it as a Authorization: Bearer … header or an x-api-key header.

Built with ❤️ by Exa

Global Ranking

7.6
Trust ScoreMCPHub Index

Based on codebase health & activity.

Manual Config

{ "mcpServers": { "exa-mcp-server": { "command": "npx", "args": ["exa-mcp-server"] } } }