Perplexity · Cursor

Add the Perplexity MCP server to Cursor

Real-time web search and research through the Perplexity API.

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1. Add the server

Paste into .cursor/mcp.json (project) or ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "perplexity": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@perplexity-ai/mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

2. Sign in

Cursor prompts you to sign in the first time a remote OAuth server is used. Perplexity runs locally; set any credentials Perplexity asks for before starting Cursor.

3. Try it

Ask Cursor for something Perplexity can do. Real-time web search and research through the Perplexity API. Approve the first tool call and check the result before allowing write actions automatically.

· Remote servers take a url; local servers take command and args.
· Values can reference ${env:NAME} so secrets stay out of the file.

FAQ

How do I add the Perplexity MCP server to Cursor?: Run: { …. Cursor prompts you to sign in the first time a remote OAuth server is used.
Is this the official Perplexity MCP server?: Yes. It is published by Perplexity as ai.perplexity/mcp-server in the official MCP registry.
Does the Perplexity MCP server need an API key?: It runs locally from a package. See Perplexity's docs for any credentials it needs.

Links

Perplexity MCP docs Cursor MCP docs Perplexity server details

Perplexity in other clients

Claude Code Codex Gemini CLI VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

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Feature Perplexity across the directory and its category from $49/month.

Feature this server

Reviewed Oct 5, 2026. Command generated from the registry record and checked against Cursor's documented syntax.