Brave Search MCP Server

Name: Brave Search MCP Server
Author: brave

by braveversion 2.1.3i★ 1,561iRuns on your computer

Registry nameio.github.brave/brave-search-mcp-server

Overview

Description from the maker (original English)

Brave Search MCP Server: web results, images, videos, rich results, AI summaries, and more.

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

These three are never merged into one score: opinions, measurements and popularity are different things.

User voiceiNo reviews yetReviews open together with accounts in a later step
Our basic checksi3 of 3 passedChecked from public information; code not scanned yet
UsageiGrowing★ 1,561

What you can do with it

We have not written a plain-language summary for this one yet. Below are the facts we read from the registry.

Connection: Runs on your computer
Transport: stdio
Category: Search & AI memory
You need to fill in: BRAVE_API_KEY

Install

Pick the AI app you use, then copy the settings.

You need

npmNode.js installed (for the npx command)

Claude DesktopClaude CodeCursorVS Code

Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config, and paste this into claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "brave-search": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@brave/brave-search-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BRAVE_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Run this in your terminal

claude mcp add brave-search --env BRAVE_API_KEY=your-value -- npx -y @brave/brave-search-mcp-server

Paste into .cursor/mcp.json in your project, or ~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "brave-search": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@brave/brave-search-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BRAVE_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Paste into .vscode/mcp.json in your project

{
  "servers": {
    "brave-search": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@brave/brave-search-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BRAVE_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Values you fill in

BRAVE_API_KEY secret required env
Your API key for the service

Values marked secret are keys to your account. Never share them or paste them into a chat.

These settings are generated from the maker’s registry entry. If the README says otherwise, follow the README.

Basic checksi

We check information anyone can see; we have not read the code. Checks that do not apply are left out of the count. · Checked Nov 5, 2026

✓ Pass
Maker matches the repo
The registry name was verified with the GitHub account brave, which owns the repo
✓ Pass
Still maintained
Code last changed yesterday
✓ Pass
Has a licence
Uses MIT
– Not applicable
Endpoint responds
This one runs on your computer; there is no internet endpoint
– Not applicable
Sign-in with OAuth
Runs on your computer and uses local settings instead
… Not checked yet
No hidden instructions in tool descriptions
Needs the server’s tool list first; this check starts in the next step

Compared with others in Search & AI memoryi

More stars than 60% of the other 10 servers in this category
Published to the registry more recently than 20% of the other 10 servers in this category
Basic checks equal to or better than 100% of the other 10 servers in this category

Compared only with servers in this prototype, not the whole registry.

Common questions

Is Brave Search MCP Server safe?

It passed 3 of 3 applicable basic checks. We have not read the code. Before adding a key or token, see what access the server asks for and use a key with only the permissions you need.

What keys or codes does it need?

You need to fill in: BRAVE_API_KEY

Does it run on my computer or in the cloud?

It runs on your computer. Your AI app starts it when needed, and data does not pass through the maker’s servers (unless it calls an online service itself).

Is it still maintained?

The GitHub repo last changed yesterday, and the latest version (2.1.3) reached the registry 3 months ago.

Which apps can use it?

Apps that support MCP, such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code. You also need Node.js on your computer.

What can I use instead?

In the same category: Context7, Codebase Memory, Exa

Alternatives

Servers in the same category from other makers, sorted by stars.

Reading a card:★ GitHub starsiThree pillars: reviews · checks · usageiUpdated = latest version published to the registryi

Context7

by upstash

Feeds AI the latest docs for libraries and frameworks before it answers, so code it writes does not use outdated, removed functions.

Computer or cloud★ 64,224MITUpdated 2 days ago

Codebase Memory

by DeusData

Codebase knowledge graph for AI agents — 162 languages, sub-ms queries, 99% fewer tokens.

Runs on your computer★ 48,148MITUpdated 19 days ago

Exa

by exa-labs

Connect AI agents to Exa for web search, content fetching, and multi-step research.

Runs in the cloud★ 5,213MITUpdated 43 days ago

README from the maker

Open the README

Copied from the maker’s repo as written. PopNx MCP has not reviewed or endorsed it. HTML, images and scripts are removed. Links lead off this site.

Brave Search MCP Server

An MCP server implementation that integrates the Brave Search API, providing comprehensive search capabilities including web search, local business search, place search, image search, video search, news search, LLM context, and AI-powered summarization. This project supports both STDIO and HTTP transports, with STDIO as the default mode.

Migration

1.x to 2.x

Default transport now STDIO

To follow established MCP conventions, the server now defaults to STDIO. If you would like to continue using HTTP, you will need to set the BRAVE_MCP_TRANSPORT environment variable to http, or provide the runtime argument --transport http when launching the server.

Response structure of `brave_image_search`

Version 1.x of the MCP server would return base64-encoded image data along with image URLs. This dramatically slowed down the response, as well as consumed unnecessarily context in the session. Version 2.x removes the base64-encoded data, and returns a response object that more closely reflects the original Brave Search API response. The updated output schema is defined in src/tools/images/schemas/output.ts.

Tools

Web Search (`brave_web_search`)

Performs comprehensive web searches with rich result types and advanced filtering options.

Parameters:

query (string, required): Search terms (max 400 chars, 50 words)
country (string, optional): Country code (default: "US")
search_lang (string, optional): Search language (default: "en")
ui_lang (string, optional): UI language (default: "en-US")
count (number, optional): Results per page (1-20, default: 10)
offset (number, optional): Pagination offset (max 9, default: 0)
safesearch (string, optional): Content filtering ("off", "moderate", "strict", default: "moderate")
freshness (string, optional): Time filter ("pd", "pw", "pm", "py", or date range)
text_decorations (boolean, optional): Include highlighting markers (default: true)
spellcheck (boolean, optional): Enable spell checking (default: true)
result_filter (array, optional): Filter result types (default: ["web", "query"])
goggles (array, optional): Custom re-ranking definitions
units (string, optional): Measurement units ("metric" or "imperial")
extra_snippets (boolean, optional): Get additional excerpts (Pro plans only)
summary (boolean, optional): Enable summary key generation for AI summarization

Local Search (`brave_local_search`)

Searches for local businesses and places with detailed information including ratings, hours, and AI-generated descriptions.

Parameters:

Same as brave_web_search with automatic location filtering
Automatically includes "web" and "locations" in result_filter

Note: Requires Pro plan for full local search capabilities. Falls back to web search otherwise.

Video Search (`brave_video_search`)

Searches for videos with comprehensive metadata and thumbnail information.

Parameters:

query (string, required): Search terms (max 400 chars, 50 words)
country (string, optional): Country code (default: "US")
search_lang (string, optional): Search language (default: "en")
ui_lang (string, optional): UI language (default: "en-US")
count (number, optional): Results per page (1-50, default: 20)
offset (number, optional): Pagination offset (max 9, default: 0)
spellcheck (boolean, optional): Enable spell checking (default: true)
safesearch (string, optional): Content filtering ("off", "moderate", "strict", default: "moderate")
freshness (string, optional): Time filter ("pd", "pw", "pm", "py", or date range)

Image Search (`brave_image_search`)

Searches for images with metadata including URLs, dimensions, and confidence scores.

Parameters:

query (string, required): Search terms (max 400 chars, 50 words)
country (string, optional): Country code (default: "US")
search_lang (string, optional): Search language (default: "en")
count (number, optional): Results per page (1-200, default: 50)
safesearch (string, optional): Content filtering ("off", "strict", default: "strict")
spellcheck (boolean, optional): Enable spell checking (default: true)

News Search (`brave_news_search`)

Searches for current news articles with freshness controls and breaking news indicators.

Parameters:

query (string, required): Search terms (max 400 chars, 50 words)
country (string, optional): Country code (default: "US")
search_lang (string, optional): Search language (default: "en")
ui_lang (string, optional): UI language (default: "en-US")
count (number, optional): Results per page (1-50, default: 20)
offset (number, optional): Pagination offset (max 9, default: 0)
spellcheck (boolean, optional): Enable spell checking (default: true)
safesearch (string, optional): Content filtering ("off", "moderate", "strict", default: "moderate")
freshness (string, optional): Time filter (default: "pd" for last 24 hours)
extra_snippets (boolean, optional): Get additional excerpts (Pro plans only)
goggles (array, optional): Custom re-ranking definitions

Summarizer Search (`brave_summarizer`)

Generates AI-powered summaries from web search results using Brave's summarization API.

Parameters:

key (string, required): Summary key from web search results (use summary: true in web search)
entity_info (boolean, optional): Include entity information (default: false)
inline_references (boolean, optional): Add source URL references (default: false)

Usage: First perform a web search with summary: true, then use the returned summary key with this tool.

Place Search (`brave_place_search`)

Searches for points of interest (POIs) in a specified geographic area using Brave's Place Search API. Returns rich, structured place data including name, address, opening hours, contact info, ratings, photos, categories, and timezone.

Parameters:

query (string, optional): Query string used to refine the POI search (max 400 chars, 50 words). When omitted, returns general points of interest in the supplied area.
latitude (number, optional): Latitude of the search center (-90 to 90). Typically paired with longitude.
longitude (number, optional): Longitude of the search center (-180 to 180). Typically paired with latitude.
location (string, optional): Location string used as an alternative to latitude/longitude. For US locations prefer the form (e.g., san francisco ca united states); for non-US locations use (e.g., tokyo japan).
radius (number, optional): Search radius around the supplied coordinates, in meters. If omitted, the search is performed globally.
count (number, optional): Number of results to return (1-50, default 20).
country (string, optional): Two-letter country code (default US).
search_lang (string, optional): Search language (default en).
ui_lang (string, optional): UI language (default en-US).
units (string, optional): Distance units (metric or imperial, default metric).
safesearch (string, optional): Safe search level (off, moderate, strict, default strict).
spellcheck (boolean, optional): Whether to spellcheck the query (default true).
geoloc (string, optional): Optional geolocation token used to refine results.

Optional request headers:

api-version (string, optional): Brave API version (YYYY-MM-DD)
accept (string, optional): Response media type (application/json or */*)
cache-control (string, optional): Use no-cache to request fresh content
user-agent (string, optional): User agent originating the request

LLM Context (`brave_llm_context`)

Retrieves pre-extracted web content optimized for AI agents, LLM grounding, and RAG pipelines.

Parameters:

query (string, required): Search query (max 400 chars, 50 words)
country (string, optional): Search country code
search_lang (string, optional): Search language code
count (number, optional): Maximum number of search results considered (1-50)
spellcheck (boolean, optional): Enable spell checking
maximum_number_of_urls (number, optional): Maximum number of URLs to include (1-50)
maximum_number_of_tokens (number, optional): Approximate maximum number of context tokens (1024-32768)
maximum_number_of_snippets (number, optional): Maximum number of snippets to include (1-256)
context_threshold_mode (string, optional): Threshold mode ("disabled", "strict", "lenient", "balanced")
maximum_number_of_tokens_per_url (number, optional): Maximum tokens per URL (512-8192)
maximum_number_of_snippets_per_url (number, optional): Maximum snippets per URL (1-100)
goggles (string or array, optional): Goggle URL or definition for custom re-ranking
freshness (string, optional): Time filter ("pd", "pw", "pm", "py", or date range)
enable_local (boolean, optional): Enable local recall
enable_source_metadata (boolean, optional): Include source metadata enrichment

Optional request headers:

x-loc-lat (number, optional): Client latitude (-90 to 90)
x-loc-long (number, optional): Client longitude (-180 to 180)
x-loc-city (string, optional): Client city name
x-loc-state (string, optional): Client state or region code
x-loc-state-name (string, optional): Client state or region name
x-loc-country (string, optional): Client country code
x-loc-postal-code (string, optional): Client postal code
api-version (string, optional): Brave API version (YYYY-MM-DD)
accept (string, optional): Response media type ("application/json" or "*/*")
cache-control (string, optional): Use no-cache to request fresh content
user-agent (string, optional): User agent originating the request

Configuration

Getting an API Key

Sign up for a Brave Search API account
Choose a plan:

Search: The real-time search data your chatbots & agents need to generate answers. Complete search results (URLs, text, news, images, and more), with additional LLM context optimized for AI.
Answers: Summarized, completed answers to any question. Answers grounded on a single search or multiple searches for better accuracy & reduced hallucinations.

Generate your API key from the developer dashboard

Environment Variables

The server supports the following environment variables:

BRAVE_API_KEY: Your Brave Search API key (required unless BRAVE_API_KEY_FILE is set)
BRAVE_API_KEY_FILE: Path to a file containing your Brave Search API key. When set, this takes precedence over BRAVE_API_KEY. Useful for Docker secrets and similar mounted-secret setups.
BRAVE_MCP_TRANSPORT: Transport mode ("http" or "stdio", default: "stdio")
BRAVE_MCP_PORT: HTTP server port (default: 8080)
BRAVE_MCP_HOST: HTTP server host (default: "127.0.0.1"). Binds to loopback only by default; set to "0.0.0.0" to expose the server on all interfaces (required inside containers and on Amazon Bedrock AgentCore). Only do this on a trusted network, since the HTTP endpoint is unauthenticated.
BRAVE_MCP_ALLOWED_ORIGINS: Space- or comma-separated list of additional Origin header values permitted for the HTTP transport. Loopback origins are always allowed; browser requests carrying any other Origin are rejected with HTTP 403 to guard against DNS rebinding. Set this when a browser-based client on a real domain needs access.
BRAVE_MCP_ALLOWED_HOSTS: Space- or comma-separated list of hostnames permitted in the Host header of the HTTP transport. Matching is on the hostname

Only the beginning is shown; read the rest in the repo

Brave Search MCP Server

Overview

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

What you can do with it

Install

Values you fill in

Basic checksi

Maker matches the repo

Still maintained

Has a licence

Endpoint responds

Sign-in with OAuth

No hidden instructions in tool descriptions

Compared with others in Search & AI memoryi

Common questions

Alternatives

Context7

Codebase Memory

Exa

README from the maker

Brave Search MCP Server

Migration

1.x to 2.x

Default transport now STDIO

Response structure of brave_image_search

Tools

Web Search (brave_web_search)

Local Search (brave_local_search)

Video Search (brave_video_search)

Image Search (brave_image_search)

News Search (brave_news_search)

Summarizer Search (brave_summarizer)

Place Search (brave_place_search)

LLM Context (brave_llm_context)

Configuration

Getting an API Key

Environment Variables

Response structure of `brave_image_search`

Web Search (`brave_web_search`)

Local Search (`brave_local_search`)

Video Search (`brave_video_search`)

Image Search (`brave_image_search`)

News Search (`brave_news_search`)

Summarizer Search (`brave_summarizer`)

Place Search (`brave_place_search`)

LLM Context (`brave_llm_context`)