Brave Search MCP Server

Overview

Brave Search MCP Server is one of the most popular Model Context Protocol implementations, with over 680 recorded uses according to Smithery.ai data. Developed as part of the official MCP reference implementations, this server enables AI models to perform web and local searches using Brave's Search API. It brings real-time internet search capabilities to AI assistants, allowing them to access up-to-date information without requiring users to switch contexts or applications.

Links:

• GitHub Repository: github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/bravesearch

Features

• Real-Time Web Results: Access current information from across the internet to answer queries
• Privacy-Focused Searching: Leverage Brave's privacy-respecting search technology for more secure results
• Customizable Search Parameters: Adjust search scope, number of results, and other options for precise control
• Local Search Capabilities: Find information on your device in addition to web results
• Rich Result Formatting: Receive structured data that's optimized for AI processing
• Search Filtering Options: Narrow results by date, region, or content type
• Auto-Summarization: Get condensed overviews of search results for faster processing

Use Cases

• Up-to-Date Information Retrieval: Get current news, trends, or facts that may be beyond the AI's training data
• Research Assistance: Gather information from multiple sources to compile comprehensive research reports
• Fact-Checking: Verify claims or statements against the latest available information
• Product Research: Find current pricing, reviews, and availability for products or services
• Technical Documentation: Access the most recent documentation for programming languages, frameworks, or tools
• Market Intelligence: Research competitors, industry trends, and market conditions in real time
• Travel Planning: Find current information about destinations, accommodations, and transportation options

Tools

The Brave Search MCP Server provides several specialized tools:

• brave_search: Primary search function with options for web content
• brave_search_news: Focused search specifically targeting news sources
• brave_search_reddit: Reddit-specific search capabilities for community discussions
• brave_search_video: Video content search across multiple platforms
• brave_local_search: Search function for local device content

Setup Guide

For Claude Desktop:

1. Get a Brave API Key:

   • Create a Brave Developer account
   • Navigate to the API section and request a Search API key

2. Edit your configuration file:

   • Windows: Navigate to %APPDATA%/Claude/config.json
   • Mac: Open ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

3. Add the following configuration:

   "mcpServers": {
     "brave-search": {
       "command": "npx",
       "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"],
       "env": {
         "BRAVE_API_KEY": "your-brave-api-key-here"
       }
     }
   }

   Copy

For Cursor and Other Clients:

Add similar configuration to your client's specific configuration file:

"mcpServers": {
  "brave-search": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"],
    "env": {
      "BRAVE_API_KEY": "your-brave-api-key-here"
    }
  }
}

Docker Alternative:

"mcpServers": {
  "brave-search": {
    "command": "docker",
    "args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "-e", "BRAVE_API_KEY", "mcp/brave-search"],
    "env": {
      "BRAVE_API_KEY": "your-brave-api-key-here"
    }
  }
}

License

Brave Search MCP Server is available under the MIT License, allowing free use, modification, and distribution while maintaining copyright and license notices.

Transform your AI's capabilities today with real-time web intelligence through the Brave Search MCP Server!