Matrix / AI Research / Tavily

Tavily MCP server

AI Research · remote · Up · auth · Docs + endpoint checked 2026-10-16

Tavily has an official hosted MCP server at https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/. It uses OAuth, or API key (?tavilyApiKey= or Authorization header); keyless via X-Tavily-Access-Mode header over Streamable HTTP; local stdio (npx tavily-mcp). Agents can use: tavily_search, tavily_extract, tavily_crawl. Last checked 2026-10-16 10:06 PT: Up · auth.

Works in: ClaudeClaude CodeCursor
Sources: Claude · Claude Code · Cursor, checked 2026-10-16
Access: Read only
Credits: Credits not confirmed
Plan: Free
Setup: Self-serve
No admin step in the vendor's setup notes. Source: docs.tavily.com, checked 2026-10-16
Useful for: AEs, SDRs, Marketing

Tavily MCP endpoint and transport

https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/

Transport: Streamable HTTP; local stdio (npx tavily-mcp)
Docs: Official Tavily MCP docs

Connect Tavily without code

Tavily's docs confirm it works in Claude. You don't need a terminal or a config file. Check Tavily's docs first: some vendors give you a personal URL or an API key to use in place of the plain endpoint.

Claude (web and desktop app)

If Tavily shows up when you browse connectors in Claude, connect it from there instead. That skips steps 2 to 4.

In Claude, open Customize → Connectors.
Click + Add, then Add custom connector.
Name it “Tavily”, paste the server URL https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/, and click Continue.
Review the sign-in settings Claude detected and click Add.
Click Connect and sign in to Tavily. Then ask Claude something like “What can the Tavily connector do?”

On Team and Enterprise plans, an Owner adds the connector first under Organization settings → Connectors → Add → Custom → Web. Each person then connects it from Customize → Connectors. Free plans can add one custom connector.

Steps from the Claude Help Center: support.claude.com, checked 2026-10-16

From Tavily's docs: Claude: directory connector with OAuth, or a custom connector with a shared API key header for org-wide access on Team/Enterprise (an Owner must first add it). Claude Code: claude mcp add --transport http https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/ (OAuth). Cursor: mcp-remote with ?tavilyApiKey=. Keyless use needs the X-Tavily-Access-Mode: keyless header (URL-only clients can't send it). Tavily also documents Microsoft 365 Copilot (declarative agent and Copilot Cowork plugin) connected to its hosted MCP server; GitHub Copilot is not named.Source: docs.tavily.com, checked 2026-10-16

Developer setup (Claude Code, Cursor)

Add this to .mcp.json (Claude Code, project root) or ~/.cursor/mcp.json (Cursor). Remove the // comment line if your client requires strict JSON.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tavily": {
      "url": "https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

Add the endpoint to your client config (above), or as a custom connector in Claude.
Complete the OAuth sign-in. In Claude Code, run /mcp and pick the server.
Test it with a prompt like: “List the tools the Tavily MCP server exposes.”

Tavily MCP authentication

OAuth, or API key (?tavilyApiKey= or Authorization header); keyless via X-Tavily-Access-Mode header

Sign in with OAuth in your client (run /mcp in Claude Code). Do it once interactively, and the client stores and refreshes the token.

What it can change

Read only The documented tools only read data. None of them create, change, delete or send anything.

Source: docs.tavily.com, checked 2026-10-16

Cost and credits

Not confirmed Tavily's docs don't say whether MCP calls use credits or paid usage.

Plan required

Free

Source: docs.tavily.com, checked 2026-10-16

Admin and governance

Controls Tavily itself provides. Settings inside Claude or ChatGPT aren't counted here.

An admin must approve or enable the connectionNot confirmed
Scopes or permissions can limit what it reachesNot confirmed
Individual tools can be turned offNot confirmed
MCP activity shows in an audit logNot confirmed

What the Tavily MCP server can do

tavily_search
tavily_extract
tavily_crawl
tavily_map
tavily_research
tavily_skill

Tavily MCP status

Up · auth HTTP 401 · 195 ms · checked 2026-10-16 10:06 PT. Full status and history.

Tavily MCP FAQ

What is the Tavily MCP server URL?

https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/

How does Tavily MCP authenticate?

OAuth, or API key (?tavilyApiKey= or Authorization header); keyless via X-Tavily-Access-Mode header.

Which apps does Tavily MCP work with?

Tavily's docs confirm it works in Claude, Claude Code and Cursor. Other apps aren't confirmed in the docs yet.

Can I use Tavily in Claude without code?

Yes. Tavily's docs confirm it works in Claude. Add it as a connector in the app settings and sign in. No terminal or config file needed.

Can the Tavily MCP server change my data?

No. The tools in Tavily's docs only read data.

What Tavily plan do I need for MCP?

Free.

Is the Tavily MCP server official?

Yes. It's documented on docs.tavily.com, last checked 2026-10-16.

Related MCP servers

Perplexity (AI Research)
Exa (AI Research)
Apify (Scraping & Extraction)
Firecrawl (Scraping & Extraction)
Wynter (Market Research)

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