Locus product guide · Updated November 10, 2026

Perplexity MCP server: tools, setup, rate limits, cost

Perplexity's official MCP server runs at https://api.perplexity.ai/mcp, or locally with npx @perplexity-ai/mcp-server. It gives an agent four tools: perplexity_search, perplexity_ask, perplexity_research and perplexity_reason. You need a Perplexity API key, or an OAuth sign-in as an admin of a paying API organization. Calls bill at API rates: a flat fee per search, lower with Fast Search, and model tokens plus tool fees for the answer tools.

Setup, step by step

Step 1
Add the remote server in Claude Code
This uses the hosted endpoint with OAuth.
```
claude mcp add --transport http perplexity https://api.perplexity.ai/mcp
```
Step 2
Sign in
Run /mcp, pick perplexity and authenticate. OAuth only works if you are an admin of a Perplexity API organization that pays for usage. Otherwise use an API key as a bearer token.
```
/mcp
```
Step 3
Or run it locally with a key in Codex
The local package reads PERPLEXITY_API_KEY from its environment.
```
codex mcp add perplexity --env PERPLEXITY_API_KEY="your_key_here" -- npx -y @perplexity-ai/mcp-server
```

What tools does the Perplexity MCP server have?

One tool returns raw search results. Three return written answers from the Agent API at different effort levels.

What tools does the Perplexity MCP server have?
Tool	Runs on	Use it for
perplexity_search	Search API, fast search type	Ranked web results with snippets
perplexity_ask	Agent API, fast preset	Quick answers with citations
perplexity_research	Agent API, high effort	Long multi-source research
perplexity_reason	Agent API, medium effort	Questions that need step-by-step reasoning

What do you need before you connect?

A Perplexity API account with credit. Perplexity's pricing page lists no free API tier, and the MCP server bills every call at API rates.

OAuth sign-in is limited to admins of a paying API organization. Everyone else, and every headless agent, uses an API key: as a bearer token on the remote server, or as PERPLEXITY_API_KEY for the local package.

How does Perplexity bill MCP calls?

Search is a flat fee per request. The answer tools add model tokens, which vary by model, to the tool fees below. Billing terms checked November 10, 2026.

Only successful Search API requests are billed.
A research call can run many searches and fetches, so its cost is far less predictable than one search.

How does Perplexity bill MCP calls?
Item	How Perplexity bills it
Search API	Flat fee per request
Search API with Fast Search	A lower flat fee per request
Agent API web_search tool	Per tool call, with a lower fast rate
Agent API fetch_url tool	Per fetched URL
Agent API people or finance search	Per search

Perplexity API pricing in detail

What rate limits apply?

Agent API limits rise with how much you have bought in total. The Search API allows 50 query units a second on every tier.

Polling an async research job counts against the same per-second limit.
A new account at Tier 0 can run one answer call a second until it has bought $50 of credit.

What rate limits apply?
Usage tier	Total credit bought	Agent API requests a second
Tier 0	$0	1
Tier 1	$50 or more	3
Tier 2	$250 or more	8

How do you call Perplexity through Locus Pro?

Through the Locus Pro MCP server your agent calls Perplexity with no Perplexity account, key or admin role. Calls are paid from one prepaid credit balance. Searching the catalog and describing an endpoint are free.

The table lists the Perplexity endpoints in the live catalog on November 10, 2026.

Set max_credits on chat calls so one long answer cannot cost more than you expect.
MCP URL: https://api.paywithlocus.com/api/credits/mcp
Or tell your agent: Install Locus Pro by following https://paywithlocus.com/SKILL.md

How do you call Perplexity through Locus Pro?
Locus endpoint	What it returns	How it is priced
perplexity/search	Ranked results, with domain, recency, language and country filters	Fixed price per search
perplexity/chat	Sonar model answers, run on the Agent API	Priced by request, with a cap you can set before the call
perplexity/embed	Text embeddings	Priced at call time

Add Locus to Claude Code

Should you use Perplexity's MCP server or Locus Pro?

Use Perplexity's server if Perplexity is your main search provider or you need the research and reason tools, which are only there. At steady volume, searches can cost less with your own Perplexity account and API key.

Use Locus Pro if you want Perplexity next to other search and data providers on one bill, with no Perplexity account or key, or if you cannot get an admin OAuth sign-in for your organization.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free Perplexity MCP server?

The server costs nothing to install, but every call bills your Perplexity API balance. Perplexity lists no free API tier.

Why does Perplexity MCP OAuth sign-in fail?

OAuth is only for admins of a Perplexity API organization that pays for usage. If you are not one, add the server with an API key as a bearer token instead.

Which Perplexity MCP tool is best for quick facts?

perplexity_ask for a short cited answer, or perplexity_search if your own model should read the results. perplexity_research is slower and costs more.

Does polling a Perplexity research job count against rate limits?

Yes. Status checks count toward the same requests-per-second limit as new Agent API calls, which is 1 a second at Tier 0.

Implementation references

Use these first-party references for current request contracts and account requirements. Tool availability, prices, and negotiated terms can change.

Sources

Third-party details were checked on November 10, 2026. Vendors change pricing and features often, so confirm on their site before you decide.