Locus product guide · Updated November 10, 2026

Tavily MCP server: tools, keyless mode, setup and cost

Tavily's official MCP server runs at https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/ with OAuth or an API key, or locally with npx tavily-mcp. It exposes five tools: tavily_search, tavily_extract, tavily_crawl, tavily_map and tavily_research. The free plan gives 1,000 API credits a month. A basic search uses 1 credit and an advanced search 2. A keyless mode allows search and extract if your client can send one header.

Setup, step by step

Step 1
Add the remote server in Claude Code
The remote server uses OAuth by default. Finish the browser sign-in when Claude Code asks.
```
claude mcp add tavily --transport http https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/
```

Step 2

Or add it to Codex

Add the server, then log in.

codex mcp add tavily --url https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/
codex mcp login tavily

Step 3
Or run it locally
The local server needs Node.js 20 or newer. Set TAVILY_API_KEY in the environment your client gives it.
```
npx -y tavily-mcp@latest
```

What tools does the Tavily MCP server have, and what credits do they use?

Every tool spends Tavily API credits. Credit use per call comes from the Tavily credits page, checked November 10, 2026.

tavily_crawl maps a site and pulls the content of its pages in one call.

What tools does the Tavily MCP server have, and what credits do they use?
Tool	What it does	Tavily credits
tavily_search (basic)	Web search with snippets	1 per search
tavily_search (advanced)	Deeper search at twice the credits	2 per search
tavily_extract	Pulls clean content from URLs	1 per 5 URLs
tavily_map	Lists the pages of a site	1 per 10 pages
tavily_research	Multi-step research report	4 to 250 per request

How do you sign in: OAuth, API key or keyless?

OAuth is the default on the remote URL. For headless agents, pass your key as a tavilyApiKey query parameter or in an Authorization header.

Keyless mode needs no account. Your client must send the header X-Tavily-Access-Mode: keyless, and only search and extract are available.

Which Tavily plan does the MCP server use?

The server is free. Calls draw on the credits of your Tavily plan, and the plans differ in how many credits they include each month. Plans checked November 10, 2026.

Which Tavily plan does the MCP server use?
Plan	Credits a month
Free	1,000
Pay as you go	Bought as needed, with no monthly fee
Project	4,000
Bootstrap	15,000
Startup	38,000
Growth	100,000

Tavily pricing in detail

What limits should you plan for?

These come from the Tavily rate limit and credits pages.

A development key allows 100 requests a minute. A production key allows 1,000, and needs a paid plan or pay as you go.
Crawl is limited to 100 requests a minute and research to 20.
Plan credits reset each month. Unused credits do not carry over.
Research can cost up to 250 credits per request, so one call can use a quarter of the free monthly credits.

How do you call Tavily through Locus Pro?

Tavily is in the Locus Pro catalog, so an agent with the Locus Pro MCP connection can call it without a Tavily account. The table lists the Tavily endpoints in the live catalog on November 10, 2026. Catalog search and describe are free.

There is no research endpoint on Locus Pro.
Through Locus Pro, Firecrawl search and Perplexity search cost less per call than Tavily search.
MCP URL: https://api.paywithlocus.com/api/credits/mcp

How do you call Tavily through Locus Pro?
Locus endpoint	Use	How it is priced
tavily/search (basic)	Web search	Fixed price per call
tavily/search (advanced)	Deeper search	A higher fixed price per call
tavily/extract	Content from URLs	Grows with the request
tavily/map	List site pages	Fixed price per call
tavily/crawl	Map and pull a site	Priced by request size

AI web search through Locus Pro

Which Tavily setup should you pick?

Use Tavily's remote server with OAuth at a desk, an API key for headless agents, and keyless mode for a quick test. The free 1,000 credits cover light agent use. Tavily-heavy work can cost less with your own Tavily account and API key.

Use Locus Pro when the agent needs many providers on one balance and Tavily is an occasional choice, not the main search engine. The same catalog has other search engines to switch to.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Tavily MCP server work without an API key?

Yes, in keyless mode. Your client must send the header X-Tavily-Access-Mode: keyless, and only the search and extract tools work.

Do unused Tavily credits roll over?

No. Plan credits reset every month.

Which Tavily MCP tool uses the most credits?

tavily_research, at 4 to 250 credits per request. Basic search uses 1 credit and advanced search 2.

Which Tavily tools can I call through Locus Pro?

Search, extract, map and crawl, paid per call from Locus Pro credits with no Tavily account. There is no research endpoint, so tavily_research needs Tavily's own server.

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.