Brave Search MCP Server
Brave Search API integration providing web search and local business discovery tools.
Data last scanned yesterday · Reviewed 2 months ago
Overview
Brave Search MCP Server enables AI assistants to query the Brave Search API directly. It provides two primary tools: web search for general information with pagination controls and local search for locating businesses, restaurants, and services. The local search tool includes a smart fallback mechanism that automatically directs queries to a web search if no local results are identified. Configuration is straightforward, requiring a valid Brave Search API key. Users can integrate the server into their environments via Docker or by running it directly through NPX. The implementation supports result filtering, such as adjusting the number of returned items for both web and local search workflows.
Our verdict
This server receives a security score of 0/100, representing a high-risk level. The project is officially archived and has not received updates for over 414 days, meaning no future bug fixes or security patches will be issued. Additionally, it lacks any authentication method, meaning any local process with access to your configuration can trigger searches using your API key. Given its abandoned status, it is not recommended for new implementations.
- Integrated fallback to web search for local queries
- Provides pagination and freshness controls for web search
- Simple dependency profile with only one direct dependency
- Includes documentation for Docker and NPX deployment
- Repository is officially archived and unmaintained
- No authentication mechanisms protecting the API key
- No ongoing security updates or editorial review
- Lacks support for modern OAuth authentication
Setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"brave-search": {
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"
],
"command": "npx"
}
}
}Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), then restart Claude Desktop. Some servers require API keys or tokens as environment variables — check the project's README and add an "env" object if needed.
- No read-only mode — running this grants full read/write access.
- No built-in authentication — anyone with access to this config can invoke every tool it exposes.
Tools
| Tool | Description | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| brave_web_search | Execute web searches with pagination and filtering | low |
| brave_local_search | Search for local businesses and services | low |
Compatibility
| Client | Local | Docker | Remote | Read-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | ||||
| Claude Desktop | ||||
| Cursor | ||||
| VS Code | ||||
| Windsurf |
Frequently asked questions
›How do I obtain an API key to use this server?
You must sign up for a Brave Search API account on their website and generate an API key from the developer dashboard.
›Is there a cost associated with using the Brave Search API?
A free tier is available that supports up to 2,000 queries per month.
›What happens if a local search query returns no results?
The server includes smart fallbacks and will automatically perform a web search if no local results are found.
›What are the limitations on search result counts?
Both web and local search tools support a count input with a maximum of 20 results per request.
›Can I configure this server for use in VS Code?
Yes, you can manually add the configuration to your User Settings (JSON) file or create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your workspace.
Alternatives
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