The Web MCP

The Web MCP lets you connect AI assistants to live web data in real time, enabling real-time search, scraping, and browsing without common blocking or rate-limiting hurdles. It supports multiple LLMs and provides out-of-the-box web access with configurable modes to fit prototyping or production needs.

How to use

You can use The Web MCP in two ways: run it locally on your machine or access a hosted MCP URL. When running locally, you start a small local MCP server that your AI client can talk to just like any other API. When using the hosted option, you point your MCP client to the remote endpoint and supply your API token for authentication.

How to install

Prerequisites: you need Node.js installed on your machine to run the local MCP server. You also need an API token if you plan to use the hosted endpoint.

Option 1: Use the hosted endpoint (no installation required)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "brightdata_web": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.brightdata.com/mcp?token=YOUR_API_TOKEN_HERE",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Option 2: Run locally with the MCP package

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Bright Data": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@brightdata/mcp"],
      "env": {
        "API_TOKEN": "<your-api-token-here>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration and best practices

Choose Rapid Mode for free tier access to essential web capabilities and 5,000 requests per month. Upgrade to Pro Mode if you need browser control, web data APIs, and the full suite of 60+ tools. Pro Mode is a pay-as-you-go option and includes additional capabilities.

Security and troubleshooting

Keep your API token secure and never expose it in client-side code. If you experience timeouts or authentication errors, verify token validity and permissions, and ensure your internet connection allows access to the MCP endpoint.

If you encounter spawn or environmental issues, ensure Node.js is installed and the MCP command is accessible from your shell. Use full paths if needed.

Notes

The hosted endpoint is designed for quick starts and prototyping, while the local setup provides full control for testing and integration in your own environment.

Available tools

search_engine

Web search with AI-optimized results for research, fact-checking, and current events

scrape_as_markdown

Convert any webpage to clean markdown for easy content extraction