Google PSE/CSE MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server providing access to Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) and Custom Search Engine (CSE).

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Google PSE/CSE MCP server?

Google PSE/CSE becomes available to MCP clients through the google pse/cse mcp server. A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server providing access to Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) and Custom Search Engine (CSE).

What Google PSE/CSE does

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) API. This server exposes tools for searching the web with Google Custom Search engine, making them accessible to MCP-compatible clients such as VSCode, Copilot, and Claude Desktop.

Tools it exposes

Once connected, the assistant can call this tool directly:

  • Parameters — - q (string, required): Search query

Installing the google pse/cse mcp server

Setup follows the standard MCP pattern: clone or install the server, then register it in your client's configuration file and restart the client. The configuration snippets on this page cover Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor.

Where it fits

Search and scraping servers exist to fix the single most common failure of any assistant: answering from stale training data instead of what is on the web today. Google PSE/CSE sits in that group, and the shape of its toolset — Parameters — tells you what it is really for. Worth comparing against the other search web scraping servers in this directory before you commit to one, since several overlap in scope but differ sharply in setup cost and permissions.

Practical notes

  • This server runs locally, so it operates with whatever access your machine and its credentials already have. Scope that deliberately rather than by default.
  • Written in Python.
  • MCP clients ask for confirmation before each tool call by default. Keep that on while you learn what the google pse/cse mcp server actually does with your data.
  • Every entry in this directory is reviewed by hand before it goes live, and details are checked against the project's own documentation.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
Parameters- q (string, required): Search query

How to install the Google PSE/CSE MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-pse-mcp": {
      "disabled": false,
      "timeout": 60,
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "google-pse-mcp",
        "https://www.googleapis.com/customsearch",
        "<api_key>",
        "<cx>",
        "<siteRestricted>" // optional flag, true/false, defaults to true
      ],
      "transportType": "stdio"
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Example prompts to try

  • Use Google PSE/CSE to Parameters.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Google PSE/CSE to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 1 tool (Parameters) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Google PSE/CSE directly.