Is Google Researcher free?

Yes, Google Researcher is free to use.

How do I install Google Researcher?

Google Researcher is a local plugin. Install it using npm package: google-researcher-mcp and add the generated configuration snippet to your AI app's MCP config file. Then restart your AI app.

What credentials does Google Researcher need?

Google Researcher requires the following credentials or environment variables: GOOGLE_CUSTOM_SEARCH_API_KEY, GOOGLE_CUSTOM_SEARCH_ID. You can find setup instructions on the server detail page.

What AI apps work with Google Researcher?

Google Researcher uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and works with any MCP-compatible AI app, including Claude, ChatGPT / Codex, Gemini, Copilot, Cursor, and more.

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Google Researcher MCP Server

by User

Developer ToolsLow Risk9.8Local

Free

MCP server providing Google Search, web scraping, and multi-source research tools for AI assistants

About

MCP server providing Google Search, web scraping, and multi-source research tools for AI assistants

Security Report

9.8

Low Risk9.8Low Risk

Valid MCP server (3 strong, 1 medium validity signals). 1 known CVE in dependencies Package registry verified. Imported from the Official MCP Registry.

4 files analyzed · 2 issues found

Security scores are indicators to help you make informed decisions, not guarantees. Always review permissions before connecting any MCP server.

Permissions Required

This plugin requests these system permissions. Most are normal for its category.

env_vars

Check that this permission is expected for this type of plugin.

What You'll Need

Set these up before or after installing:

Google Custom Search API keyRequired

Environment variable: GOOGLE_CUSTOM_SEARCH_API_KEY

Google Programmable Search Engine IDOptional

Environment variable: GOOGLE_CUSTOM_SEARCH_ID

How to Install

Add this to your MCP configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "io-github-zoharbabin-google-researcher": {
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_CUSTOM_SEARCH_ID": "your-google-custom-search-id-here",
        "GOOGLE_CUSTOM_SEARCH_API_KEY": "your-google-custom-search-api-key-here"
      },
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "google-researcher-mcp"
      ],
      "command": "npx"
    }
  }
}

Documentation

View on GitHub

From the project's GitHub README.

google-researcher-mcp — DEPRECATED

⚠️ This project has been superseded by web-researcher-mcp.

The new version is a complete rewrite in Go that resolves all open issues, adds multiple search providers (Brave, Serper, SearXNG), and ships as a single static binary — no Node.js or npm required.

Migration Guide

→ Full migration instructions

Quick summary:

Remove the google-researcher entry from your MCP client config
Install the new binary (go install, Docker, or download from Releases)
Add the web-researcher entry to your MCP config

Your existing GOOGLE_CUSTOM_SEARCH_API_KEY and GOOGLE_CUSTOM_SEARCH_ID work without changes.

Why the Rewrite?

Open Issue	Resolution in web-researcher-mcp
#108 — Orphan detection fails via npx	Go binary has native process lifecycle (EOF/SIGPIPE) — no npm wrapper
#107 — Google discontinuing 'entire web' search	Supports 4 providers: Brave, Serper, SearXNG + Google PSE for lenses
#55 — Support alternative search engines	Built-in Brave, Serper, and SearXNG support
#72 — Add Redis caching	Hybrid 3-tier cache: memory + AES-encrypted disk + optional Redis
#40 — Split server.ts into modules	Fully modular Go architecture (one package per concern)