About Groundlink
Groundlink is an MCP server that provides cited web search for models answering factual questions with evidence. It forwards queries to the Groundlink API and returns titles, URLs, snippets, and sources.
Key features
- 01Run web searches
- 02Return titles, URLs, snippets, and sources
- 03Set the number of results per query
- 04Forward queries through an HTTPS API
Use cases
- 01Find sources for factual questions
- 02Include verifiable URLs in answers
- 03Use Groundlink search from an MCP host
MCP support
It exposes the groundlink_search tool to MCP clients and returns Groundlink API results over stdio.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
npx -y groundlink-mcpGROUNDLINK_API_KEYSecretGroundlink API key used for every cited web-search request.Local servers need a runtime on your machine (e.g. Node.js 18+). Config file locations differ by client; see your client’s docs.
Tools
1Saved tool list · updated 2w ago
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| query | string | Yes | The search query to ground. Use a concise, factual question or phrase. |
| max_results | integer | No | How many cited results to return (1–10). Defaults to 5. |
Details
From the project READMEGroundlink MCP Server
Use Groundlink's cited web-search results from any Model Context Protocol (MCP)
host. The server exposes one focused tool, groundlink_search, which sends a
query to Groundlink and returns source-bearing results (title, url,
snippet, and source) for the model to use when it needs evidence rather
than a guess.
Groundlink currently combines Wikipedia and DuckDuckGo results. Each Groundlink API key includes 100 free test queries; after that, prepaid usage is $0.001 per query (one credit per query).
Package:
[email protected]is published on npm. Source: https://github.com/ohhavefun/groundlink
- Live API documentation: https://9ea69cec60fa01f65bbb647a092bcbb4.ctonew.app/docs
- Pricing and credits: https://9ea69cec60fa01f65bbb647a092bcbb4.ctonew.app/pricing
This repository is the home of Groundlink's official developer integrations. There are two, both maintained here:
| Integration | What it is | Install |
|---|---|---|
| groundlink-mcp (MCP server) | Exposes Groundlink to any MCP host (Claude, Cursor, …) | npm install -g groundlink-mcp (also on the official MCP registry as io.github.ohhavefun/groundlink) |
| langchain-groundlink (Python/LangChain) | A GroundlinkSearchTool for Python agents | pip install "langchain-groundlink @ git+https://github.com/ohhavefun/groundlink#subdirectory=langchain-groundlink" |
Both use the same free trial keys (100 queries) from the Groundlink onboarding, then prepaid usage at $0.001/query.
Where Groundlink is listed
langchain-groundlink (Python / LangChain)
Use Groundlink's cited search from any Python agent or BaseTool pipeline.
The tool returns source-bearing results (title, url, snippet, source)
so your agent answers from evidence and can cite it.
Install from GitHub (the package is intentionally not on PyPI):
pip install "langchain-groundlink @ git+https://github.com/ohhavefun/groundlink#subdirectory=langchain-groundlink"
Quick usage (10 seconds): get a free key from the docs, then:
from langchain_groundlink import GroundlinkSearchTool
tool = GroundlinkSearchTool(api_key="glk_your_trial_key") # or export GROUNDLINK_API_KEY
result = tool.invoke({"query": "Who was Ada Lovelace?"})
print(result)
Full usage, configuration, and error handling are in
langchain-groundlink/README.md.
Groundlink MCP Server
Use Groundlink's cited web-search results from any Model Context Protocol (MCP) host below.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Tool name | groundlink_search |
| Input | { query: string, max_results?: number } |
max_results | 1–10; default 5 (or GROUNDLINK_MAX_RESULTS) |
| Output | JSON: { query, results: [{ title, url, snippet, source }], meta } |
Use it for factual questions where the host should return URLs/sources with its answer. The MCP server is deliberately thin: it forwards the query to the Groundlink HTTPS API and returns the API response over MCP stdio.
Install and run
You need a Groundlink API key (glk_...). Ask the Groundlink operator for one
or obtain one through the Groundlink onboarding flow.
npm install -g groundlink-mcp
export GROUNDLINK_API_KEY=glk_your_key_here
groundlink-mcp
Alternatively, an MCP host can execute the package without a global install:
npx -y groundlink-mcp
The process uses stdio; it does not open an HTTP port or print normal output to stdout. MCP hosts should launch it rather than running it interactively.
Configuration
| Variable | Required | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
GROUNDLINK_API_KEY | Yes | — | API key used for every Groundlink request. |
GROUNDLINK_BASE_URL | No | Groundlink live URL | Override only for a compatible deployment. |
GROUNDLINK_MAX_RESULTS | No | 5 | Default results per tool call; capped at 10. |
Claude Desktop configuration
Add this entry to Claude Desktop's MCP configuration file and restart Claude Desktop. Keep the API key private: do not commit it to a repository or share the configuration file.
{
"mcpServers": {
"groundlink": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "groundlink-mcp"],
"env": {
"GROUNDLINK_API_KEY": "glk_your_key_here"
}
}
}
}
If the package is installed globally, use "command": "groundlink-mcp" and
omit args. For hosts that need an absolute executable path, point command
at the installed groundlink-mcp binary.
What happens on errors
- Missing
GROUNDLINK_API_KEY: the server exits at startup with a clear setup error. - API key rejected (401): returned to the MCP host as a tool error; correct the key rather than retrying.
- No remaining free or prepaid credits (402): returned as a tool error; fund the key before another search.
- Search-source outage (502): returned as a tool error; a short retry may help.
Marketplace description
Groundlink — cited web search for MCP. Give Claude, Cursor, and other MCP
hosts one groundlink_search tool that returns source-bearing results instead
of unsupported factual guesses. Every key starts with 100 free tests, then
usage is $0.001 per query through prepaid credits.
Development and release checks
bun install
bun run typecheck
bun run build # emits executable dist/index.js
bun run test # MCP stdio smoke test
npm run pack:check # inspect the npm tarball without publishing
The npm package intentionally ships only the compiled dist/ runtime, this
README, and npm's required package metadata. Source and smoke tests stay out of
the tarball.
Comments
New to MCP?
From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.