Litescrape — Claude Code MCP server: search without an API key
Gives your agent Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo and Google Maps results as structured JSON. Handy when you need fresh web data and have no key or account.
claude mcp add --transport http litescrape-mcp-server https://mcp.litescrape.com/mcpWhat Litescrape does
The server pulls results from each site's own pages and hands them back as JSON. Links point at real destinations rather than redirects, and nothing is cached, so every call goes out fresh. Four tools work with no key: google_search, bing_search, duckduckgo_search and google_maps. On google_search you can set fast_mode to get organic results only, which is quicker.
Free calls are capped per network per UTC day: 25 for google_search, 50 for each of the other three. Only one call per network runs at a time, and failed calls do not count against the cap. Once you hit the cap, the tool result reports it and spells out for the model how to add a key, so the agent can pass that on to you. Setting LITESCRAPE_API_KEY lifts the daily caps, allows concurrent calls and opens the rest of the catalog — google_ai_mode, google_ai_overview, google_shopping, google_reviews, web_fetch and more. Those are reachable through find_tools and call_tool.
Running it locally needs Node.js 20 or newer. If you would rather install nothing, point your client at https://mcp.litescrape.com/mcp — same tools, same free allowance, with the key sent as Authorization: Bearer ls_live_.... The tool list stays small either way, around 5K tokens, whether or not a key is present.
What it helps with
- pull Google results as structured data with no key
- look up places, addresses and ratings via Google Maps
- compare Bing and DuckDuckGo output for one query
- feed fresh web data into an agent's context
- see which tools a key would open before buying one
Example prompts for the agent
- Use
google_searchto find recent posts about MCP servers and list the links - Show me addresses and ratings for coffee shops near the office with
google_maps - What does
find_toolsoffer for the task "scrape a product page"?
How to install Litescrape
1Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http litescrape-mcp-server https://mcp.litescrape.com/mcp2Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env LITESCRAPE_API_KEY=<LITESCRAPE_API_KEY> --transport stdio litescrape -- npx -y litescrape-mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values
1Platform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add litescrape --url https://mcp.litescrape.com/mcp2Platform CLI
codex mcp add litescrape --env LITESCRAPE_API_KEY=<LITESCRAPE_API_KEY> -- npx -y litescrape-mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"litescrape": {
"url": "https://mcp.litescrape.com/mcp"
}
}
}{
"mcpServers": {
"litescrape": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"litescrape-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"LITESCRAPE_API_KEY": "<LITESCRAPE_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"litescrape": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.litescrape.com/mcp"
}
}
}{
"servers": {
"litescrape": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"litescrape-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"LITESCRAPE_API_KEY": "<LITESCRAPE_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
1Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http litescrape https://mcp.litescrape.com/mcp2Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e LITESCRAPE_API_KEY=<LITESCRAPE_API_KEY> litescrape npx -y litescrape-mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Litescrape
How do I install Litescrape in Claude Code?
One command: claude mcp add --transport http litescrape https://mcp.litescrape.com/mcp. For a local run, use claude mcp add --env LITESCRAPE_API_KEY=<LITESCRAPE_API_KEY> --transport stdio litescrape -- npx -y litescrape-mcp-server.
What does Litescrape do?
It returns Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo and Google Maps results to your agent as JSON. Four tools work without a key; a key opens the rest and removes the daily caps.
Do I need an API key?
Not for basic search. LITESCRAPE_API_KEY is what removes the call caps, allows concurrent requests and unlocks the other tools in the catalog.
