ParseAPI — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Connects agents to lookups for companies, DNS records, geolocation, elevation, and timezones. Useful for verifying external data without leaving the chat.
claude mcp add --transport http mcp https://mcp.parseapi.comWhat ParseAPI does
ParseAPI exposes over sixty lookup functions directly to your assistant. Tools handle domain tech stacks, DNS records, company registration numbers, card BIN checks, and geographical details. For temporal queries, the time tool converts timestamps across zones or coordinates, while elevation calculates height points along map coordinates.
Integration works over hosted HTTP or local stdio. The hosted endpoint https://mcp.parseapi.com asks for a one-time browser login, whereas automated pipelines require passing an X-API-Key header. Local execution runs via npx -y parseapi-mcp with an environment variable.
Note the functional split. The ip_self lookup operates strictly in local mode and fails over hosted HTTP. Since release 1.0.0, the package fixes its contract to Parse-Version: 2.0.0, shielding tool schemas from workspace-level account modifications.
What it helps with
- inspect DNS and MX entries for a target domain
- fetch company registration profiles by country identifier
- calculate point-to-point elevation across map coordinates
- convert timestamps between timezones with daylight shift disambiguation
Example prompts for the agent
- Inspect the technology stack and MX records for
example.com - Look up company profile for ID
552100554in France - Convert
2026-09-05T09:00:00fromAmerica/New_YorktoAsia/Tokyo
How to install ParseAPI
1Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http mcp https://mcp.parseapi.com2Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env PARSEAPI_KEY=<PARSEAPI_KEY> --env PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE=<PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE> --transport stdio parseapi -- npx -y parseapi-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
1Platform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add parseapi --url https://mcp.parseapi.com2Platform CLI
codex mcp add parseapi --env PARSEAPI_KEY=<PARSEAPI_KEY> --env PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE=<PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE> -- npx -y parseapi-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"parseapi": {
"url": "https://mcp.parseapi.com"
}
}
}{
"mcpServers": {
"parseapi": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"parseapi-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PARSEAPI_KEY": "<PARSEAPI_KEY>",
"PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE": "<PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"parseapi": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.parseapi.com"
}
}
}{
"servers": {
"parseapi": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"parseapi-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PARSEAPI_KEY": "<PARSEAPI_KEY>",
"PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE": "<PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
1Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http parseapi https://mcp.parseapi.com2Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e PARSEAPI_KEY=<PARSEAPI_KEY> -e PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE=<PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE> parseapi npx -y parseapi-mcpReplace <…> 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 ParseAPI
How do I install ParseAPI in Claude Code?
To add the hosted service, run claude mcp add --transport http parseapi https://mcp.parseapi.com. For a local stdio runner, execute claude mcp add --env PARSEAPI_KEY=<PARSEAPI_KEY> --env PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE=<PARSEAPI_MCP_MODE> --transport stdio parseapi -- npx -y parseapi-mcp.
What is the difference between hosted and local operation?
Hosted mode requires no Node.js runtime and uses https://mcp.parseapi.com, but excludes the ip_self tool. Local mode runs through npx and supports local IP detection, but requires a configured PARSEAPI_KEY.
How does date and time disambiguation work?
When daylight saving causes clock shifts, the disambiguation parameter controls whether the tool selects the earlier or later instant. Choosing reject prevents silent assumptions by returning an error for repeated or skipped times.
