Pexels runs on your own machine — the client starts it, so there is no endpoint to ping. 256 installs a week from npm. Last commit 18 May 2026.
MCP server for searching Pexels stock photos, videos, and curated collections.
Nothing serious here today
Today is the operative word: we check Pexels every 15 minutes and re-read its code on every release. Watch it and you find out the day that stops being true.
Connect this server
This server runs on your own machine — install it with the package manager and the client starts it for you. Package name taken from the official registry entry.
claude mcp add pexels -e 'PEXELS_API_KEY=<PEXELS_API_KEY>' -- npx -y mcp-pexels{
"mcpServers": {
"pexels": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-pexels"
],
"env": {
"PEXELS_API_KEY": "<PEXELS_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}[mcp_servers.pexels]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "mcp-pexels"]
env = { PEXELS_API_KEY = "<PEXELS_API_KEY>" }{
"mcpServers": {
"pexels": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-pexels"
],
"env": {
"PEXELS_API_KEY": "<PEXELS_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}{
"servers": {
"pexels": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-pexels"
],
"env": {
"PEXELS_API_KEY": "<PEXELS_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Put your own value in place of
<PEXELS_API_KEY> (Pexels API key. Get one for free at https://www.pexels.com/api/. Free tier: 200 req/hour, 20,000 req/month).
The author’s registry entry marks it as required.
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Pexels — questions
Answers built from our own checks of this server.