MCP Pexels

What is MCP Pexels?

MCP Pexels is a Model Context Protocol server that exposes the Pexels API — free stock photos, videos, and curated collections — as MCP tools that any compatible AI client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, Cline, Continue, etc.) can call directly from a chat.

How to use MCP Pexels?

Add a JSON config block to your MCP client's settings with "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "mcp-pexels"] and set the PEXELS_API_KEY environment variable. Paste the config, restart the client, and the nine pexels_* tools are live. A free API key is available at pexels.com/api.

Key features of MCP Pexels

• Nine tools covering photos, videos, and collections
• Search, curated feed, and single-item retrieval for photos and videos
• Featured and personal collections with media listing
• Rate-limit data (_rateLimit) exposed in every response
• Zod-validated input for all tool parameters
• No global install required — npx -y runs directly

Use cases of MCP Pexels

• Slide-deck and document illustration with royalty-free photos
• Blog post or social media thumbnail suggestions from Pexels
• Video editing research with filters for duration, size, orientation
• Mood boards using color-filtered photo searches
• Realistic placeholder imagery for coding agents generating CSS/HTML

FAQ from MCP Pexels

How do I get a Pexels API key?

Sign up at pexels.com/api — keys are issued instantly and the free tier allows 200 requests/hour and 20,000 requests/month.

Does this cost anything?

No. The Pexels API is free, the npm package is free (MIT), and MCP Pexels itself does not call any paid service.

Will this work offline?

No — the server is a thin wrapper over the Pexels HTTPS API and requires network access.

Can I use Pexels content commercially?

Yes, per the Pexels license, but you must attribute the platform and, when possible, the photographer.

Is there a hosted / SaaS version?

No. Run it locally via npx. Because Pexels API keys are per-user, hosting a shared instance doesn't make sense.