Pexels MCP Server

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. This MCP entry surfaces a curated ranking/list from the project README rather than a classic multi-tool integration surface.

People who work with pexels, stock photos and agent tools and want it reachable from Claude, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client. The project is written in TypeScript.

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-05-18 · ★ 2 · #205 OF 344 MAINTAINED FINANCE · VERIFIED 2026-09-30

MIT · TypeScript servers · how we verify → /methodology

01 · Install Pexels

before you install - you'll need

PEXELS_API_KEY

Environment variables documented in the project's README - it lists which are required and which have defaults.

Claude Code

claude mcp add developer-ishan-mcp-pexels -- npx -y mcp-pexels

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "developer-ishan-mcp-pexels": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-pexels"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package mcp-pexels - unscoped; check the name against the project README before installing

registry namespace io.github.developer-ishan is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Pexels can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

Latest releases

v1.0.2 · 2026-05-18

v1.0.1 · 2026-05-18

v1.0.0 · 2026-05-18

04 · Who maintains Pexels

pexels is maintained by developer-ishan. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to May 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/developer-ishan/mcp-pexels
category: finance - ranked #205 of 344 actively-maintained finance servers as of 2026-09-30.
registry: io.github.developer-ishan/pexels (active, first published 2026-05-18)
packages: npm:mcp-pexels

06 · Pexels FAQ

What is Pexels?

Is Pexels still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-09-30, its last commit was 2026-05-18. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install Pexels?

Run `npx -y mcp-pexels`. The README documents one environment variable (PEXELS_API_KEY) to set first. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Pexels run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Pexels

Alternatives to Pexels

Maintained finance servers if Pexels isn't the fit.

More finance MCP servers · x402 Trinity · DERO MCP Server · Onyx MCP · Kura

More TypeScript MCP servers · UI Debugger MCP · Swell MCP · Dev Lens · Gitwand · see all