Pexels
A straightforward bridge to the Pexels API that surfaces nine search and retrieval tools for stock photos and videos directly inside Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. Search by keyword with filters for orientation, size, color, and locale. Pull curated feeds, popular videos, and featured collections. Fetch individual assets by ID or browse user collections. Every response includes rate limit data so agents can throttle themselves against the free tier's 200 requests per hour. Useful when you're building slide decks, drafting blog posts with real imagery, generating mood boards, or need coding agents to pull royalty-free placeholders instead of broken lorem-pixel links. Requires a free Pexels API key. Runs via npx with stdio transport and works anywhere that speaks MCP.
- tools
- 9
- auth
- Secret needed
- transport
- STDIO
- env var
- 1
- last updated
- May 18, 2026
Tools
9 toolsPublic tool metadata for what this MCP can expose to an agent.
pexels_search_photosSearch photos by query with orientation / size / color / locale filters.
Search photos by query with orientation / size / color / locale filters.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
pexels_curated_photosFetch the Pexels team's real-time curated photo feed.
Fetch the Pexels team's real-time curated photo feed.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
pexels_get_photoRetrieve a single photo by its numeric id.
Retrieve a single photo by its numeric id.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
pexels_search_videosSearch videos by query with orientation / size / locale filters.
Search videos by query with orientation / size / locale filters.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
pexels_popular_videosFetch popular videos with optional width / height / duration constraints.
Fetch popular videos with optional width / height / duration constraints.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
pexels_get_videoRetrieve a single video by its numeric id.
Retrieve a single video by its numeric id.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
pexels_featured_collectionsList Pexels featured collections.
List Pexels featured collections.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
pexels_my_collectionsList the authenticated user's own collections.
List the authenticated user's own collections.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
pexels_collection_mediaRetrieve the photos and videos inside a specific collection.
Retrieve the photos and videos inside a specific collection.
No parameter schema in public metadata yet.
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PEXELS_API_KEY*secretPexels API key. Get one for free at https://www.pexels.com/api/. Free tier: 200 req/hour, 20,000 req/month.
Readme
mcp-pexels — Pexels MCP server for Claude, Cursor, and other AI agents
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.
Details
- Repository
- github.com/developer-ishan/mcp-pexels
- Package
mcp-pexels- Transport
- STDIO
- Auth
- Required
- Registry
- MCP registry, active