MCP server
Bright Data MCP Server
- Maintainer
- Official · Bright Data
- Runs
- Local (stdio)
- GitHub
- ★ 2,686, last push 2026-10-20 (checked 2026-10-24)
- License
- MIT
- Registry
- io.github.brightdata/brightdata-mcp
- Connects to
- Bright Data
Install the Bright Data MCP Server
Pick your client. Each tab starts the same local command. Config shapes checked against each client's docs on 2026-10-25.
Needs API_TOKEN (replace the ... with your value).
Run in a terminal. Everything after -- is the command that starts the server. docs
claude mcp add --transport stdio --env API_TOKEN=... bright-data -- npx -y @brightdata/mcp
Claude Desktop only: Settings > Developer > Edit Config opens claude_desktop_config.json. Add this, save and restart the app. docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"bright-data": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@brightdata/mcp"
],
"env": {
"API_TOKEN": "..."
}
}
}
}Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json (this project), or use the install button. docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"bright-data": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@brightdata/mcp"
],
"env": {
"API_TOKEN": "..."
}
}
}
}Add to .vscode/mcp.json (note the "servers" key and the type), or use the install button. Command Palette > "MCP: Open User Configuration" for all workspaces. docs
{
"servers": {
"bright-data": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@brightdata/mcp"
],
"env": {
"API_TOKEN": "..."
}
}
}
}Run codex mcp add --env API_TOKEN=... bright-data -- npx -y @brightdata/mcp, or add this to ~/.codex/config.toml. docs
[mcp_servers.bright-data] command = "npx" args = ["-y", "@brightdata/mcp"] [mcp_servers.bright-data.env] API_TOKEN = "..."
Run in a terminal (-s user adds it for all projects; the default is this project). docs
gemini mcp add -s user -e API_TOKEN=... bright-data npx -- -y @brightdata/mcp
Run in a terminal; it writes ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json. docs
copilot mcp add --env API_TOKEN=... bright-data -- npx -y @brightdata/mcp
Add to mcp_config.json: ~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json on macOS and Linux (older installs: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json), %APPDATA%\devin\ on Windows. docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"bright-data": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@brightdata/mcp"
],
"env": {
"API_TOKEN": "..."
}
}
}
}Add to Zed's settings.json (or Settings > AI > MCP Servers > Add Server). Remote servers without an Authorization header sign in with OAuth. docs
{
"context_servers": {
"bright-data": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@brightdata/mcp"
],
"env": {
"API_TOKEN": "..."
}
}
}
}Add to opencode.json in the project (or ~/.config/opencode/opencode.json). docs
{
"$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
"mcp": {
"bright-data": {
"type": "local",
"command": [
"npx",
"-y",
"@brightdata/mcp"
],
"enabled": true,
"environment": {
"API_TOKEN": "..."
}
}
}
}Add to ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json (all projects) or .kiro/settings/mcp.json (this project). docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"bright-data": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@brightdata/mcp"
],
"env": {
"API_TOKEN": "..."
}
}
}
}MCP Servers > Configure > Configure MCP Servers opens cline_mcp_settings.json; add this entry. docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"bright-data": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@brightdata/mcp"
],
"env": {
"API_TOKEN": "..."
}
}
}
}Security notes
- The local server runs with your user's permissions (npx downloads it from npm on first run).
- Needs API_TOKEN. Use a key or token with the narrowest scopes (read-only if there is one), and keep it out of config files you commit (.mcp.json, .vscode/mcp.json).
- It reads web pages, and a page can carry prompt-injection instructions. Keep approval prompts on and use a browser profile without your personal sign-ins.
Alternatives
- Browser Useofficial · ★ 119k
An agent that drives a real Chrome to finish tasks: fill forms, click through flows, extract data.
- Chrome DevToolsofficial · ★ 54k
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- Playwrightofficial · ★ 39k
Browser automation through the accessibility tree: click, type, navigate and snapshot pages, no screenshots needed.
- Skyvernofficial · ★ 23k
AI browser automation in Skyvern's cloud: navigate, fill forms and pull data from any site.
- Apifyofficial · ★ 13k
Run any of thousands of Apify scrapers (Actors) for social media, maps, e-commerce and more.
- Firecrawlofficial · ★ 7.7k
Scrape, crawl, map and search websites into clean Markdown or JSON.
- Hyperbrowserofficial · ★ 791
Scrape, crawl and extract with cloud browsers, plus browser-use and Claude computer-use agents.
- ScrapeGraphAIofficial · ★ 117
Extract structured data from pages with a prompt, plus smart crawling.
FAQ
What does the Bright Data MCP Server do?+
Web search and scraping that gets past blocks and CAPTCHAs, with a free monthly quota.
Is the Bright Data MCP server official?+
Official: built and maintained by Bright Data.
How do I add Bright Data to Claude Code?+
Run: claude mcp add --env API_TOKEN=... --transport stdio bright-data -- npx -y @brightdata/mcp. Add --scope project to share it with your team through .mcp.json.
How do I use the Bright Data MCP server in Cursor or VS Code?+
Open the Cursor or VS Code tab above: it has the mcp.json entry and a one-click install link. Cursor uses the "mcpServers" key; VS Code uses "servers" and needs a type ("stdio").
Does Bright Data work in ChatGPT and claude.ai?+
No: it runs locally over stdio, and ChatGPT and claude.ai only connect to remote servers. Use it in Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code or another client that can start a local process.
What are the alternatives to the Bright Data MCP server?+
Other browser & web scraping MCP servers: Browser Use, Chrome DevTools, Playwright, Skyvern and Apify.