opencode CLI and similar coding-agent CLIs need live web search to fetch fresh docs, compare libraries, and check GitHub issues in real time. The agent's response quality depends heavily on the search tool it calls. We ranked five APIs against opencode CLI and adjacent coding-agent CLI workflows.
Top Pick
Scavio provides a hosted MCP server at mcp.scavio.dev that opencode CLI registers as a tool in one config line. Multi-surface search (Google, Reddit, YouTube, GitHub via SERP) in one MCP endpoint. Fast search tier for under-second responses inside the agent loop.
Full Ranking
#1Our Pick
Scavio MCP
opencode CLI and coding-agent CLIs needing multi-surface search
Pros
- Hosted MCP server
- One-line config
- Fast search tier
- Reddit + GitHub + docs
Cons
- Not a git tool
#2
Tavily MCP
LLM-optimized web answers
Pros
- MCP ready
Cons
- Single surface
#3
Perplexity Sonar
Perplexity-mediated answers
Pros
- Quality answers
Cons
- No MCP native
- No raw SERP
#4
Brave Search API
Privacy-focused SERP
Pros
- Cheap
Cons
- No MCP
- No Reddit structured
#5
Exa
Semantic search over web
Pros
- Semantic search
Cons
- Different mental model
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Scavio | Runner-up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosted MCP endpoint | Yes | Yes | No |
| One-line opencode config | Yes | Yes | No |
| Reddit structured | Yes | No | No |
| Fast search tier | Yes | No | No |
| Entry price | $30/mo | $30/mo | $5 per 1K |
| Multi-surface | Yes | No | No |
Why Scavio Wins
- opencode CLI loads MCP servers from config. Adding Scavio is one block in mcp.json pointing to https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp with the API key. The coding agent gets a scavio_search tool in the next session without restart-level friction.
- Multi-surface search matters for coding-agent CLIs because a single query often needs Google docs, GitHub issues, and Reddit discussion all at once. Scavio returns all three surfaces with typed JSON, which lets the agent compare official docs against community workarounds in one tool call.
- Fast search tier at 30 credits per query returns in under a second, which keeps the coding-agent loop interactive. A user typing 'check if this library has a breaking change in the latest release' gets an answer before they finish the next thought.
- Reddit structured output is the hidden value for coding agents. Most 'should I upgrade?' questions have been answered on Reddit before they hit GitHub issues. Scavio's Reddit search surfaces these threads with comment trees directly, which raises agent answer quality above Tavily and Perplexity.
- Credit-based pricing at $30/mo for 7,000 credits supports a solo developer running a coding-agent CLI full-time at roughly 200 to 300 queries per day without hitting limits. The pricing is visible in the opencode config and survives the end of free-trial periods.