MCP Integration

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data sources. Scavio runs an MCP server that gives any compatible client access to 33 tools covering Google Search, Amazon, Walmart, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. Setup takes under 2 minutes.

Introduction

Scavio's remote MCP server is a cost-effective Tavily and SerpAPI alternative that any Model Context Protocol client can connect to over Streamable HTTP. Authenticate with your API key via the x-api-key header and your assistant gains real-time search across Google, YouTube, Amazon, Walmart, Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. The sections below cover setup for the most common clients -- Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code, ChatGPT, Cline, Zed, and the Claude apps -- plus a universal config for anything else.

Prerequisites

1. Get your API key at dashboard.scavio.dev
2. Replace YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY in the examples below with your actual key

Claude Code

Run this single command in your terminal:

claude mcp add --transport http scavio https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp \
  --header "x-api-key: YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"

To add it to a shared project config (checked into version control), use --scope project:

claude mcp add --transport http --scope project scavio https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp \
  --header "x-api-key: YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"

Alternatively, add the JSON config directly:

claude mcp add-json scavio '{
  "type": "http",
  "url": "https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp",
  "headers": {
    "x-api-key": "YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"
  }
}'

Verify the connection:

claude mcp list

Claude Desktop

1. Open Claude Desktop
2. Go to Settings > Developer > Edit Config
3. Add Scavio to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "scavio": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@scavio/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "SCAVIO_API_KEY": "YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

4. Save and restart Claude Desktop

Requires Node.js 20+.

Config file location:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Claude (claude.ai and Cowork)

The Claude apps (claude.ai on web and Claude Cowork) support remote MCP servers as custom connectors:

1. Go to Settings > Connectors
2. Click Add custom connector
3. Enter the MCP server URL: https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp
4. Configure authentication with your API key and save

Custom connectors require a paid Claude plan and may require additional auth configuration depending on your workspace. For the terminal, use the Claude Code command above.

Cursor

1. Open Cursor and go to Settings > Tools & MCP
2. Click + Add New MCP Server
3. Select type HTTP and enter:
   • Name: scavio
   • URL: https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp
   • Headers: x-api-key: YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY
4. Click Save

Or manually edit .cursor/mcp.json in your project root (or ~/.cursor/mcp.json for global):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "scavio": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "x-api-key": "YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

1. Open Windsurf and click the hammer icon in Cascade
2. Click Configure to open the MCP config
3. Add Scavio to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "scavio": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "x-api-key": "YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

4. Save the file and refresh Windsurf

VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

1. Create .vscode/mcp.json in your project root:

{
  "servers": {
    "scavio": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "x-api-key": "YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

2. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
3. Run MCP: List Servers to verify the connection

For global setup, add the same config to your VS Code user settings under mcp.servers.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT supports remote MCP servers through its Apps & Connectors feature:

1. Go to ChatGPT Settings > Apps & Connectors
2. Click Add custom connector
3. Enter the MCP server URL: https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp
4. Configure authentication with your API key
5. Save and start using Scavio tools in your chats

ChatGPT MCP support requires a Plus or Team plan and may require OAuth configuration depending on your setup.

Cline (VS Code Extension)

1. Open VS Code with Cline installed
2. Click the MCP Servers icon in the Cline sidebar
3. Click Configure MCP Servers
4. Add Scavio to the config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "scavio": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "x-api-key": "YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

5. Save and Cline will auto-detect the new server

Zed Editor

1. Open Settings (Cmd+,)
2. Navigate to the Assistant section
3. Add Scavio under MCP servers:

{
  "assistant": {
    "mcp_servers": {
      "scavio": {
        "type": "http",
        "url": "https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp",
        "headers": {
          "x-api-key": "YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Any MCP-Compatible Client

Scavio works with any tool that supports the Model Context Protocol. The universal config:

{
  "type": "http",
  "url": "https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp",
  "headers": {
    "x-api-key": "YOUR_SCAVIO_API_KEY"
  }
}

Available Tools

Once connected, your AI assistant can use these 33 tools:

Google Search

YouTube

Amazon

Walmart

TikTok

Instagram

Reddit

Account

Troubleshooting

Server not connecting?

• Verify your API key is correct and active
• Check your credits with get_usage or at dashboard.scavio.dev
• Ensure the URL is exactly https://mcp.scavio.dev/mcp (no trailing slash)

Tools not showing up?

• Restart your AI client after adding the config
• Check for JSON syntax errors in your config file
• Confirm the MCP server appears as "connected" in your client's MCP settings

Benefits of Scavio + MCP

• Universal: works with any MCP-compatible client, from Claude Code to ChatGPT.
• Comprehensive: 33 tools spanning Google, YouTube, Amazon, Walmart, Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram.
• Zero install: a hosted remote server over Streamable HTTP -- just add the URL, no packages to manage.
• Secure: authenticate with your API key via the x-api-key header; the model never handles credentials.

Next Steps

• Google Search API -- full endpoint reference
• YouTube API -- search and metadata
• Amazon API -- product search and details
• Walmart API -- product search and details
• TikTok API -- profiles, videos, comments, and hashtags
• Instagram API -- profiles, posts, reels, stories, and comments
• Reddit API -- post search and threaded comments
• Rate Limits -- per-plan limits and headers