tako-mcp

# Tako MCP Server

[![Full Documentation](https://img.shields.io/badge/Docs-docs.tako.com-6E56CF?style=flat-square)](https://docs.tako.com/documentation/integrations/mcp-server)
[![MCP Registry](https://img.shields.io/badge/MCP_Registry-io.github.TakoData%2Ftako--mcp-000000?style=flat-square)](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io)
[![Smithery](https://img.shields.io/badge/Smithery-tako%2Ftako-4B8BF5?style=flat-square)](https://smithery.ai/servers/tako/tako)
[![LobeHub](https://lobehub.com/badge/mcp/takodata-tako-mcp)](https://lobehub.com/mcp/takodata-tako-mcp)
[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-green?style=flat-square)](LICENSE)
[![Benchmarks: +21% on VerticalRTK](https://img.shields.io/badge/Benchmarks-%2B21%25_on_VerticalRTK-6E56CF?style=flat-square)](https://tako.com/blog/evaluating-a-new-kind-of-search-api/)

Tako MCP gives your agent industry-leading live web search plus licensed data that the open web does not have. That includes company financials, macroeconomic indicators, web and app traffic, sports, US government spending, and more.

**[Full Documentation](https://docs.tako.com/documentation/integrations/mcp-server)** · **[Get your API key](https://tako.com/console/api-keys)** · **[MCP Registry](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io)**

Tako MCP lets an agent:

- **Search** Tako's knowledge graph and the live web — top result renders inline as a chart, and `tako_contents` reads the rows behind it
- **Discover** exactly what proprietary data exists for an entity or metric — free and fast
- **Fetch** the underlying rows (JSON) or a page's text behind any result URL
- **Visualize** your own structured data as an embeddable card — public and permanent, readable by anyone with the link _(opt-in; on by default on the ChatGPT app)_
- **Run** Tako's Answer Agent for deep, multi-step research _(opt-in)_

> **Why a data-native search API?** On Tako's [VerticalRTK benchmark](https://tako.com/blog/evaluating-a-new-kind-of-search-api/) of real-time domain questions (finance, economics, sports, weather), Tako outperforms the next-best web search API by **21%** — while using **~75% fewer tool calls at up to one-tenth the cost**, and answering research tasks in **15.5s vs 124.2s** for OpenAI web search. It reaches parity with Exa, Parallel, Nimble, and Tavily on standard web benchmarks (SimpleQA, FRAMES) and pulls ahead where structured, real-time data matters. **[Read the evals →](https://tako.com/blog/evaluating-a-new-kind-of-search-api/)**

## Installation

Point your MCP client at the hosted endpoint — no install, no local server, no token:

```
https://mcp.tako.com/mcp
```

Paste the URL. Sign in when your client prompts you — a per-host key is minted automatically, and new accounts get up to 2,000 free requests. Until you sign in, the connection runs anonymously: `tako_search` works right away (rate-limited), and every other tool — listed like everything else — asks you to sign in when called. For CI, headless use, or a client without an OAuth flow, connect with an API key instead — see [API keys and headless clients](#api-keys-and-headless-clients).

### One-click install

[![Install in Cursor](https://cursor.com/deeplink/mcp-install-dark.svg)](https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=tako&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21jcC50YWtvLmNvbS9tY3AifQ==)
[![Install in VS Code](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-Install_Tako-0098FF?style=flat-square&logo=visualstudiocode&logoColor=white)](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=tako&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22http%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fmcp.tako.com%2Fmcp%22%7D)
[![Install in VS Code Insiders](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code_Insiders-Install_Tako-24bfa5?style=flat-square&logo=visualstudiocode&logoColor=white)](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=tako&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22http%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fmcp.tako.com%2Fmcp%22%7D&quality=insiders)

Claude Code installs with one command — the plugin brings the MCP connection plus Tako's bundled [research skills](#agent-skills):

```bash
claude plugin marketplace add TakoData/tako-mcp && claude plugin install tako@tako
```

Gemini CLI installs as an extension. Same one command, same bundled skills, plus `/data`, `/chart`, and `/coverage` commands:

```bash
gemini extensions install https://github.com/TakoData/tako-mcp
```

Each of these lands on the free tier immediately. Authenticate later to unlock the full toolset — see your client's section below.

Pick your client below.

<details>
<summary><b>Claude Code</b></summary>

**Plugin (recommended)** — installs the MCP connection plus Tako's bundled [research skills](#agent-skills) in one step, and works immediately on the free tier — no API key to mint or manage:

```bash
claude plugin marketplace add TakoData/tako-mcp
claude plugin install tako@tako
```

That's it — `tako_search` works right away on the anonymous free tier. To unlock the full toolset and your own account limits, authenticate once with OAuth: run `/mcp` inside Claude Code, select **tako**, and choose **Authenticate**. A browser opens to sign you in with your Tako account and a per-host API key is minted for you automatically (visible and revocable at [tako.com/console/api-keys](https://tako.com/console/api-keys)). The same OAuth flow powers the plugin on Claude.ai — the plugin's Tako connector connects with a click, no token pasting.

If you previously added the server with `claude mcp add`, remove it first (`claude mcp remove tako-mcp`) so you don't end up with two copies of every tool.

> **Updating from an earlier plugin version?** Older releases asked for a Tako API key in the plugin config; that setting is gone, so after updating your connection silently lands on the anonymous tier (`tako_search` runs; the rest asks you to sign in) — nothing errors, but your account limits are no longer active. Run `/mcp` → **tako** → **Authenticate** once (or use the Connect button on Claude.ai) to restore full authenticated access.

**Or add the MCP server directly** (then authenticate in place via `/mcp` → **tako** → **Authenticate**):

```bash
claude mcp add tako --transport http https://mcp.tako.com/mcp
```

Verify with `claude mcp list` (should show `tako` connected) or `/mcp` inside a session.
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>Cursor</b></summary>

Use the one-click badge above, or add to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` — Cursor prompts you to sign in on first use:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tako": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.tako.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>Windsurf</b></summary>

Add to your Windsurf MCP config — Windsurf prompts you to sign in on first use:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tako": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.tako.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>VS Code</b></summary>

Add to `.vscode/mcp.json` (workspace) or your user `mcp.json` — VS Code prompts you to sign in on first use:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "tako": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.tako.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>Gemini CLI</b></summary>

**Extension (recommended)** installs in one command, and works immediately on the free tier with no API key to mint or manage:

```bash
gemini extensions install https://github.com/TakoData/tako-mcp
```

That installs the MCP connection, Tako's bundled [research skills](#agent-skills), and three commands:

| Command | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `/data <question>` | The answer, cited, across proprietary data **and** the full web, since `sources` defaults to both. One narrow `tako_search` (with rows) for a specific value, parallel searches for anything broad |
| `/chart <question>` | The series as a chart, with the **Open in Tako** embed link |
| `/coverage <entity or metric>` | What the proprietary graph has, before you spend a call. `tako_available_data` is free, and a miss there still leaves web search |

To unlock the full toolset and your own account limits, authenticate once: run `/mcp auth tako` inside Gemini CLI. A browser opens to sign you in with your Tako account, and a per-host API key is minted for you automatically (visible and revocable at [tako.com/console/api-keys](https://tako.com/console/api-keys)).

**Manual config**: if you'd rather not install the extension, or you want to pin a [`?tools=` allowlist](#available-tools), add to `~/.gemini/settings.json` (authenticate later with `/mcp auth tako`):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tako": {
      "httpUrl": "https://mcp.tako.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

To use an API key instead, add a `headers` block with `"Authorization": "Bearer <key>"` — but fill it completely: Gemini substitutes unset `${VAR}` references literally, and a malformed `Authorization` header is rejected rather than ignored, so a half-filled token breaks the connection where no token at all would have worked.
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>OpenCode</b></summary>

Add to `opencode.json` — OpenCode prompts you to sign in on first use:

```json
{
  "mcp": {
    "tako": {
      "type": "remote",
      "url": "https://mcp.tako.com/mcp",
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}
```
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>Codex CLI</b></summary>

Codex connects to remote servers through the `mcp-remote` bridge, which runs the sign-in flow in your browser on first connect:

```toml
[mcp_servers.tako]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.tako.com/mcp"]
```
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>Zed</b></summary>

Add to Zed `settings.json` (via the `mcp-remote` bridge, which runs the sign-in flow in your browser on first connect):

```json
{
  "context_servers": {
    "tako": {
      "source": "custom",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.tako.com/mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>Claude.ai, Claude Desktop &amp; ChatGPT (OAuth — no token needed)</b></summary>

The consumer chat hos