Free Google Search with inline citations for any MCP-compatible AI tool.
🚨 Disclaimer 🚨
This is just a heads-up. We haven't seen any bans from GSearch use.
Not affiliated with Google. Uses the same public OAuth client and API as the open-source Gemini CLI.
Google recently banned some OpenClaw users. OpenClaw use cases for oauth providers look abusive to me. GSearch doesn't fit that pattern. Risk still exists.
Requests carry Gemini CLI's User-Agent, ideType, and request shape, so they're probably indistinguishable from the official client on the wire (if u a googler reading this: we good ppl, plz don't hunt us 🙏). If that bothers you, use a throwaway Google account.
Give Claude Code, Codex CLI, Cursor, and other AI tools real-time web search powered by Google Search grounding. Single binary, zero runtime dependencies. Free with any Google account.
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/daanielcruz/gsearch-mcp/main/install.sh | bash
Or build from source:
git clone https://github.com/daanielcruz/gsearch-mcp && cd gsearch-mcp
make build && ./gsearch-installer
The installer downloads the binary, configures Claude Code, Codex and Cursor automatically (if available).
Claude Code / Codex CLI / Cursor / Others...
| MCP (stdio)
gsearch-server (Go binary)
| OAuth2
Google Code Assist API
| googleSearch grounding
Answer with [1][2][3] source links
When an AI tool calls google_search, GSearch returns a grounded answer with inline citations:
The current time in Sao Paulo is 08:13 AM.[1][2]
Sao Paulo observes Brasilia Time (BRT), UTC-3.[3]
Sources:
[1] Time in Sao Paulo (https://...)
[2] World Clock (https://...)
[3] Time Zone Info (https://...)
GSearch uses the same Google Search grounding API as Gemini CLI. Free with any Google account. No API key, no credit card, no billing setup.
Rate limits are generous for normal usage. The server retries automatically with dynamic backoff on rapid bursts.
Three options:
~/.gemini/oauth_creds.json./gsearch-installer opens your browser for Google sign-inGEMINI_API_KEY / GSEARCH_API_KEY env varOAuth modes auto-provision new accounts via the Google Code Assist API (SMS verification may be required on first use). API key mode skips OAuth entirely and hits the Gemini API directly.
The installer configures everything automatically. For manual setup, add to your MCP client config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"gsearch": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@daanielcruz/gsearch-mcp"]
}
}
}
Works with Claude Code (~/.claude.json), Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json), and any MCP-compatible tool.
For Codex CLI (~/.codex/config.toml):
[mcp_servers.gsearch]
command = 'npx'
args = ['-y', '@daanielcruz/gsearch-mcp']
Set GSEARCH_PROJECT env var only if auto-detection fails.
MIT
Source-derived launch command. Check the maintainer’s required arguments and credentials before running:
npx -y @daanielcruz/gsearch-mcpMerge this template into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Keep existing servers. Add any arguments, credentials, and permissions required by the maintainer; this template has not been install-tested.
{
"mcpServers": {
"io-github-daanielcruz-gsearch": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@daanielcruz/gsearch-mcp"
]
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop completely for changes to take effect. Confirm the server appears connected in the client’s tool list, then try a read-only example from its documentation.
Claude Desktop setup reference@daanielcruz/gsearch-mcpnpmio.github.daanielcruz/gsearch works with any MCP-compatible client. Copy the config snippet from the Configuration section above and add it to the file shown for your client, then restart the application.
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.jsonRestart Claude Desktop completely for changes to take effect.~/.cursor/mcp.jsonRestart Cursor for changes to take effect..vscode/mcp.jsonReload VS Code window for changes to take effect.~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.jsonRestart Windsurf for changes to take effect..mcp.jsonSave at the project root, then start Claude Code in that project and review the MCP server approval prompt. Keep real credentials out of shared files.