LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server vs Search1API
A side-by-side look at the LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server and Search1API MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server for search & data extraction work as a local process; choose Search1API for search & data extraction as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Search & Data Extraction domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
LINKUP_API_KEY. - You want tools like
linkup-search, linkup-research, linkup-get-research.
Choose Search1API when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Search & Data Extraction domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
SEARCH1API_KEY. - You want tools like
search, news, crawl.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Search & Data Extraction | Search & Data Extraction |
| Quality signal | 65/100 · Great | 68/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | LINKUP_API_KEY | SEARCH1API_KEY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 29 | 173 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 4 | 7 |
| Full listing | View LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server | View Search1API |
Tools & capabilities
LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server tools 4
linkup-searchSearch the web in real time using Linkup to retrieve current information, facts, and news from trusted sources. Use this tool for: real-time data (weather, stocks, sports scores, events), breaking news, current events, recent research, product information, up-to-date prices, schedules, and any information not available in your knowledge base. Returns comprehensive content from the most relevant sources.linkup-researchSubmits an autonomous Linkup research task: an agent that investigates the web to answer questions a single search query cannot resolve, returning a synthesized, cited answer. Use for verified answers to precise questions, focused investigations of a defined subject, or broad multi-angle reports. This is async and long-running (can take several minutes): it does not return the final result. It returns immediately with a task "id" and a "status" of "pending". Poll "linkup-get-research" with that id until the status is "completed" (result in "output") or "failed" (reason in "error"). For quick, direct answers prefer "linkup-search" instead.linkup-get-researchRetrieve the current state of a Linkup research task previously started with "linkup-research". Returns the task object with its "status". While the status is "pending" or "processing", keep polling every few seconds until it reaches a terminal state; polling faster than once per second is rate-limited. When "completed", the result is in the "output" field; when "failed", the reason is in the "error" field.linkup-fetchFetch a URL and return the content of the page. If you are unable to fetch the page content, might be worth trying to render the JavaScript content.
Search1API tools 7
searchSearch the live public web when the user needs current information, sources, or research. Returns citable results with id, title, URL, and text. Each result includes a URL that can be read in full.newsSearch current news when the user asks about recent events, announcements, or coverage. Returns citable article results with title, URL, snippet, and optional extracted text.crawlExtract the readable title and full text from a public URL supplied by the user or returned by search.sitemapDiscover related public links from a page or domain when the user wants to explore a site's structure or available pages.trendingList currently trending repositories or stories from GitHub or Hacker News when the user asks what is popular now.askDescribe what you are looking for in natural language when you do not know which source to search. Search1API picks up to five engines (web, Hacker News, Reddit, GitHub, X, arXiv, Wikipedia, and more), infers a time window from phrases such as "this week", and returns at most 10 relevant results ranked by relevance. Costs 5 credits; use search when you already know the engine.render_resultsPresent already retrieved source results as source cards when the host supports UI, with a complete readable text list otherwise. Use when the user wants to browse sources or a visual list helps the task. Pass existing results in the desired order; never invent source URLs or factual titles. Does not search, crawl, fetch URLs, verify sources, or consume search credits. Do not call for intermediate research results or when a text answer is sufficient.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"linkupplatform-linkup-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"linkup-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"LINKUP_API_KEY": "YOUR_LINKUP_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Search1API
{
"mcpServers": {
"search1api": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"search1api-mcp"
],
"env": {
"SEARCH1API_KEY": "YOUR_SEARCH1API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server is categorized under Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Search1API belongs to Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server for search & data extraction work and Search1API for search & data extraction.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Search1API has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add linkupplatform-linkup-mcp-server and search1api as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, LinkupPlatform Linkup MCP Server has a quality signal of 65/100 (Great) with 1 views, 0 installs and 29 GitHub stars. Search1API has 68/100 (Great) with 1 views, 0 installs and 173 GitHub stars.