Overview
What's In This Guide
The one prompt that installs all 4 MCPs at once, no code
The Claude desktop-app path too, if you don't use Claude Code
What each one actually does, in plain English
Which two need a free key, and exactly where to grab it
A copy-paste test for each so you feel it working
How to confirm all 4 are live, plus the three fixes for when one breaks
The Whole Point
One Prompt, All 4 Installed
You do not install these one at a time. You hand the whole list to Claude Code and it installs itself. Open Claude Code and paste this in:
Install these 4 MCP servers into my Claude Code at user (global) scope so they work in every project. Run the commands for me one at a time. Two of them need a free API key. Before you run those two, STOP and ask me to paste the key (or tell you to skip it for now). 1. Playwright (no key needed): claude mcp add -s user playwright -- npx -y @playwright/mcp@latest 2. Context7 (no key needed): claude mcp add --transport http -s user context7 https://mcp.context7.com/mcp 3. Perplexity (needs a key, ask me first): claude mcp add -s user perplexity --env PERPLEXITY_API_KEY="MY_KEY" -- npx -y @perplexity-ai/mcp-server 4. Firecrawl (needs a key, ask me first): claude mcp add -s user firecrawl --env FIRECRAWL_API_KEY="MY_KEY" -- npx -y firecrawl-mcp When you are done, run "claude mcp list" and show me the results so I can confirm all 4 are connected.
That's it. The two that don't need a key go in instantly. For Perplexity and Firecrawl, Claude pauses and asks for the key. Don't have them yet? Just say "skip Perplexity and Firecrawl for now" and add them later by pasting the same command with your key.
Then restart
When it finishes, restart Claude Code so the new tools load. Close it and reopen, or run /exit then start again. Now you're done.
Why -s user?
It installs each MCP globally, tied to your account, so the tools work in every project on your machine. Skip that flag and the MCP only works inside the one folder you ran the command from. Always use it unless you have a reason not to.
No Terminal? No Problem
Prefer the Claude Desktop App?
Not using Claude Code? You can put the same 4 tools into the Claude desktop app. It's two moves: paste a small config file for the three that run on your computer, then add Context7 with a button. One thing to do first: install Node.js if you don't have it (it's free, grab it at nodejs.org). The desktop app uses it to run these tools.
Step 1 — The three local tools
In the desktop app, open Settings → Developer → Edit Config. That opens a file called claude_desktop_config.json. Paste this in and save:
{
"mcpServers": {
"perplexity": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@perplexity-ai/mcp-server"],
"env": { "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_KEY" }
},
"firecrawl": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "firecrawl-mcp"],
"env": { "FIRECRAWL_API_KEY": "YOUR_FIRECRAWL_KEY" }
},
"playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@playwright/mcp@latest"]
}
}
}
Swap YOUR_PERPLEXITY_KEY and YOUR_FIRECRAWL_KEY for your real keys (the same two free keys from the section below). Don't have them yet? Delete the whole "perplexity" and "firecrawl" blocks for now and add them later. Playwright needs no key.
Can't find the file?
The Edit Config button opens it for you. If you want to open it by hand, it lives here:
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/
Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\
On Windows and one won't start?
Windows can be picky about running npx. If a tool fails to load, change its "command": "npx" to "command": "cmd" and add "/c", "npx" to the front of its args. Or just ask Claude to fix it for you.
Step 2 — Context7
Context7 runs in the cloud, so it's even easier and skips the config file entirely. Open Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector, name it Context7, paste this URL, and hit Add:
https://mcp.context7.com/mcp
Then fully quit and reopen
Config changes only load on a fresh start. Fully quit Claude (Cmd+Q on Mac, Ctrl+Q on Windows), not just the window, then open it again. Your new tools show up under the tools menu in the chat box.
CLI or desktop, not both needed
Pick whichever app you actually work in. The one prompt above is the fastest path for Claude Code users. This config is the same 4 tools for the desktop app. You don't need to do both.
The Stack
What Each One Actually Does
Four tools, four different superpowers. Here's what becomes possible once they're in, plus the single command for each if you'd rather install them one at a time.
1. Perplexity
Free key neededThis plugs Claude into Perplexity, the most powerful AI research model out there. It does deep research on any topic and pulls live information from across the internet in real time.
That last part matters. It means Claude stops guessing from old training data and starts answering from what is true today. The most factual researcher you can hand your agent.
$ claude mcp add -s user perplexity --env PERPLEXITY_API_KEY="MY_KEY" -- npx -y @perplexity-ai/mcp-server Try it
"Research the current state of this topic and bring me sources."
2. Firecrawl
Free key neededFirecrawl lets Claude search, scrape, crawl, map, and interact with any website on the internet. It can pull a brand's colors and fonts, run competitor research, or turn a messy webpage into clean text.
If you are a marketer, this one belongs in your stack. It is the difference between "I cannot see that page" and "here is everything on it, organized."
$ claude mcp add -s user firecrawl --env FIRECRAWL_API_KEY="MY_KEY" -- npx -y firecrawl-mcp Try it
"Scrape this competitor's site and pull their branding and offers."
3. Playwright
No key neededThis gives Claude a real browser to drive. It can fill out forms, click through a site, test that something works, and pull data straight off pages.
The big one: it can use any tool that has no API and no MCP. If you can do it in a browser, Claude can now do it for you.
$ claude mcp add -s user playwright -- npx -y @playwright/mcp@latest Try it
"Open this site, log in, and pull the numbers off my dashboard."
4. Context7
No key neededContext7 pulls current documentation straight into your chat. So Claude does not just know its own capabilities, it knows the real, latest docs for the tools and APIs it is working with.
This is the difference between Claude writing code that is two years out of date and code that actually runs. If you build anything, this one quietly saves you hours.
$ claude mcp add --transport http -s user context7 https://mcp.context7.com/mcp Try it
"Use Context7 to check the latest docs before you write this."
The Only Manual Part
Getting the Two Free Keys
Only two of the four need a key, and both are free to start. Grab them, paste them when Claude Code asks, done.
Perplexity
- Go to perplexity.ai and sign in.
- Open Settings → API (perplexity.ai/settings/api).
- Generate a key and copy it.
- Paste it when Claude Code asks.
Perplexity's API runs on a small prepaid balance, so you may need to add a few dollars of credit. A little goes a long way.
Firecrawl
- Go to firecrawl.dev and sign up (free).
- Open your dashboard and find API Keys.
- Copy your key.
- Paste it when Claude Code asks.
The free tier covers plenty for normal use.
Context7 is free, no key
It works with no key for normal use. If you ever hit a rate limit, grab a free key at context7.com and add it later. Most people never need to.
Make Sure It Stuck
Confirm All 4 Are Live
After the install and a restart, run this in Claude Code:
$ claude mcp list You should see all four listed and connected: perplexity, firecrawl, playwright, context7. If one shows an error, here's the fix:
Auth error on Perplexity or Firecrawl
The key didn't save. Re-run that one command with your real key in place of MY_KEY.
A tool only works in one folder
You missed the -s user flag. Re-run that command with it added.
Tools don't show up at all
You didn't restart. Close Claude Code fully and reopen it. Still stuck? Just ask Claude: "my [tool] MCP shows an error, help me fix it." It can usually sort it out itself.
The Big Picture
It Was Never the Model
Most people run Claude naked, with none of this, and wonder why it feels limited. It's not the model. It's the inputs. These four give it live research (Perplexity), the whole web (Firecrawl), a real browser (Playwright), and current docs (Context7). Without them, your AI is stuck doing a fraction of what it's actually capable of.
One paste to install. Two free keys. A restart. You don't write a single line of code, and the next time Claude feels stuck, it won't be.
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