How to Use the Exa AI MCP in Windsurf
Use Exa AI in Windsurf to pull live web data directly into your Cascade agent for smarter, faster code generation.
Works with every AI agent you already use
…and any MCP-compatible client
Connect Exa AI MCP to Windsurf
Create your Vinkius account to connect Exa AI to Windsurf and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.
Autonomous web research with Windsurf
Cascade doesn't just search; it plans. By using `search_with_contents`, your agent grabs the exact documentation or library specs it needs without you leaving the editor. Stop digging through browser tabs. The agent reads the page content directly, processes the data, and applies it to your codebase in one go.
Find similar code patterns
Give the agent a URL and use `find_similar` to see how other developers solved the same problem. It maps out related resources so you aren't guessing. This keeps your implementation consistent with current industry standards. You save hours of manual discovery by letting the MCP server do the heavy lifting.
Monitor your search quota
Keep tabs on your usage through `get_api_usage` right inside your IDE. You'll know exactly how much data you've pulled during a long session. It prevents unexpected hits to your plan limits. You stay in control of your resources while your agent handles the research tasks.
Set up Exa AI MCP in Windsurf
Prerequisites
- Windsurf IDE installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
- Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token
- 1
Open MCP configuration
Click the Cascade assistant icon in the sidebar, then click the hammer icon (🔨) at the top of the panel. Select "Configure" to open
~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json. - 2
Add the Exa AI MCP
Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the
mcpServersobject. Replace[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. - 3
Refresh MCPs
Go back to the hammer icon (🔨) in Cascade and click "Refresh". Windsurf will detect the new server. No full restart is needed — the connection is hot-reloaded.
- 4
Verify in Cascade
Start a new Cascade conversation and ask something like "Show my Exa AI payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the Exa AI tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.
{
"mcpServers": {
"exa-ai-mcp": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Exa AI. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.
Why Choose Vinkius
Vinkius connects your tools to AI with real-time monitoring and automatic cost savings — all from one dashboard.
Real-time monitoring
Live
visibility into every interaction
Connect your favorite tools to your AI and see exactly what's happening — every request, every response, in real time.
Built-in savings
60%
lower AI costs
Vinkius compresses data between your apps and your AI automatically. Lower bills every month — no configuration required.
Single dashboard
One
place for every integration
Every tool your AI connects to, managed from a single screen. One account, complete control.
Common questions about Exa AI MCP in Windsurf
Use it with your favorite AI tools
Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.
Start using the Exa AI MCP today
We host it, we monitor it, we maintain it. You just paste one token.
