How to Use the Unsplash Alternative MCP in Windsurf
Find any image, user, or collection you need. Windsurf makes visual discovery automatic.
Works with every AI agent you already use
…and any MCP-compatible client
Connect Unsplash Alternative MCP to Windsurf
Create your Vinkius account to connect Unsplash Alternative 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.
Discover Photos and Collections
Need a specific kind of shot? Start by calling `search_photos` to find high-quality images based on keywords. You can then refine that search or check related items using `get_collection`, which pulls details for predefined groups. This means you don't just get one result; Windsurf chains the searches together until it finds a viable set of visuals for your project.
Analyze User and Photo Data
You can look up specific people with `get_user` to grab profile details. If you know who posted the content, use `get_user_photos` to see all their uploads in one go. The agent handles that connection for you. It's perfect when your goal is 'show me everything this user has uploaded about hiking.' Windsurf just runs the steps and shows the output.
Get Random or Targeted Visuals
Sometimes you don't know what you want. Just run `get_random_photo` for a quick, high-quality visual placeholder. Otherwise, if you have specific topics in mind, use `list_topics` first to see what Unsplash offers. Once the agent knows your target, it can jump into `search_collections` or `search_photos` using that topic data.
Set up Unsplash Alternative 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 Unsplash Alternative 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 Unsplash Alternative payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the Unsplash Alternative tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.
{
"mcpServers": {
"unsplash-alternative-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 Unsplash. 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.
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Common questions about Unsplash Alternative MCP in Windsurf
Use it with your favorite AI tools
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Start using the Unsplash Alternative MCP today
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