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adi-santoso

free-web-search-mcp

by adi-santoso

free-web-search-mcp

A free web search MCP server powered by real browsers.

Features · Install · Configure · Tools · Contributing · License


Features

  • MCP server exposing web_search, fetch_page, and setup_camoufox tools

  • Multiple browser backends selectable at runtime:

    • camoufox — stealth Firefox (anti-detect), default when installed

    • chrome — Playwright Chromium via installed Google Chrome

    • msedge — Playwright Chromium via installed Microsoft Edge

    • chromium — Playwright bundled Chromium

    • firefox — Playwright Firefox

    • webkit — Playwright WebKit

  • Auto-setup Camoufox — pip install + binary download on demand

  • Multiple search engines: Google (default), Bing, DuckDuckGo

  • Page content extraction (plain text) for deep-reading a result URL

  • Humanized typing, configurable proxy, locale, headless mode

  • Block detection with actionable hints (e.g. "retry with browser='camoufox'")

Related MCP server: CloakBrowser Search MCP

Install

# Default install (Playwright path)
pip install -e .

# With Camoufox (recommended for stealth)
pip install -e ".[camoufox]"
camoufox fetch

# Playwright browsers (only download the ones you'll use)
playwright install chromium        # for backend=chromium
playwright install firefox         # for backend=firefox
playwright install webkit          # for backend=webkit
# chrome / msedge backends use the already-installed system browser, no download needed.

Camoufox missing on first run? It is installed and downloaded automatically — no manual steps required.

Configure

cp .env.example .env
# edit .env

Env

Default

Description

SEARCH_ENGINE

google

Default search engine: google | bing | duckduckgo

MAX_RESULTS

10

Max results returned per search

DEFAULT_BROWSER

auto

camoufox if installed, else chrome. Override per-call via param

HEADLESS

true

Run browser headless

HUMANIZE

true

Humanized typing

LOCALE

en-US

Browser locale

PROXY_URL

empty

Optional proxy http://user:pass@host:port

MCP_LOG_LEVEL

INFO

DEBUG | INFO | WARNING | ERROR

Run

# Direct
python -m free_web_search_mcp

# Via script entry point
free-web-search-mcp

Integrate

Claude Desktop — claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "free-web-search": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "free_web_search_mcp"],
      "cwd": "<path-to-this-project>"
    }
  }
}

opencode — opencode.json (global or project)

{
  "mcp": {
    "free-web-search": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["python", "-m", "free_web_search_mcp"],
      "enabled": true,
      "environment": {
        "HEADLESS": "true",
        "HUMANIZE": "true",
        "DEFAULT_BROWSER": "camoufox"
      }
    }
  }
}

Tools

web_search(query, max_results=10, engine="google", browser="")

Search the web and return a list of {position, title, url, snippet}.

Parameter

Type

Default

Description

query

str

required

Search query string

max_results

int

10

1-20

engine

str

google

google | bing | duckduckgo

browser

str

auto

camoufox | chrome | msedge | chromium | firefox | webkit

fetch_page(url, max_chars=20000, browser="")

Fetch a URL and extract its main content as plain text.

Parameter

Type

Default

Description

url

str

required

Page URL

max_chars

int

20000

1000-50000

browser

str

auto

Same options as web_search

setup_camoufox(force=False)

Ensure the Camoufox stealth browser is installed and its binary is downloaded. Runs pip install camoufox and python -m camoufox fetch automatically if missing. No-op if already installed.

Parameter

Type

Default

Description

force

bool

False

Re-download the binary even if present

Tips: avoid captcha & blocks

Search engines flag requests by IP reputation, not just browser fingerprint. Camoufox handles the fingerprint side, but the IP matters more than people expect.

Run locally when possible. A residential home IP is clean and almost never gets captchas. A VPS/datacenter IP is frequently flagged — even with Camoufox, Google may serve reCAPTCHA. Prefer running this server on your local machine (or home server) and pointing your MCP client at it.

If you must run on a VPS:

  • Set HUMANIZE=true and keep requests spaced out (no rapid bursts).

  • Use a residential proxy via PROXY_URL (http://user:pass@host:port). This is the single most effective fix for captcha on datacenter IPs.

  • Fall back to engine="bing" or engine="duckduckgo" — they are generally more permissive than Google.

  • Rotate locale / user-agent across calls.

Block detection is built in. When a search hits a captcha/consent page, the tool returns a clear error and suggests retrying with browser="camoufox" — so the caller can switch backend automatically.

Contributing

Pull requests are welcome. Please open them against a feature branch (not main):

git checkout -b feature/your-feature
git push -u origin feature/your-feature

Then open a PR targeting main. Keep commits focused and titled in the imperative mood (e.g. "Add support for Yandex"). Run ruff check . before submitting.

License

MIT — see LICENSE.

Available Tools

3 tools
fetch_pageA

Fetch a web page and return its main content as plain text. Browser backend: 'camoufox' (stealth Firefox, default if installed), 'chrome', 'msedge', 'chromium', 'firefox', or 'webkit'. Omit to use the default. Useful for reading the full content of a search result URL.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
urlYes
browserNo
max_charsNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A4/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description carries the full burden. It discloses that the output is 'main content as plain text' (not raw HTML) and explains browser backend options, including the default. However, it does not mention potential errors, redirects, or handling of dynamic content, leaving some behavioral gaps.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is two sentences: the first states the core function, the second lists browser options and usage context. Every sentence adds value, is front-loaded, and there is no redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's moderate complexity and the presence of an output schema, the description covers the main aspects: purpose, browser selection, and a typical use case. It does not mention the max_chars limit or error behavior, but these are marginal for a straightforward fetch tool.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It thoroughly explains the 'browser' parameter by listing valid values and the default behavior ('Omit to use the default'). However, it does not explain 'max_chars' or provide any semantics for the required 'url' parameter beyond what is obvious from the purpose.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description explicitly states 'Fetch a web page and return its main content as plain text', using a specific verb and resource. This clearly distinguishes it from siblings like web_search (searching) and setup_camoufox (configuration).

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

It provides a concrete use case: 'Useful for reading the full content of a search result URL.' This implies when to use the tool after obtaining a URL via search. However, it does not explicitly state when not to use it or mention alternatives beyond the implied workflow.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

setup_camoufoxA

Ensure the Camoufox stealth browser is installed and its binary is downloaded. Runs pip install camoufox and python -m camoufox fetch automatically if missing. Returns current status. No-op if already installed.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
forceNo

Output Schema

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A4/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Even though no annotations are provided, the description discloses the main behaviors: it runs pip install and python -m camoufox fetch, is a no-op if already installed, and returns current status. It doesn't detail potential side effects or the exact meaning of 'force', but it gives a solid overview of the tool's behavior.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is three concise sentences, front-loaded with the purpose, and every sentence adds useful information. There is no wasted wording, and the structure is logical: purpose, mechanism, conditional behavior.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The description covers the tool's operation and return type, but it omits the meaning of the 'force' parameter, which is a significant gap for an otherwise simple tool. The output schema exists, so return values are handled structurally, but the parameter gap makes the description incomplete.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The description doesn't explain the 'force' parameter at all, and the schema provides no description either. Since schema description coverage is 0%, the description should compensate, but it doesn't. The agent would have to guess what 'force' does based on the title alone.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool's function with a specific verb ('Ensure') and resource ('Camoufox stealth browser installed'). It distinguishes itself from sibling tools (web_search, fetch_page) by focusing on setup/installation, and includes key behaviors like idempotency and status return.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies when to use it: any time the Camoufox browser is needed, it ensures it's installed. It doesn't explicitly mention alternatives or exclusions, but the sibling tools are unrelated, making the context clear. It could have been more explicit about calling it before other tools, but the implied usage is sufficient.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. 3 tool updatesv0.1.0
    • First observedfetch_page
    • First observedsetup_camoufox
    • First observedweb_search

TDQS

A4.1/5.0

Scored across 3 tools

Disambiguation5/5

Each tool has a distinct purpose: setup_camoufox handles installation, web_search performs queries, and fetch_page retrieves page content. No overlap in functionality.

Naming Consistency4/5

All names use snake_case, but web_search is a compound noun rather than a clear verb_noun construction like the other two. Minor deviation from the otherwise consistent pattern.

Tool Count5/5

Three tools is a well-scoped set for a web search server, covering setup, searching, and fetching without unnecessary bloat.

Completeness5/5

The domain of web search is fully covered: setup ensures the browser is ready, web_search finds results, and fetch_page reads full content. No obvious gaps for basic search workflows.

Maintenance

ActivitySlowing
ResponsivenessNo issues

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