pexels-mcp-pro
Server Configuration
Describes the environment variables required to run the server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEXELS_API_KEY | Yes | Your Pexels API key (required, get one at https://www.pexels.com/api/) | |
| PEXELS_DOWNLOAD_DIR | No | Optional default download directory for the download_media tool |
Instructions
Guidance the server publishes about itself, which clients place ahead of the tool catalog so the model reads it before choosing anything.
This server publishes no instructions, or was last inspected before Glama recorded them.
Capabilities
Features and capabilities supported by this server
Protocol revision2025-11-25
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| tools | {
"listChanged": true
} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| search_photosA | Search Pexels photos. Returns one compact line per photo (#id, dimensions, photographer, alt, avg color) plus inline thumbnails by default so you can visually validate matches immediately without downloading anything. |
| search_videosA | Search Pexels videos. Returns one compact line per video (#id, dimensions, duration, qualities, frame count) plus inline poster thumbnails by default. Use video_storyboard on a candidate to see frames from inside the clip before downloading. |
| batch_searchA | Run up to 6 search queries in parallel in a single call (photos or videos), deduplicated across queries. Ideal for gathering candidates for a multi-scene piece of content in one shot. |
| preview_photosA | Fetch inline thumbnails for specific photo #ids (from earlier searches — costs no API quota for already-seen ids). Use a larger height for a closer look at finalists. |
| video_storyboardA | Return the poster plus evenly-sampled preview frames from inside a video as inline images — validate motion/content/framing of a clip without downloading it. Costs no API quota for videos already seen in a search. |
| curated_photosB | Pexels' hand-curated photo feed (fresh, high quality). Same compact format + inline thumbnails as search_photos. |
| popular_videosB | Pexels' current popular videos, with optional min-resolution/duration constraints. Compact format + inline poster thumbnails. |
| featured_collectionsB | List Pexels featured collections (themed sets of media). Use collection_media with a collection id to browse one. |
| collection_mediaB | List media inside a collection (photos and/or videos), compact format + inline thumbnails. |
| get_mediaA | Full metadata for one photo or video by #id: all source/download URLs, video files with fps and resolutions, Pexels page URL. Use only when you need URLs or exact file variants — search lines + previews are enough for choosing. |
| download_mediaA | Download one or more photos/videos by #id to a local directory (default ./pexels-media, override with |
| get_attributionA | Generate attribution lines for used media (Pexels license: free to use, attribution appreciated but not required). Styles: plain, markdown, html. |
| api_statusA | Pexels quota remaining, reset time, and this session's cache stats. Thumbnails and downloads never consume quota. |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No prompts | |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No resources | |
TDQS
Scored across 13 tools
Each tool has a distinct, non-overlapping purpose: search, batch search, preview, storyboard, curated/popular feeds, collections, metadata retrieval, download, attribution, and status. No ambiguity between tools.
All tool names follow a consistent verb_noun pattern in snake_case (e.g., search_photos, get_media, download_media), making the API predictable and easy to navigate.
13 tools is well-scoped for a media integration server, covering the full discovery-to-download workflow without unnecessary bloat or missing core functionality.
The tool set covers the complete media lifecycle: search (including batch), curation, preview, metadata retrieval, download, and attribution. No obvious gaps for typical usage.