> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://serpapi.com/blog/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Introducing SerpApi’s Claude Code Plugin - URL: https://serpapi.com/blog/introducing-serpapis-claude-code-plugin/ - Published: 2026-04-17T15:17:27.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-17T15:17:27.000Z - Description: A native Claude Code plugin that gives Claude direct access to Google, Amazon, Walmart, and 100+ other search engines via the SerpApi REST API — no server or SDK required. - Author: James Collins - Tags: AI Agents Last year, we released the [SerpApi MCP Server](https://serpapi.com/blog/introducing-serpapis-mcp-server/) to give AI agents structured access to live search data through the Model Context Protocol. MCP works well across a range of clients — Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor, and others — but it requires running a server process, either locally or via our hosted endpoint. For developers who work primarily inside [Claude Code](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code/overview), Anthropic’s agentic coding tool, there is now a lighter option. Today, we are releasing an open-source [Claude Code plugin](https://github.com/serpapi/serpapi-claude-plugin) that gives Claude native access to [100+ search engines](https://serpapi.com/search-engine-apis) through the SerpApi REST API. No server to run, no SDK to install — just a plugin that teaches Claude how to search. ## What Is a Claude Code Plugin? [Claude Code plugins](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code/plugins) are packages that extend what Claude can do inside its coding environment. A plugin can include skills — markdown instruction files that tell Claude how to use a specific tool or API — along with configuration for tool access and parameter schemas. When a skill is relevant to what you are asking, Claude loads it automatically. The skill tells Claude which tools it can use, how to construct requests, and how to interpret results. In our case, the skill teaches Claude to call the [SerpApi REST API](https://serpapi.com/search-api) directly using `curl`, pick the right search engine based on your intent, and summarize the results. This is different from MCP. With [MCP](https://serpapi.com/integrations/mcp), the AI client communicates with a running server that wraps the API. With a Claude Code plugin, there is no intermediary — Claude reads the skill, understands the API, and calls it directly. Both approaches give you the same search data; they just differ in how the connection is made. ## Key Features - **Single skill, all engines.** One skill — `serpapi:search` — covers every engine SerpApi supports. Claude selects the right one based on what you ask. Web search, shopping, maps, news, scholar, flights, jobs, finance — all through one interface. - **Schema-driven accuracy.** The plugin ships 107 JSON parameter schemas, one per engine. When Claude needs to construct a search for a specific engine, it reads the relevant schema to get the exact parameters, types, and options. No guessing. - **Auto-invocation.** You do not need to remember slash commands. Claude detects search-related requests and loads the skill automatically. You can also invoke it explicitly with `/serpapi:search` if you prefer. - **Cost-aware defaults.** The plugin defaults to [Google Light](https://serpapi.com/google-light-api) for general web searches — it is faster and cheaper than the full Google endpoint. Claude also confirms before making API calls, since each non-cached call costs one search credit. - **Always up to date.** Engine schemas are kept in sync automatically, so that the plugin can access latest additions, be it new engines or parameters. - **Open source.** The full plugin is available on [GitHub](https://github.com/serpapi/serpapi-claude-plugin). Contributions are welcome. ## Getting Started ### 1\. Get an API key Sign up at [serpapi.com](https://serpapi.com/users/sign%5Fup?plan=free) — the free tier includes 250 searches per month, no credit card required. Then set your key as an environment variable: ```bash export SERPAPI_API_KEY="your_key_here" ``` ### 2\. Install the plugin Register the marketplace catalog and install: ``` /plugin marketplace add serpapi/serpapi-claude-plugin /plugin install serpapi@serpapi-plugins ``` Or, if you prefer to work from source: ```bash git clone https://github.com/serpapi/serpapi-claude-plugin.git claude --plugin-dir /path/to/serpapi-claude-plugin ``` ### 3\. Search Once installed, just ask Claude what you need in natural language: > *Search for the best noise-cancelling headphones under $300* > > *Find recent academic papers on retrieval-augmented generation* > > *Compare prices for a PS5 on Amazon, Walmart, and eBay* > > *Look up flights from SFO to Tokyo next month* Claude will pick the appropriate engine, construct the API call, execute it, and summarize the results — all without leaving your coding environment. ## How It Works Under the hood, the plugin is a single skill file backed by a directory of engine schemas. When Claude receives a search-related request, it: 1. **Loads the skill**, which contains an engine selection table mapping intents to engines (e.g., “academic papers” → [Google Scholar](https://serpapi.com/google-scholar-api), “local restaurants” → [Google Maps](https://serpapi.com/google-maps-api), “product prices” → [Amazon](https://serpapi.com/amazon-search-api)). 2. **Reads the engine schema** for the selected engine to determine the correct query parameter name and any engine-specific options. 3. **Constructs and executes the API call** to the SerpApi REST endpoint. 4. **Summarizes the results** in a readable format with source links. Every SerpApi engine follows the same REST pattern — `https://serpapi.com/search.json?engine=ENGINE&...` — so the skill teaches one pattern and parameterizes it across all engines. Claude can also chain multiple engines together for tasks like cross-platform price comparisons or multi-source research. ## Supported Engines The plugin covers the full range of [SerpApi’s search engine APIs](https://serpapi.com/search-engine-apis): | Category | Engines | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Web Search | Google, Google Light, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Yandex, Baidu, Naver | | AI Search | Google AI Mode, Google AI Overview, Bing Copilot, Brave AI Mode | | Shopping | Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Google Shopping, Home Depot | | Local / Maps | Google Maps, Google Local, Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable | | Research | Google Scholar, Google Patents, Google Trends | | News | Google News, Bing News, DuckDuckGo News, Baidu News | | Media | Google Images, Google Videos, YouTube, Google Lens | | Travel | Google Flights, Google Hotels, Google Travel Explore | | Jobs | Google Jobs | | Finance | Google Finance | | Apps | Google Play, Apple App Store | ## MCP or Plugin — Which Should You Use? If you are already using our [MCP server](https://serpapi.com/blog/introducing-serpapis-mcp-server/), you do not need to switch. MCP is the right choice when you work across multiple AI clients — Claude Desktop, VS Code Copilot, Cursor, or custom agents — since it provides a single server that any MCP-compatible client can connect to. The Claude Code plugin is a better fit if Claude Code is your primary environment and you want a simpler setup. There is no server process to manage, no Docker container to run, and no port to configure. You install the plugin and it works. Both options return the same structured JSON from the same SerpApi endpoints. They cover the same engines and support the same parameters. Choose the one that fits your workflow. ## What’s Next The plugin is open source and available now at [github.com/serpapi/serpapi-claude-plugin](https://github.com/serpapi/serpapi-claude-plugin). We are continuing to expand our AI integrations to make sure developers can access live search data wherever they work — whether that is through [MCP](https://serpapi.com/integrations/mcp), Claude Code plugins, or the [REST API](https://serpapi.com/search-api) directly. If you run into issues or have ideas for improvement, open an issue or pull request on the repository. And if you haven’t tried SerpApi yet, [create a free account](https://serpapi.com/users/sign%5Fup?plan=free) to get started with 250 searches per month.