Zotero MCP

Name: Zotero MCP
Author: kujenga

Community

MCP server by kujenga · updated 2 months ago · ★ 162

Score 75

Search your Zotero library, retrieve item metadata, and read full text from AI assistants. Zotero MCP is a community project by kujenga, not verified by a company domain.

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Works withClaude Code Claude Desktop Cursor Codex Gemini CLI VS Code Windsurf Antigravity CLI

Install Zotero MCP

Built from the published package, never by AI

claude mcp add zotero-mcp -- uvx zotero-mcp

Run in your terminal. Add --scope user to use it in every project.

Step-by-step: install Zotero MCP in Claude Code

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "zotero-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Settings, Developer, Edit config. Paste into claude_desktop_config.json and restart.

Step-by-step: install Zotero MCP in Claude Desktop

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "zotero-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json (this project).

Step-by-step: install Zotero MCP in Cursor

{
  "servers": {
    "zotero-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "zotero-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to .vscode/mcp.json. VS Code uses "servers", not "mcpServers".

Step-by-step: install Zotero MCP in VS Code

codex mcp add zotero-mcp -- uvx zotero-mcp

Step-by-step: install Zotero MCP in Codex

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "zotero-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json (all projects) or .agents/mcp_config.json (this project).

Step-by-step: install Zotero MCP in Antigravity CLI

gemini mcp add zotero-mcp uvx zotero-mcp

Gemini CLI was replaced by Antigravity CLI in June 2026 and remains only for enterprise licences and paid API keys.

Step-by-step: install Zotero MCP in Gemini CLI

MCP servers run with your permissions and can read what you give them access to. Some need an API key: check the README and add it under env in the zotero-mcp block.

Maintenance

Last commit 78 days ago

Licence

MIT: permissive, fine for commercial use

Quality

Clear description, published package or server URL, 162 stars, original repository

Security

No risky patterns in the files we checked

What you need

Setting	Needed	What it is
`ZOTERO_LOCAL`Environment variable	Optional	Use the local API from the Zotero desktop app instead of the Web API. Requires Zotero to be running with 'Allow other applications on this computer to communicate with Zotero' enabled under Settings > Advanced. Default: `false`
`ZOTERO_API_KEY`Environment variable, secret	Optional	Zotero Web API key from https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys. Not required when ZOTERO_LOCAL is true.
`ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID`Environment variable	Optional	Zotero library ID (your user ID for user libraries). Not required when ZOTERO_LOCAL is true.
`ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE`Environment variable	Optional	Whether ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID refers to a user or group library. Default: `user`

From the publisher's entry in the official MCP Registry. Required settings are already in the install config below as placeholders.

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Security check

No download-and-run commands, hidden instructions or signs of sending keys out were found.

Checked automatically: README.md. This looks for known risky patterns and is not a full audit. How grades work

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Zotero MCP: common questions

How do I install Zotero MCP?

In Claude Code run claude mcp add zotero-mcp -- uvx zotero-mcp. For Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code, paste the config shown above and restart. See the install guides.

Is Zotero MCP the official server?

Zotero MCP is a community project by kujenga, not verified by a company domain.

Is Zotero MCP free?

The code is published under the MIT licence. The service it connects to may have its own pricing.

Is Zotero MCP safe to use?

It scores 75 of 100. Grades: maintenance B, licence A, quality B. Security check: grade A, no risky patterns found in the files checked. Review the code before you install. How grades work.

What are alternatives to Zotero MCP?

Similar MCP servers: exa, Agent Skills Search Server, brave, Atlassian Rovo MCP Server.

Does Zotero MCP work with ChatGPT?

Not directly. It runs locally, and ChatGPT only connects to remote servers with a URL. Use it in Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code or Codex.