Unpaywall MCP Server: Install & Setup

Install Unpaywall in Claude Code

Claude Code

claude mcp add unpaywall -e UNPAYWALL_EMAIL=... -- uvx unpaywall-mcp-server

mcp.json (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "unpaywall": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "unpaywall-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "UNPAYWALL_EMAIL": "..."
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace each ... with your own value.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Unpaywall MCP server do?

Open-access availability for 120M+ scholarly articles via the Unpaywall API

Is the Unpaywall MCP server free?

Yes, most likely. Open source and no paid account or API key is mentioned in the listing. Check the provider for current pricing.

Does Unpaywall run locally or remotely?

Local. Runs on your machine (stdio). You install it with npx, uvx, Docker or from source.

How do I add Unpaywall to Claude Code?

Run: claude mcp add unpaywall -e UNPAYWALL_EMAIL=... -- uvx unpaywall-mcp-server

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