Integrations

MCP Client Setup

Add CRW to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, Continue, and similar MCP hosts. This page is the copy-paste setup reference for both local embedded mode and fastcrw.com cloud mode.

Best for: host-by-host setup
Local mode: npx crw-mcp
Cloud mode: CRW_API_URL + CRW_API_KEY
Open MCP Overview Get fastcrw.com API Key

Start here

Use one of these three patterns:

Pattern Best when Copy-paste shape
Embedded local You want zero server setup and local scrape/map/crawl tools command: npx, args: ["crw-mcp"]
fastcrw.com cloud You want hosted infrastructure and crw_search same as local plus CRW_API_URL and CRW_API_KEY
HTTP transport Your host supports HTTP MCP and you already run crw-server point the client at http://localhost:3000/mcp

What tools you get

Embedded local mode exposes:

  • crw_scrape
  • crw_crawl
  • crw_check_crawl_status
  • crw_map

fastcrw.com cloud mode exposes all of the above plus:

  • crw_search

:::tip If you only remember one rule, remember this one: local embedded mode is the easiest setup, and fastcrw.com cloud mode is the easiest way to add web search. :::

Claude Code

Local embedded

claude mcp add crw -- npx crw-mcp

fastcrw.com cloud

claude mcp add \
  -e CRW_API_URL=https://fastcrw.com/api \
  -e CRW_API_KEY=YOUR_API_KEY \
  crw -- npx crw-mcp

Local HTTP transport

claude mcp add --transport http crw http://localhost:3000/mcp

Useful commands:

  • claude mcp list
  • claude mcp remove crw

OpenAI Codex CLI

Local embedded

codex mcp add crw -- npx crw-mcp

Or edit ~/.codex/config.toml:

[mcp_servers.crw]
command = "npx"
args = ["crw-mcp"]

fastcrw.com cloud

[mcp_servers.crw]
command = "npx"
args = ["crw-mcp"]

[mcp_servers.crw.env]
CRW_API_URL = "https://fastcrw.com/api"
CRW_API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"

:::note Codex uses the same stdio MCP server as Claude Code. The only difference is where you register it. :::

Claude Desktop

Edit the config file for your OS:

OS Path
macOS ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Linux ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Local embedded

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

fastcrw.com cloud

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CRW_API_URL": "https://fastcrw.com/api",
        "CRW_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Fully quit and restart Claude Desktop after editing the file.

Cursor

Create or edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json for global setup, or .cursor/mcp.json inside one project.

Local embedded

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

fastcrw.com cloud

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CRW_API_URL": "https://fastcrw.com/api",
        "CRW_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

You can also add the same config from Cursor's MCP UI under Settings.

Windsurf

Edit ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.

Local embedded

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

fastcrw.com cloud

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CRW_API_URL": "https://fastcrw.com/api",
        "CRW_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

:::note Windsurf has a total MCP tool limit. CRW stays lightweight: local mode exposes 4 tools, cloud mode exposes 5. :::

Cline

Edit the Cline MCP settings file:

OS Path
macOS ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json
Windows %APPDATA%/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json
Linux ~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json

Local embedded

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"],
      "alwaysAllow": ["crw_scrape", "crw_map"],
      "disabled": false
    }
  }
}

fastcrw.com cloud

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"],
      "alwaysAllow": ["crw_scrape", "crw_map", "crw_search"],
      "disabled": false,
      "env": {
        "CRW_API_URL": "https://fastcrw.com/api",
        "CRW_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Continue

Edit ~/.continue/config.yaml.

Local embedded

mcpServers:
  - name: crw
    command: npx
    args:
      - crw-mcp

fastcrw.com cloud

mcpServers:
  - name: crw
    command: npx
    args:
      - crw-mcp
    env:
      CRW_API_URL: https://fastcrw.com/api
      CRW_API_KEY: YOUR_API_KEY

MCP tools in Continue only work in Agent mode, not plain chat mode.

Gemini CLI

Local embedded

gemini mcp add crw -- npx crw-mcp

Or edit ~/.gemini/settings.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

fastcrw.com cloud

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CRW_API_URL": "https://fastcrw.com/api",
        "CRW_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Useful commands:

  • gemini mcp list
  • gemini mcp remove crw

Any MCP client

If your client accepts the standard JSON mcpServers shape, start here:

Local embedded

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

fastcrw.com cloud

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "crw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["crw-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CRW_API_URL": "https://fastcrw.com/api",
        "CRW_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Local rendering and config

Local embedded mode uses the same config chain as crw-server:

  • config.default.toml
  • config.local.toml
  • CRW_... environment overrides

If you need JavaScript rendering in local MCP mode, pass a renderer URL:

claude mcp add \
  -e CRW_RENDERER__LIGHTPANDA__WS_URL=ws://127.0.0.1:9222 \
  crw -- npx crw-mcp

Without a configured renderer, CRW still works in HTTP-only mode.

How to choose local vs fastcrw.com

Use local embedded mode when:

  • you want zero infrastructure,
  • scrape/map/crawl are enough,
  • or you want everything to stay on your own machine.

Use fastcrw.com when:

  • you want managed infrastructure,
  • you want the crw_search tool,
  • or you do not want to manage a local renderer or server.

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