Context7
Context7 is Upstash's MCP that injects current library docs into agents; install with npx ctx7 setup.
OUR TAKE
Pick Context7 for coding-agent users who keep hitting stale training-data APIs. A free key is recommended.
Good fit
Coding-agent users who keep hitting stale training-data APIs.
Poor fit
People who want ranked web search (Exa) or a full-site crawler (Firecrawl).
Free / OSS
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/upstash/context7
OUR TAKE
Pick Context7 for coding-agent users who keep hitting stale training-data APIs. A free key is recommended. Anonymous hosted use is rate-limited.
Good fit
Coding-agent users who keep hitting stale training-data APIs.
Poor fit
People who want ranked web search (Exa) or a full-site crawler (Firecrawl).
Free / OSS
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/upstash/context7
What it costs
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/upstash/context7
Free / OSS
MIT. Local npx @upstash/context7-mcp or npx ctx7 setup
$0
Free API key
recommended on the README for higher rate limits at context7.com/dashboard. Confirm the live dashboard
Free
Hosted MCP
Not published by the vendor
Not published by the vendor
Checked 2026-11-01·github.com/upstash/context7
Install and adoption
MCP server64,046 GitHub stars (2026-11-01) · 556,118 weekly on npm (@upstash/context7-mcp) (2026-11-01)
Stars 2026-11-01 from GitHub API (https://api.github.com/repos/upstash/context7). Downloads 2026-11-01 from npm (https://api.npmjs.org/downloads/point/last-week/@upstash/context7-mcp).
Any agent via ctx7 CLI
npx ctx7 setup
From official docs · https://github.com/upstash/context7
Hosted MCP + API key
https://mcp.context7.com/mcp Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
From official docs · https://context7.com/docs/resources/all-clients
Before you pay
Good fit
Coding-agent users who keep hitting stale training-data APIs.
Poor fit
People who want ranked web search (Exa) or a full-site crawler (Firecrawl).
Watch out
A free key is recommended. Anonymous hosted use is rate-limited.
Instead, try
Exa if neural web and code search when you want pages, not versioned library docs; Firecrawl if scrape or crawl a URL to markdown when the answer is a site, not a library id
Compare Context7 with
Limits, in full
- 01
A free key is recommended. Anonymous hosted use is rate-limited.
- 02
It is not a search engine. For neural ranking see Exa.
- 03
context7.com/pricing does not print dollar amounts. on 2026-11-01. Re-check the dashboard before you assume a paid plan.
If Context7 isn't it
Why: neural web and code search when you want pages, not versioned library docs.
Free· paid from$0.012
Credits are prepaid dollarsChecked 2026-10-21·exa.ai/docs/admin/pricing
vs Context7
Why: scrape or crawl a URL to markdown when the answer is a site, not a library id.
Free· paid from$16
Hobby/Standard/Growth credits do not roll overChecked 2026-10-21·firecrawl.dev/pricing
vs Context7
Why: a docs product you publish, not an MCP that injects other people’s docs.
Free· paid from$0.01
Starter is 5 seatsChecked 2026-10-21·mintlify.com/pricing
vs Context7Limits & alternatives3 limits · Exa, Firecrawl, Mintlify instead
Limits, in full
- 01
A free key is recommended. Anonymous hosted use is rate-limited.
- 02
It is not a search engine. For neural ranking see Exa.
- 03
context7.com/pricing does not print dollar amounts. on 2026-11-01. Re-check the dashboard before you assume a paid plan.
If Context7 isn't it
Why: neural web and code search when you want pages, not versioned library docs.
Free· paid from$0.012
Credits are prepaid dollarsChecked 2026-10-21·exa.ai/docs/admin/pricing
vs Context7Why: scrape or crawl a URL to markdown when the answer is a site, not a library id.
Free· paid from$16
Hobby/Standard/Growth credits do not roll overChecked 2026-10-21·firecrawl.dev/pricing
vs Context7Why: a docs product you publish, not an MCP that injects other people’s docs.
Free· paid from$0.01
Starter is 5 seatsChecked 2026-10-21·mintlify.com/pricing
vs Context7