Web search and extraction · MCP server
Citation Intelligence: MCP server, setup and security
Citation Intelligence is an open-source MCP server published on GitHub that lets an AI agent check which URLs different AI services cite for a query. Its repository has 9 stars and its last commit is from October 13, 2026 and it is licensed under MIT.
What Citation Intelligence does
According to its repository: “Check which URLs Perplexity, Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Bing and Google AI Overviews cite for any query. Self-hosted.”
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard plug between an AI agent and an outside service: once the server is connected, its tools show up in the agent, which decides when to call them. Citation Intelligence is listed under Web search and extraction, a category of 159 servers in the directory, where it ranks #117 by stars.
Topics declared by the repository: claude-code-plugin, aeo, ai-citation, ai-overview, chatgpt, gemini.
Installing and connecting Citation Intelligence
Distribution modes declared in the official MCP registry:
- npm package (Node.js, usually started with
npx)
It works with any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and most recent agents). You add one entry to the client's MCP configuration: server name, start command or URL, environment variables. Project language: TypeScript.
Security: what to check
Connecting an MCP server means installing software that talks straight to your agent: it runs with your rights and the model trusts its tool descriptions. The risk therefore depends on what it can touch and how far its code can be trusted.
None of the risk signals we track (system access, secrets, missing licence, abandonment) applies to Citation Intelligence. That does not replace reading the code.
Good practice: grant only the rights needed (least privilege), require human approval for irreversible actions, and run the AI agent security check.
Project activity and maintenance
Created on May 21, 2026, the AutomateLab-tech/citation-intelligence repository has 9 stars and 0 forks, with 0 open issues. It has more stars than 24% of the servers in the directory. It received changes this month. Version published in the registry: 0.12.1 (October 13, 2026).
Stars measure attention, not quality: a recent, heavily promoted project can collect them fast, while a useful but niche server will have few.
Verdict
Citation Intelligence is a reasonable choice; check the points below before connecting it.
Strengths
- Active project: recent commit
- Listed in the official MCP registry
- Permissive licence (MIT)
Limitations
- Few visible users
Alternatives
- Exa MCP server5.2K ★
- Brave search MCP server1.5K ★
- Arxiv MCP server3.2K ★
- JobSpy4.6K ★
- SearXNG Search1.3K ★
- Tavily MCP2.5K ★
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How do I install Citation Intelligence?
Citation Intelligence is distributed as npm package (Node.js, usually started with npx). Add it to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code…) following the README of AutomateLab-tech/citation-intelligence.
Is Citation Intelligence free?
The code is published under the MIT licence and can be used free of charge.
Is Citation Intelligence safe?
No risk signal found (system access, secrets, licence, abandonment). As with any MCP server, keep rights minimal and read the code before sensitive use.
Is it an official server?
Nothing says so: it is a project published by AutomateLab-tech on GitHub. Check who maintains it before giving it access.
What are the alternatives to Citation Intelligence?
In the same category: Exa MCP server, Brave search MCP server, Arxiv MCP server, and JobSpy. Exa MCP server and Brave search MCP server score higher on our grid.
Related articles
- Build your own MCP server in 30 minutesOctober 24, 2026
- Automate your inbox with an AI agentOctober 18, 2026
- MCP, A2A, and tool calling: agent protocols explainedOctober 17, 2026
- Build an AI agent with n8n, without codingOctober 16, 2026
Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score