Setup the CitationBench MCP server in Claude Desktop

Connect the CitationBench MCP server to Claude Desktop. Two minutes.

Prerequisites

• Claude Desktop installed (claude.ai/download)
• A CitationBench API key (sk_live_*** or sk_test_***) — or just connect in demo mode without one
• A workspace ID (or use an agency master key + per-call scoping)

Step 1 — Find your Claude Desktop config

Location:

Create the file if it doesn't exist.

Step 2 — Add the CitationBench MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "citationbench": {
      "url": "https://mcp.citationbench.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer sk_live_***",
        "X-Workspace-Id": "ws_***"
      }
    }
  }
}

For demo mode, just omit the headers:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "citationbench": {
      "url": "https://mcp.citationbench.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Step 3 — Restart Claude Desktop

Quit and reopen. The tools should now be available in the tool picker (look for the wrench icon).

Step 4 — First tool call

In any conversation:

Research keywords for project management software, fast depth, 50 results.

Claude calls research.keyword.research and renders the result inline.

Multiple environments

Use different keys for dev and prod by adding multiple entries:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "citationbench-prod": {
      "url": "https://mcp.citationbench.com/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer sk_live_***" }
    },
    "citationbench-test": {
      "url": "https://mcp.citationbench.com/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer sk_test_***" }
    }
  }
}

Tools will be exposed as citationbench-prod__research_keyword_research, citationbench-test__..., etc.

Approval mode

Claude Desktop surfaces approval prompts for any tool that requires confirmation. You can also set workspace-level approval policies that pause invocations at WAITING_APPROVAL until a human decides — even if Claude says go.

Debugging

If the server doesn't connect:

• Check the JSON syntax (use jq or the built-in JSON validator in your editor)
• Verify the API key is active at https://app.citationbench.com/api-keys
• Try demo mode (omit headers) — if that works, the issue is your key
• Inspect Claude Desktop's logs: Help → View logs

Common errors:

What to try next

• Catalog — every CitationBench MCP tool
• Setup — Claude Code — same server, command-line install
• Playbook · Build an SEO agent in Claude Code
• Quickstart — MCP