---
ref: tool:apify/search-web
name: Search the web and read the top results
company: company:apify
workflows: []
access: [mcp]
tags: [capability:search-web, category:scraper, has:mcp]
docs: https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp
updated: 2026-09-27
---

# Search the web and read the top results

Starts Apify's RAG Web Browser on a query, or on one URL, and returns the run's storage IDs; its dataset holds the top result pages as Markdown.

Note: Billed by Apify platform usage. The response holds storage IDs, not pages: read the pages with the dataset items call and the returned `datasetId`.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### MCP (official, remote)

Add this server to your agent's MCP settings, then sign in when asked.

```json
{ "mcpServers": { "apify": { "url": "https://mcp.apify.com" } } }
```

Call the MCP tool `apify--rag-web-browser`.

Server URL: https://mcp.apify.com

Before anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
- Never print API keys.