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How to connect Hunter to Gemini with MCP

Connect Hunter to Gemini using the Model Context Protocol (MCP) so you can search for emails, find leads, and run domain searches without leaving your chat.

Hunter integrates with Gemini through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), letting you search for email addresses, find leads, and run domain searches using natural language, without leaving your Gemini session.

Unlike Hunter's ChatGPT integration, there's no Hunter listing to find and install from an app directory. You connect Hunter yourself by adding it as a custom MCP connector — in the Gemini app, Gemini CLI, Google AI Studio, or Vertex AI / Gemini Enterprise.

Before you start

  • A Hunter account (if you don't have one, you can create one for free).

  • An API key from your Hunter dashboard — only needed if you connect via Gemini CLI, Google AI Studio, or Vertex using header authentication instead of OAuth.

Gemini app

💡 Google currently limits custom apps for Spark to eligible personal Google accounts.

  1. Go to Gemini.

  2. Go to "Settings & help" → "Connected apps".

  3. Under "Custom apps for Spark", select "Add a custom app".

  4. Paste the Hunter MCP server URL: https://mcp.hunter.io/mcp

  5. Click "Next".

  6. Sign in with your Hunter account.

This only needs to be added once, from the Gemini web app — once connected, it also works in the Gemini mobile app.

Once connected, start a new chat. You can ask Gemini things like: "Use Hunter to find the email pattern for stripe.com", and it will respond using your Hunter account.

Gemini CLI

Run this in your terminal:

gemini mcp add --transport http hunter https://mcp.hunter.io/mcp -s user

👉 Prefer API key authentication? Add Hunter directly to your config instead. Edit ~/.gemini/settings.json (user level) or .gemini/settings.json (project level):

{ 
  "mcpServers": { 
    "hunter": { 
      "httpUrl": "https://mcp.hunter.io/mcp",
      "headers": { "X-API-Key": "YOUR_HUNTER_API_KEY" }
    }
  }
}

Replace YOUR_HUNTER_API_KEY with your key from your Hunter dashboard.

Confirm the connection with /mcp or /mcp list.

Google AI Studio

Add Hunter as a custom remote MCP server using: https://mcp.hunter.io/mcp

Use OAuth if it's offered. If a header is required instead, send X-API-Key with your key from your Hunter dashboard.

Vertex AI / Gemini Enterprise

👉 This connects to Hunter's own hosted MCP server — it isn't a listing in Google's own MCP catalogue.

Add Hunter as a custom remote MCP server using: https://mcp.hunter.io/mcp

Use OAuth if it's offered. If a header is required instead, send X-API-Key with your key from your Hunter dashboard.

How to confirm the connection is working

Start a new chat and ask: "Use Hunter to find the email pattern for stripe.com."

If Hunter returns results, you're all set.

Troubleshooting

  • Make sure you started a new chat after connecting — MCP connections aren't picked up mid-conversation.

  • Double-check you used the exact server URL: https://mcp.hunter.io/mcp

  • If you authenticated with an API key, confirm it's correct and active in your Hunter dashboard.

  • For Gemini CLI, run /mcp list to confirm Hunter shows as connected.

Still stuck? Our support team can help you get set up.

Contact our support team
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