> SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents. This is the Markdown copy of https://specstream.ai/docs/integrations/tavily-cli. Every page, with what SpecStream does and costs: https://specstream.ai/llms.txt

# Tavily CLI

Set two environment variables and the Tavily CLI sends `tvly search`, `tvly extract` and `tvly map` to SpecStream. The commands and their output stay the same. A search of up to 10 results costs $1 per 1,000.

[SpecStream for Tavily CLICoding agents](https://specstream.ai/integrations/tavily-cli.md)

## What you need

-   The Tavily CLI (`tvly`). Tested with tavily-cli 0.2.1.
-   A SpecStream API key. New accounts start with $10 of credit, no card. [Get your key](https://specstream.ai/workspace/search?route=tavily&utm_source=tavily-cli&utm_medium=howto) on the Search API screen of your SpecStream workspace.

1.  1

    ## 1. Install the Tavily CLI

    If `tvly --version` already prints a version, skip this step. Tavily's docs install the CLI with uv or pip:

    Terminal

    ```bash
    uv tool install tavily-cli
    tvly --version
    ```

2.  2

    ## 2. Point it at SpecStream

    The CLI reads `TAVILY_API_BASE_URL` and gives it to the Tavily Python SDK as `api_base_url`, so every call goes to that address and not to `https://api.tavily.com`. Put your SpecStream key in `TAVILY_API_KEY`.

    Add both lines to your shell profile (`~/.zshrc` or `~/.bashrc`). Every new terminal then uses them, and so does every coding agent started from one:

    ~/.zshrc

    ```bash
    export TAVILY_API_BASE_URL=https://api.specstream.ai/tavily
    export TAVILY_API_KEY=YOUR_SPECSTREAM_API_KEY
    ```

3.  3

    ## 3. Check the key

    Open a new terminal and run `tvly auth`. It prints `Authenticated via TAVILY_API_KEY environment variable` and the first characters of your SpecStream key.

4.  4

    ## 4. Search

    Run a search. Pass up to five queries and they run in parallel, each one Search API call:

    Terminal

    ```bash
    tvly search "latest stable Python release" "2026 Tour de France winner" --max-results 5
    ```

5.  5

    ## 5. Read the answer

    Each result prints its title, full URL and a snippet, under a `=== [1/2]` header for each query, as it does with Tavily. With `--json`, the reply keeps Tavily's fields (`query`, `results`, `response_time`, `request_id`) and adds a `specstream` object whose `price_usd` is what the call cost.

## What each command does on SpecStream

-   `tvly search`: one fast search per query, at $1 per 1,000 searches of up to 10 results. `--max-results`, `--topic`, `--time-range`, `--start-date`, `--end-date`, `--include-domains`, `--exclude-domains` and `--country` all apply.
-   `tvly search --include-raw-content`: adds `raw_content` to each result, holding the text on that page closest to the query. The price stays the same.
-   `tvly search --include-answer` or `--depth advanced`: runs the default search, at $5 per 1,000.
-   `tvly extract`: each page that returns text is one Extract API page, at $0.80 per 1,000. A page with no text is not charged.
-   `tvly map`: one call is one page read, at $0.80 per 1,000. `--limit`, `--select-paths`, `--exclude-paths`, `--select-domains` and `--exclude-domains` apply.
-   `tvly crawl` and `tvly research` are not served at this address and return `404`. To read a whole site, run `tvly map` and pass the URLs it prints to `tvly extract`.

## Tested

Checked on November 12, 2026 with tavily-cli 0.2.1 and the two variables above: `tvly search` with two queries, `tvly extract` and `tvly map` returned results from SpecStream, and the search reply named a price of $0.001. `tvly crawl` and `tvly research` returned `404`.

## Tavily's price and this one

Tavily bills in credits. A basic search costs 1 credit and an advanced search 2, and pay as you go a credit costs $0.008. That makes 1,000 basic searches $8. Through this address, 1,000 searches of up to 10 results cost $1, from your balance, with no plan and no monthly credit allowance to use up.

The Search API scores 97.9 F-score on all 1,000 SimpleQA Verified questions and 64.0 item F1 on all 200 WideSearch tasks. [Scores and method](https://specstream.ai/benchmarks.md).

## Tavily skills in your coding agent

`tvly init` installs Tavily's skills for Claude Code and Codex, and those skills run `tvly`. When the agent starts from a shell that has both variables set, the skills search through SpecStream with no other change.

## Keep the setting in the config file

When `TAVILY_API_BASE_URL` is not set, the CLI reads `api_base_url` from `~/.tavily/config.json`. If both are set, the variable wins. `tvly login --api-key YOUR_SPECSTREAM_API_KEY` saves the key in the same file. Give the key a spending limit under [Agents & API](https://specstream.ai/workspace/agents?tab=keys&utm_source=tavily-cli).

## More than search

For code that calls Tavily directly through the Python SDK or the REST API, see [moving from Tavily](https://specstream.ai/migrate/tavily.md). For lists of records with a source on every value, connect your agent to [SpecStream's MCP server](https://specstream.ai/docs/mcp.md).

## Disconnect

Run `unset TAVILY_API_BASE_URL TAVILY_API_KEY` and delete the two lines from your shell profile. The CLI then goes back to `https://api.tavily.com`. To revoke the key, open **API keys** in **Agents & API**. Questions go to [support@specstream.ai](mailto:support@specstream.ai).

## More

[SpecStream for Tavily CLI](https://specstream.ai/integrations/tavily-cli.md) covers what it does in Tavily CLI on one page. Every other tool has its guide in [Connect your tools](https://specstream.ai/docs/integrations.md). You see the most a request can cost before it starts, and the matches are paid from your balance. [Billing](https://specstream.ai/docs/billing.md) has the details. For help, email [support@specstream.ai](mailto:support@specstream.ai).