generated: '2026-08-14'
method: searched
source: >-
  openapi/_original/parallel-openapi-original.json +
  https://docs.parallel.ai/resources/faqs +
  https://platform.parallel.ai/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server (probed 200)
notes: >-
  Two distinct authentication regimes. The REST API is API-key only. The AGENT
  surfaces (Task MCP, A2A Deep Research agent, CLI login) additionally accept
  OAuth 2.0 against an authorization server at platform.parallel.ai whose
  metadata is publicly published — it supports dynamic client registration, PKCE
  (S256), authorization_code and device_code, and a single scope `key:read`. The
  OAuth exchange returns a Parallel API key used as a bearer token.
summary:
  types:
  - apiKey
  - oauth2
  api_key_in:
  - header
schemes:
- name: ApiKeyAuth
  type: apiKey
  in: header
  parameter: x-api-key
  applies_to: https://api.parallel.ai REST API (all operations)
  key_management: https://platform.parallel.ai (default key generated at signup; manage under Settings)
  env_var: PARALLEL_API_KEY
  sources:
  - openapi/_original/parallel-openapi-original.json
- name: parallel_oauth
  type: oauth2
  flows:
  - type: authorizationCode
    authorization_url: https://platform.parallel.ai/getKeys/authorize
    token_url: https://platform.parallel.ai/getKeys/token
    pkce: S256
    scopes: [key:read]
  - type: deviceCode
    device_authorization_endpoint: https://platform.parallel.ai/getKeys/device/code
    scopes: [key:read]
  registration_endpoint: https://platform.parallel.ai/getKeys/register
  dynamic_client_registration: true
  token_endpoint_auth_methods_supported: [none]
  applies_to:
  - https://task-mcp.parallel.ai/mcp
  - https://search.parallel.ai/mcp-oauth
  - https://api.parallel.ai/a2a
  - parallel-cli login
  sources:
  - well-known/parallel-oauth-authorization-server.json
  - well-known/parallel-task-mcp-oauth-protected-resource.json
  - a2a/parallel-agent-card.json
bearer:
  supported: true
  note: >-
    A Parallel API key may also be presented as `Authorization: Bearer <key>` on
    the MCP endpoints (documented for raising Search MCP rate limits).
anonymous:
  supported: true
  surfaces:
  - https://search.parallel.ai/mcp
  note: The free Search MCP requires no account and no key; session_id is used for free-tier rate limiting.
webhook_auth:
  standard: Standard Webhooks
  algorithm: HMAC-SHA256
  secret_prefix: whsec_
  see: asyncapi/parallel-webhooks.yml
scopes: scopes/parallel-scopes.yml
docs: https://docs.parallel.ai/getting-started/overview