diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 14b50e88..08036f8d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 </p>
 
 <p align="center">
-  Chat · Search your files · Run scripts · Build multi-step AI workflows · Execute AI agent skills - all offline-capable, all on your machine.
+  Chat · Search your files and the web · Run scripts · Build multi-step AI workflows · Execute AI agent skills - all offline-capable, all on your machine.
 </p>
 
 <p align="center">
@@ -129,11 +129,12 @@ You shouldn't have to choose between the best AI model, your privacy, and gettin
 ## Features
 
 - **Multi-provider** - Switch between OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Ollama, LM Studio, LocalAI, Docker AI, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint per session
+- **Web search (multiple backends)** - Search the web with DuckDuckGo (no API key), Brave Search API, Tavily, or your own SearxNG instance
 - **Local RAG** - Index local folders, files, and web URLs. Hybrid BM25 + vector retrieval with an AI classifier that skips retrieval when the query doesn't need it. Your data never leaves your machine.
 - **Plans (agentic workflows)** - Chain multi-step AI pipelines from a form UI. Each step builds on the previous; progress shown live. Export as PDF or Word. Define your own plans in YAML or generate them by describing your workflow in plain English.
 - **Skills** - Define reusable AI agents as Markdown files and execute them via [Gemini CLI](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli) or [Claude Code](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code). Skills carry a system prompt, run in a sandboxed workspace, stream live activity, and persist a full run history.
 - **Script runner** - Execute Python, Bash, and JavaScript from chat. Python runs in an auto-managed virtualenv with automatic dependency installation.
-- **MCP tool integration** - Connect MCP-compatible servers via stdio or HTTP, scoped globally or per project
+- **MCP tool integration** - Connect MCP-compatible servers via stdio or HTTP
 - **Persistent sessions** - Conversations stored in a local SQLite database, restored on restart
 - **Vision** - Attach images to conversations; works with any multimodal model
 - **Local telemetry** - Token usage, cost estimates, RAG performance per provider. Nothing uploaded.
@@ -234,4 +235,3 @@ Join the [Askimo Discord](https://discord.gg/eXSBR4fNmm) for help, feedback, and
 <a href="https://github.com/askimo-ai/askimo/graphs/contributors">
   <img src="https://contrib.rocks/image?repo=askimo-ai/askimo" />
 </a>
-
diff --git a/shared/src/main/kotlin/io/askimo/core/util/HttpUtils.kt b/shared/src/main/kotlin/io/askimo/core/util/HttpUtils.kt
index 77dd6dda..07c4fa9f 100644
--- a/shared/src/main/kotlin/io/askimo/core/util/HttpUtils.kt
+++ b/shared/src/main/kotlin/io/askimo/core/util/HttpUtils.kt
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
  */
 package io.askimo.core.util
 
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream
 import java.net.URI
 import java.net.http.HttpClient
 import java.net.http.HttpRequest
 import java.net.http.HttpResponse
 import java.time.Duration
+import java.util.zip.GZIPInputStream
 
 /**
  * Perform a GET request to a local/remote URL with proxy support.
@@ -29,8 +31,9 @@ fun httpGet(
         .timeout(Duration.ofMillis(readTimeoutMs))
         .GET()
     headers.forEach { (k, v) -> requestBuilder.header(k, v) }
-    val response = client.send(requestBuilder.build(), HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString())
-    return response.statusCode() to response.body()
+    val response = client.send(requestBuilder.build(), HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofByteArray())
+    val decompressedBody = decompressGzipIfNeeded(response.body(), response)
+    return response.statusCode() to decompressedBody
 }
 
 /**
@@ -54,6 +57,22 @@ fun httpPost(
         .header("Content-Type", "application/json")
         .POST(HttpRequest.BodyPublishers.ofString(body))
     headers.forEach { (k, v) -> requestBuilder.header(k, v) }
-    val response = client.send(requestBuilder.build(), HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString())
-    return response.statusCode() to response.body()
+    val response = client.send(requestBuilder.build(), HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofByteArray())
+    val decompressedBody = decompressGzipIfNeeded(response.body(), response)
+    return response.statusCode() to decompressedBody
+}
+
+/**
+ * Decompresses gzip-encoded response body if the Content-Encoding header indicates gzip.
+ * Otherwise returns the body as-is.
+ */
+private fun decompressGzipIfNeeded(body: ByteArray, response: HttpResponse<ByteArray>): String {
+    val encoding = response.headers()
+        .allValues("Content-Encoding")
+        .firstOrNull { it.contains("gzip", ignoreCase = true) } ?: ""
+    return if (encoding.isNotEmpty()) {
+        GZIPInputStream(ByteArrayInputStream(body)).bufferedReader().use { it.readText() }
+    } else {
+        String(body, Charsets.UTF_8)
+    }
 }