# Ahrefs MCP: setup guide and alternatives > Ahrefs MCP connects your agent to Ahrefs' data: keywords, backlinks, competitors, rank tracking and site audits. This guide covers the plans that include it, setup in Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor, how units are spent, and when a hosted alternative fits better. By Jesse Sibley, Founder of Manifold. Published 5 Oct 2026, updated 5 Oct 2026. Filed under [SEO](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/topics/seo.md). ## Key takeaways - Ahrefs MCP is Ahrefs' official hosted server at https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp, with tools for Site Explorer, Keywords Explorer, SERPs, Rank Tracker, Site Audit, Brand Radar, Web Analytics and Google Search Console. - It needs a paid plan from Lite upward. Lite includes 200,000 API units a month and 100 rows per request, Standard 800,000 and 250, Advanced 2,000,000 and 500, Enterprise custom. - Connecting approves access on an Ahrefs consent screen and creates an API key tagged with MCP scope. You can also generate an MCP key yourself. API keys and MCP keys are not interchangeable. - Every call costs at least 50 units. If your client caps tools, add ?tools=essentials to the URL. Local setup is no longer supported. - Manifold is a hosted alternative with pay per call pricing, no API keys of your own, and Search Console and Bing tools at 0 credits next to DataForSEO data. Ahrefs MCP is Ahrefs' official MCP server. It connects AI agents such as Claude, ChatGPT and Claude Code to Ahrefs' data: keywords, SERPs, backlinks, competitors, rank tracking, site audits and more. Ahrefs hosts it at `https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp`. When you connect, you approve access on an Ahrefs consent screen, and Ahrefs creates a dedicated API key tagged with MCP scope. You need a paid Ahrefs plan from Lite upward, and every request spends API units from it. This guide covers which Ahrefs plans include MCP, how to connect it in Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT and Cursor, the problems people hit with API units and authentication, example prompts, and when a hosted alternative like Manifold fits better. ## What is Ahrefs MCP? Ahrefs MCP is the bridge between your agent and the Ahrefs API. You ask a question in plain language, and the agent picks the Ahrefs tools to call. Ahrefs groups the tools by product in its [tool categories documentation](https://docs.ahrefs.com/en/mcp/docs/tool-categories), including: - **Site Explorer**: domain rating, backlink stats, organic and paid overviews, backlinks, referring domains, anchors, organic keywords, competitors and top pages - **Keywords Explorer**: keyword overviews, volume by country and history, matching and related terms - **SERP overview** for a keyword - **Rank Tracker** overview and competitor reports - **Site Audit** projects, issues and pages - **Brand Radar** reports on how brands appear in AI answers - **Web Analytics**, **Google Search Console** data, **social media** metrics and **batch analysis** of several targets at once Ahrefs says its data comes from its own web index. ## Who Ahrefs MCP is for Ahrefs MCP fits when: - You already pay for Ahrefs Lite or higher and want that data in conversation with your agent - Your team uses Ahrefs daily and wants the same metrics in the app and in your agent - You are comfortable watching your API unit balance and rows per request It may not fit when: - You do not have a paid Ahrefs plan and do not want to start one just for MCP - You only need SEO data now and then - You want Bing Webmaster Tools data in the same server - You want Reddit, ad library or lead data alongside SEO ## Step 1: check your plan Ahrefs MCP is available on Lite, Standard, Advanced and Enterprise. According to [Ahrefs' help center](https://help.ahrefs.com/en/articles/13913559-getting-started-with-ahrefs-mcp), the plans include: | Plan | API units per month | Max rows per request | | --- | --- | --- | | Lite | 200,000 | 100 | | Standard | 800,000 | 250 | | Advanced | 2,000,000 | 500 | | Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | At the time of writing, Ahrefs' [pricing page](https://ahrefs.com/pricing) lists Lite at $129/mo, Standard at $249/mo and Advanced at $449/mo, billed monthly. There is no extra fee for the MCP server itself, but each call costs at least 50 API units, with the exact amount depending on the request. The units are shared across Ahrefs MCP, Ahrefs Connect and direct Ahrefs API v3 use. To get more, upgrade your plan; Enterprise customers can buy extra units. Track your usage in **Account settings → Limits and usage**. Workspace admins can also set a monthly unit limit for each key in the API keys report. ## Step 2: connect in Claude Ahrefs is in Claude's list of approved connectors: 1. In Claude, open **Customize**, select **Connectors** and click **+** 2. Search for Ahrefs, click the card and click **Connect** 3. Choose your Ahrefs workspace and account, then click **Allow** 4. Enable the Ahrefs connector in a chat and ask your question ## Step 3: connect in Claude Code Add the server from your terminal, then run `/mcp` in Claude Code, authenticate the Ahrefs server, log in to Ahrefs, pick a workspace and click **Allow**: ```bash claude mcp add ahrefs https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp -t http ``` ## Step 4: connect in ChatGPT Ahrefs says MCP support in ChatGPT is in beta, and only available in developer mode for Pro and Plus accounts on the web: 1. Go to **Settings → Apps → Advanced settings** and turn on **Developer mode** 2. Click **Create app** 3. Enter `https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp` as the MCP server URL and choose **OAuth**, leaving the client ID and secret blank 4. Tick "I trust this application", click **Create**, pick your workspace and click **Allow** 5. In a chat, click **+**, then **More**, and enable the Ahrefs app Ahrefs recommends being explicit in ChatGPT: name the Ahrefs MCP in your prompt, say which tool to use, and ask it not to use web search. ## Step 5: connect in Cursor Ahrefs does not publish a Cursor guide, but its server works with MCP clients that can connect to a remote server. In **Settings → Cursor Settings → Tools & MCP**, add the URL: ```json { "mcpServers": { "ahrefs": { "url": "https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp" } } } ``` If sign-in does not start, generate an MCP key in Ahrefs under **Account settings → API keys → Generate MCP key** and pass it as a header, the format Ahrefs uses in its Claude Desktop guide: ```json { "mcpServers": { "ahrefs": { "url": "https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_MCP_KEY" } } } } ``` Ahrefs also documents setup for Claude Mobile, Copilot Studio, Lovable, n8n, Manus, Mistral's Le Chat and OpenClaw. Note that Ahrefs does not permit calling the MCP endpoint from custom scripts or standalone HTTP clients; for that, it points you to the Ahrefs API. ## Common problems and fixes ### Your plan does not include MCP access **Symptom:** sign-in or requests fail. **Fix:** check your plan in your Ahrefs account settings. Ahrefs MCP needs a paid plan from Lite upward. ### Units run out faster than expected **Symptom:** your unit balance drops quickly. **Cause:** every call costs at least 50 units, and bigger requests cost more. **Fix:** 1. Be specific. Ask for "the top 50 keywords for example.com in the US" rather than "all keywords". 2. Always set a result count, a country and filters. 3. Keep related questions in one chat so the agent can reuse what it already fetched. 4. Check **Account settings → Limits and usage**, and set a per-key unit limit if you share a workspace. ### 401 authentication error Ahrefs lists three common causes: - Your key has expired. Generate a new one. - Your subscription is no longer active. Renew it to keep using MCP. - You are using a regular API key where an MCP key is needed. API keys and MCP keys are not interchangeable. If the error persists, contact Ahrefs' live chat support. ### Missing tools Some MCP clients cap how many tools a server can advertise, and Ahrefs' server goes over that cap in many of them. Add a `tools` parameter to the URL to choose tool groups, or use the curated essentials set: ``` https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp?tools=essentials ``` You can also list groups, for example `?tools=site-explorer-overview,keywords-explorer`. A misspelled group name is rejected with an `invalid tool category` error. ### Can I run it locally? No. Ahrefs' help center says local MCP setup is no longer supported, and only the remote server is supported. ## Example prompts Here are prompts you can try once Ahrefs MCP is connected. ### Keyword research "Show the top 20 trending terms in my industry that have strong potential to grow in popularity throughout 2026. Include search volume, traffic potential and keyword difficulty." ### Rank check "Check where example.com ranks in Google US for 'project management software' and 'team collaboration tools'. Show the current position and the ranking URL." ### Competitor backlinks "Provide an overview of the backlink profiles of these five competitor websites, including domain rating and how many referring domains each gained in the past three months." ### Keyword gap "Find keywords that competitor.com ranks for that example.com does not, with at least 500 monthly searches and keyword difficulty under 40. Limit to 50 rows." ### Brand in AI Overviews "Use Ahrefs to find the top 10 most searched branded queries for our brand and the responses in AI Overviews. Analyze the overall sentiment and highlight how the answers differ from six months ago." Ahrefs notes this prompt needs the Brand Radar AI Overviews and AI Mode add-on. ## Run this in your agent Connect Manifold to your agent, then paste this prompt: ```text Find keywords in our category with real search volume, check where we rank versus competitors, show their backlink profiles, and list keyword gaps we can target. ``` It uses [`seo_search_keywords`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_search_keywords), [`seo_get_position`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_position), [`seo_get_backlink_summary`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_backlink_summary) and [`seo_get_keyword_gap`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_keyword_gap). ## When to use Manifold instead Ahrefs MCP is a strong choice when you already pay for Ahrefs and want its data in conversation. The trade-offs: - You need a paid Ahrefs plan, from Lite at $129/mo - Unit usage depends on each request, so it can be hard to predict - No Bing Webmaster Tools data - No Reddit, ad library or lead data in the same server Manifold is a hosted MCP server that puts SEO data from DataForSEO alongside Search Console, Bing, AI answers, social, Reddit, ad libraries and leads. It fits better when: - You want a hosted server with no API keys of your own to manage - You prefer paying per call to taking on a subscription for MCP access - You want Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools data next to SEO data, at 0 credits per call - You want to see what ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity say about your category - You want Reddit, ad library and lead data in the same server | | Ahrefs MCP (official) | Manifold | | --- | --- | --- | | **SEO data** | Ahrefs' own index | DataForSEO | | **Hosting** | Hosted by Ahrefs | Hosted by Manifold | | **Keys** | OAuth creates an MCP-scoped Ahrefs key, or generate an MCP key | No API keys of your own | | **Pricing** | Paid Ahrefs plan from Lite ($129/mo); at least 50 units per call | Pay per call; 500 free credits per workspace, top-ups from $10, Pro from $20/mo | | **Search Console** | Google Search Console tool group | Yes, 0 credits per call | | **Bing Webmaster Tools** | Not listed | Yes, 0 credits per call | | **AI answers** | Brand Radar reports; AI Overviews and AI Mode data needs an add-on | Yes | | **Reddit, ad libraries, leads** | Not listed | Yes | | **Best for** | Teams already paying for Ahrefs | Teams who want SEO, AI answers, social, ads and leads in one server with per-call pricing | Both answer the same kinds of SEO questions: keywords, rankings, backlinks and domain metrics. The numbers will not match, because Ahrefs and DataForSEO run separate indexes. Volumes, difficulty scores and traffic estimates are estimates either way, so pick one source and stick with it when you track trends. With Manifold you also get: - [Search Console](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/search-console) and [Bing Webmaster Tools](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/bing-webmaster-tools) data for your own sites, at 0 credits per call - [AI visibility](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/ai-visibility): what ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity say and cite - [Reddit tools](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/reddit) to search posts and comments and find subreddits - [Ad library](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/ads) and [lead](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/leads) tools To see how Manifold maps to Ahrefs' features, read [Ahrefs MCP alternative](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/ahrefs). For a side by side of every SEO server, read [the best SEO MCP servers](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/best-seo-mcp-servers). For the other official servers, see the [Semrush MCP setup guide](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/semrush-mcp) and the [DataForSEO MCP setup guide](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/dataforseo-mcp). See [pricing](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/pricing) for Manifold's plans. ## Questions people ask ### Is Ahrefs MCP free? No. It needs a paid Ahrefs plan from Lite upward. Ahrefs charges no extra fee for the MCP server itself, but every call spends API units from your plan. Lite includes 200,000 API units a month and is listed at $129/mo. ### Which Ahrefs plans include MCP? Lite, Standard, Advanced and Enterprise. Lite includes 200,000 API units a month and up to 100 rows per request, Standard 800,000 units and 250 rows, Advanced 2,000,000 units and 500 rows. Enterprise has custom units and unlimited rows. ### How many units does an Ahrefs MCP request use? At least 50 units per call, with the exact amount depending on the request. The units are shared with Ahrefs Connect and direct API use. Set a result count, a country and filters to keep usage down, and check Account settings, Limits and usage. ### How do I fix a 401 error in Ahrefs MCP? Ahrefs lists three causes: an expired key, so generate a new one; an inactive subscription, so renew it; or a regular API key used where an MCP key is needed, since the two are not interchangeable. If it persists, contact Ahrefs' live chat support. ### Which clients work with Ahrefs MCP? Ahrefs documents setup for Claude on web, desktop and mobile, Claude Code, ChatGPT (developer mode, in beta), Copilot Studio, Lovable, n8n, Manus, Mistral's Le Chat and OpenClaw. Other clients that connect to remote MCP servers, such as Cursor, can add the URL directly. ### Can I run Ahrefs MCP locally? No. Ahrefs says local MCP setup is no longer supported, and only the remote server at https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp is supported. ### Does Ahrefs MCP include Search Console or Bing data? Ahrefs lists a Google Search Console tool group (keywords, pages, positions and performance history). Bing Webmaster Tools is not in its tool groups. Manifold includes Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools at 0 credits per call. ### Will Ahrefs MCP data match Manifold's? No. Ahrefs uses its own index, and Manifold's SEO tools use DataForSEO. Volumes, difficulty scores and traffic estimates will differ. Both are estimates, so pick one source and use it consistently when you track trends. ## Keep reading - [Semrush MCP: setup guide and alternatives](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/semrush-mcp.md): Semrush MCP connects your agent to Semrush's SEO data: keywords, domains, backlinks, competitors and site audits. This guide covers the plans that include it, setup in Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor, how units are spent, and when a hosted alternative fits better. - [DataForSEO MCP: setup guide and a hosted alternative](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/dataforseo-mcp.md): The DataForSEO MCP server connects AI agents to SEO data: keywords, SERP results, backlinks, and technical crawl. Here is how to set it up in Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor, fix common problems, and when to use a hosted alternative instead. - [The best SEO MCP servers, compared](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/best-seo-mcp-servers.md): When your agent needs SEO data, an MCP server connects it to the tools you already use. Here are the best SEO MCP servers, what they cost, how they work, and which one fits your workflow.