The best SEO MCP servers, compared

The best SEO MCP servers

When your agent needs SEO data to research keywords, check rankings, or audit backlinks, an SEO MCP server connects it to the tools SEO teams already use. Some are hosted and handle authentication for you. Others run locally and need API credentials. Each pulls from a different provider, charges in its own way, and offers a different mix of data.

Here are the best SEO MCP servers, what they cost, and which one fits your workflow.

The servers, compared

Ahrefs MCP

Ahrefs MCP is a hosted server at https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp. Sign in with OAuth, which creates an MCP-scoped API key. You need a Lite plan ($129/mo) or higher. There is no separate MCP fee, but every call uses your plan's API units. Lite includes 200,000 units per month, with 100 rows per request and a minimum of 50 units per call. The local server is no longer supported.

For setup in each client, how units are spent and common fixes, see the Ahrefs MCP setup guide.

Best for: Teams already paying for Ahrefs who want to use that data in their agent without a second subscription.

Semrush MCP

Semrush MCP is a hosted server at https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp. Sign in with OAuth or an API key. You need Semrush One Starter or Pro+, or SEO Classic Pro or Guru (each includes 50,000 API units), or Semrush One Advanced or SEO Classic Business plus an API units package. Trends data requires a separate Trends API plan. Official apps run in Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.

For setup in each client, how units are spent and common fixes, see the Semrush MCP setup guide.

Best for: Teams already on Semrush who want their keywords, backlinks, and audits in conversation.

SE Ranking MCP

SE Ranking MCP is a hosted server at https://api.seranking.com/mcp. Sign in with OAuth 2.1 or an API key. MCP is included in every API plan: a Wallet from $50 for 250K credits that never expire, a standalone API plan from $179/mo billed annually, or an API add-on to an SE Ranking subscription. A 14-day trial gives you 100K credits. Covers keywords, backlinks, audits, SERP, and AI search visibility.

Best for: Testing with a trial before committing, or buying a prepaid balance that never expires.

Serpstat MCP

Serpstat MCP is Serpstat's official server, in two versions. The HTTP version connects with OAuth and needs no install; Serpstat lists it for Claude on web, desktop and mobile, and for ChatGPT. The local version runs from npm as @serpstat/serpstat-mcp-server (MIT) with your Serpstat API token, in Claude Desktop, Claude Code, ChatGPT Desktop, Gemini CLI and Cursor. Serpstat lists more than 60 tools for keyword research, competitor gaps, backlinks, site audits and rank tracking.

You need the Team plan or higher, which adds API access with 200,000 API credits a month. Team is $129/mo billed monthly, or $929 a year. Each query spends API credits at Serpstat's standard API rates, and new users get a 7-day free trial.

Best for: Teams already on Serpstat, or that want an SEO suite's own MCP from $129/mo with a trial.

DataForSEO MCP

DataForSEO MCP runs hosted at https://mcp.dataforseo.com/v3/mcp (OAuth in Claude and ChatGPT, or Basic auth with your API login and password) or locally via npx dataforseo-mcp-server. Pay as you go with a $50 minimum payment and a $1 free trial credit. Balance does not expire. Covers SERP, keywords, backlinks, on-page, AI optimization, and business data.

For a complete setup walkthrough and troubleshooting guide, see our DataForSEO MCP setup guide.

Best for: Raw API data at API prices if you can manage your own credentials and local setup.

Google Search Console (community servers)

Community-built servers like AminForou/mcp-gsc run locally via Python and uvx. You need a Google Cloud project with the Search Console API enabled and an OAuth client or service account. It is free. Covers your own site only.

Best for: Reading your own site's Search Console data without paying for a hosted server.

ContextBolt SEO

ContextBolt SEO is a hosted server. Sign in with an API key from your ContextBolt account. Plans start at $35/mo for 1,000 credits, with a 7-day trial and top-ups from $9. The SEO tools run on DataForSEO behind the scenes, and you can connect your own Search Console at no credit cost.

Best for: Teams already using ContextBolt for other tools who want SEO data in the same account.

Manifold

Manifold is a hosted server. Covers keywords, SERPs, backlinks, rankings, technical crawl, AI answers across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity, plus Search Console and Bing (0 credits per call). Also includes social platforms, Reddit, ad libraries, and leads, all from the same server. SEO data comes from DataForSEO, and there are no API keys of your own to manage. It is pay per call, with 500 free credits per workspace, then Pro from $20/mo.

Honest limits: Launched September 2026. No first-party link index like Ahrefs. No rank-tracking projects like SE Ranking or Semrush.

Best for: One hosted server across SEO, AI visibility, social, Reddit, ads, and leads. Per-call credits, and no API keys of your own to manage.

Pricing compared

Entry prices at the time of writing, from each vendor's pricing page.

Which SEO MCP server should you use?

Pick by what you already pay for and how you want to manage credentials.

You already have Ahrefs, Semrush or Serpstat. Use their MCP servers. Your agent uses the data you already pay for, and the OAuth flow is fast.

You want a trial before committing. SE Ranking's 14-day trial gives you 100K credits. Test it, then decide whether to buy a Wallet or a subscription.

You want raw API data at API prices and can manage credentials yourself. DataForSEO MCP charges per call with a $50 minimum. Run it hosted or locally.

You only need your own site's Search Console data. Use a community server like mcp-gsc. It is free and runs locally.

You want one server for SEO, AI visibility, social, Reddit, ads, and leads, with per-call pricing and no API keys. Manifold charges per call, includes free credits, and handles all the credentials.