# Semrush MCP: setup guide and alternatives

> 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.

By Jesse Sibley, Founder of Manifold. Published 4 Oct 2026, updated 4 Oct 2026. Filed under [SEO](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/topics/seo.md).

## Key takeaways

- Semrush MCP is Semrush's official hosted server at https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp, serving data from the Standard (SEO) API, the Trends API and the Projects API.
- Semrush One Starter, Pro+, SEO Classic Pro and Guru include 50,000 API units. Semrush One Advanced and SEO Classic Business need an API units package. Traffic and market data needs a Trends API plan.
- Claude and ChatGPT have an official Semrush app. Cursor, Claude Code and VS Code connect to the URL and sign in with OAuth. Clients without OAuth send Authorization: Apikey YOUR_API_KEY.
- Units are charged per line of data and vary by report. One line of Domain Organic Search Keywords costs 10 units live or 50 historical, so always set a result count and filters.
- 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.

Semrush MCP is Semrush's official MCP server. It connects AI agents such as Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor to Semrush's SEO data: keywords, domain analytics, backlinks, competitors, position tracking and site audits. The server is hosted by Semrush at `https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp` and signs you in with OAuth or a Semrush API key. You need an eligible Semrush subscription, and every request spends API units from it.

This guide covers which plans include Semrush MCP, how to connect it in Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor, the problems people hit with plan access and unit usage, example prompts, and when a hosted alternative like Manifold fits better.

## What is Semrush MCP?

Semrush MCP is the bridge between your agent and the Semrush API. You ask a question in plain language, and the agent picks a Semrush report, fills in its parameters and runs it. According to [Semrush's MCP documentation](https://developer.semrush.com/api/v4/introduction/semrush-mcp/), it serves data from:

- **The Standard (SEO) API**: keywords, domains, organic and paid search, backlinks and competitors
- **The Trends API**: website traffic and market data, depending on your Trends API plan
- **The Projects API**: data from your existing Semrush projects. It can read projects but not create them or change their settings

Rather than one tool per endpoint, the server gives your agent a small set of tools. Discovery tools such as `domain_overview`, `organic_research`, `keyword_research`, `competitors_research`, `backlinks_research`, `traffic_overview`, `position_tracking` and `site_audit` find the right report, `get_report_schema` reads its parameters, and `execute_report` runs it.

## Who Semrush MCP is for

Semrush MCP fits when:

- You already pay for an eligible Semrush plan and want that data in conversation with your agent
- Your team uses Semrush daily and wants consistent metrics across the app and your agent
- You are comfortable watching your API unit balance

It may not fit when:

- You do not have a Semrush plan and do not want to start one just for MCP
- You only need SEO data now and then
- You want Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools data in the same server
- You want social, Reddit, ad library or lead data alongside SEO

## Step 1: check your plan

Semrush lists these plans for connecting SEO data through MCP:

- **Semrush One Starter, Semrush One Pro+, SEO Classic Pro or SEO Classic Guru**: each includes 50,000 API units, which refresh on your subscription renewal date
- **Semrush One Advanced or SEO Classic Business**: works with an added API units package (2, 5, 10 or 20 million units)

At the time of writing, Semrush's [pricing page](https://www.semrush.com/prices/) lists Semrush One Starter at $199/mo billed monthly. Traffic and market data needs a separate Trends API plan (Basic or Premium), which includes MCP access.

To see what you have, open **My Profile → Subscription info**. The Summary tab shows your Standard and Trends API units.

## Step 2: connect in Claude

Semrush is an official app in Claude:

1. Open Claude and go to **Customize → Connect your apps**
2. Search for Semrush, select it and click **Connect**
3. Review the permission screen and click **Approve**
4. In a chat, tag the app as @Semrush and ask your question

In Claude Code, add the server from your terminal, then run `/mcp`, select Semrush and choose **Authenticate**:

```bash
claude mcp add semrush https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp -t http
```

## Step 3: connect in ChatGPT

Semrush is also an official ChatGPT app:

1. Go to **Settings → Apps**
2. Find and select Semrush, then click **Connect**
3. Click **Continue**, review the permission screen and click **Approve**
4. Tag the app as @Semrush in a chat

Semrush says the Claude and ChatGPT apps spend units from your Semrush API subscription, with no extra Claude or ChatGPT fees.

## Step 4: connect in Cursor

In **Settings → Cursor Settings → Tools & MCP**, add this to your MCP configuration:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "semrush": {
      "url": "https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

Cursor opens the Semrush login page to finish OAuth. Semrush also documents setup for VS Code, Perplexity, Lovable and Antigravity.

## Using an API key instead of OAuth

OAuth is the default. If your client cannot do OAuth, pass your Semrush API key in the Authorization header in this exact format:

```
Authorization: Apikey YOUR_API_KEY
```

Note the `Apikey` prefix: Semrush's docs do not use `Bearer`. Your API key is not your Semrush password. Semrush's [API access guide](https://developer.semrush.com/api/v4/get-started/api-access/) explains where to find it.

## Common problems and fixes

### Your plan does not include MCP access

**Symptom:** requests fail, or the agent says it cannot reach the data you asked for.

**Fix:** check **My Profile → Subscription info**. Semrush One Starter, Pro+, SEO Classic Pro and Guru include API units. Semrush One Advanced and SEO Classic Business need an API units package. Trends data needs a Trends API plan, so traffic and market questions fail without one even if your SEO data works.

### Units run out faster than expected

**Symptom:** your unit balance drops quickly.

**Cause:** Semrush charges units per line of data returned, and the rate depends on the report. In Semrush's own example, one line of the Domain Organic Search Keywords report costs 10 units for live data and 50 units for historical data. A broad request can return thousands of lines.

**Fix:**

1. Be specific. Ask for "the top 50 keywords in the US database" rather than "all keywords".
2. Always set a result count, a database and filters.
3. Avoid historical data unless you need it.
4. Keep related questions in one chat so the agent can reuse what it already fetched.
5. Check your balance in **My Profile → Subscription info**.

### OAuth problems

- If you see `redirect URI ... is not allowed`, contact Semrush support with your client's name and redirect URI.
- If you are not redirected to the Semrush login page, look for a login link in your client and open it by hand.
- If you get a `400` error, clear your browser cookies and start the sign-in again.

### Missing tools

If your agent does not show the discovery tools, `get_report_schema` and `execute_report`, check that sign-in finished, that your plan includes API access, and that your client's MCP configuration points at `https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp`.

## Example prompts

Here are prompts you can try once Semrush MCP is connected.

### Keyword research

"Find 20 keywords related to 'email marketing automation' in the US database with at least 500 monthly searches. Show volume, keyword difficulty, CPC and competitive density."

### Rank check

"Check where example.com ranks in the US for 'project management software' and 'team collaboration tools'. Show the current position and the ranking URL."

### Competitor backlinks

"Show the top 20 referring domains linking to competitor.com, with their authority score and the most common anchor texts."

### Domain overview

"Give me an overview of example.com in the US database: organic traffic, number of ranked keywords, top 10 keywords by traffic and top 5 organic competitors."

### Keyword gap

"Compare example.com with competitor.com and list keywords they rank for that we do not, with at least 1,000 monthly searches and keyword difficulty under 40. Limit to 50 rows."

## 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, list their top referring domains, and show 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_referring_domains`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_referring_domains) and [`seo_get_keyword_gap`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_keyword_gap).

## When to use Manifold instead

Semrush MCP is a strong choice when you already pay for Semrush and want its data in conversation. The trade-offs:

- You need an eligible Semrush subscription, plus a Trends API plan for traffic and market data
- Unit usage depends on the report and the number of lines, so it can be hard to predict
- No Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools data
- No social, 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 social, Reddit, ad library and lead data in the same server

| | Semrush MCP (official) | Manifold |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **SEO data** | Semrush's own database | DataForSEO |
| **Hosting** | Hosted by Semrush | Hosted by Manifold |
| **Keys** | Semrush OAuth or Semrush API key | No API keys of your own |
| **Pricing** | Eligible Semrush plan; units spent per line of data | Pay per call; 500 free credits per workspace, top-ups from $10, Pro from $20/mo |
| **Search Console and Bing** | No | Yes, 0 credits per call |
| **AI answers** | Not listed in Semrush's MCP docs | Yes |
| **Social, Reddit, ads, leads** | No | Yes |
| **Best for** | Teams already paying for Semrush | 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 Semrush and DataForSEO run separate databases. 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

For a side by side of every SEO server, read [the best SEO MCP servers](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/best-seo-mcp-servers). To see how Manifold maps to Semrush's features, read [Semrush MCP alternative](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/semrush), or see [pricing](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/pricing).

## Questions people ask

### Is Semrush MCP free?

No. Semrush MCP needs an eligible Semrush subscription, and every request spends API units from it. Semrush says there are no additional MCP usage fees on top of the units. Semrush One Starter, Pro+, SEO Classic Pro and Guru include 50,000 API units that refresh on your renewal date.

### Which Semrush plans include MCP?

For SEO data: Semrush One Starter, Semrush One Pro+, SEO Classic Pro and SEO Classic Guru, each with 50,000 API units. Semrush One Advanced and SEO Classic Business work with an added API units package of 2, 5, 10 or 20 million units. Traffic and market data needs a Trends API Basic or Premium plan.

### How many units does a Semrush MCP request use?

It depends on the report and how many lines it returns. In Semrush's own example, one line of the Domain Organic Search Keywords report costs 10 units for live data and 50 for historical data. Set a result count, a database and filters to keep usage down.

### Which clients work with Semrush MCP?

Semrush documents setup for Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code, Perplexity, Lovable and Antigravity. Claude, ChatGPT and Perplexity have an official Semrush app. Other clients connect to https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp with OAuth, or with an API key if they cannot do OAuth.

### How do I authenticate Semrush MCP with an API key?

Send your Semrush API key in the Authorization header as Authorization: Apikey YOUR_API_KEY. Semrush's docs use the Apikey prefix, not Bearer. OAuth is the default and needs no headers.

### Does Semrush MCP include Search Console or Bing data?

No. Semrush MCP serves data from Semrush's own APIs. If you want Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools data in the same server as SEO data, Manifold includes both at 0 credits per call.

### Will Semrush MCP data match Manifold's?

No. Semrush MCP uses Semrush's own database, 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.

### What happens if I run out of units?

Requests fail until your units refresh on your renewal date or you buy more on the Subscription info page. If you would rather pay per call, Manifold gives every workspace 500 free credits, with top-ups from $10 and Pro from $20/mo.

## Keep reading

- [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.
- [The best Google Search Console MCP servers](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/best-google-search-console-mcp-servers.md): Google has no official Search Console MCP server. Community-built servers are free but need a Google Cloud project. Hosted options skip that setup. Here are the best Google Search Console MCP servers and which one fits your workflow.