# Ahrefs MCP alternative

> Keyword research, rankings, backlinks and site audits from Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor, paid per call. No Ahrefs plan and no API units to buy.

## Connect

One server URL for every client: `https://mcp.manifoldmcp.com/mcp`, streamable HTTP, with OAuth or an API key as a bearer token. Every workspace starts with 500 free credits and no card.

- [Claude](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/claude): Go to Settings, then Connectors, and add a custom connector. Paste the URL and sign in.
- [Claude Code](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/claude-code): Run this, then /mcp to sign in. `claude mcp add --transport http manifold https://mcp.manifoldmcp.com/mcp`
- [ChatGPT](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/chatgpt): Turn on developer mode. Go to Settings, then Apps & Connectors, and choose Create. Paste the URL.
- [Codex](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/codex): Run this, then codex mcp login manifold to sign in. `codex mcp add manifold --url https://mcp.manifoldmcp.com/mcp`
- [Cursor](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/cursor): One click, or paste the URL in the MCP section of Cursor Settings.
- [Gemini CLI](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/gemini): Run this, then /mcp auth manifold to sign in. `gemini mcp add --transport http manifold https://mcp.manifoldmcp.com/mcp`
- [Grok](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/grok): Go to Settings, then Connectors, and add a connector. Paste the URL and sign in.
- [Grok Bot](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/grok-bot): Paste this to the bot. It adds Manifold and asks you to sign in. `Add the Manifold MCP server as a plugin: https://mcp.manifoldmcp.com/mcp.`
- [OpenCode](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/opencode): Run opencode mcp add, choose Remote and paste the URL.
- [Any other client](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients/other): Add it as a remote MCP server in any other client.

## The tools your agent gets

- [`seo_search_keywords`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_search_keywords): Get keyword ideas. Candidate keywords around a seed, with volume, difficulty, intent, CPC and trend for each. From 5 credits.
- [`seo_get_keyword_metrics`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_keyword_metrics): Check keyword metrics. Volume, difficulty, intent, CPC and 12-month trend for keywords you already have, with AI-engine prompt volume on request. From 5 credits.
- [`seo_get_ranked_keywords`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_ranked_keywords): Get a domain's ranked keywords. Keywords a domain or one page ranks for in the top 100, with position, URL and metrics. From 5 credits.
- [`seo_get_keyword_gap`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_keyword_gap): Find keyword gaps. Keywords one competitor ranks for in the top 100 that the target does not rank for at all. From 5 credits.
- [`seo_get_backlinks`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_backlinks): Get backlinks. Individual backlinks pointing at a domain or page, strongest referring domain first. From 10 credits.
- [`seo_get_referring_domains`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_referring_domains): Get referring domains. Domains linking to a target, one row per domain, with domain rank, link counts and spam score. From 10 credits.
- [`seo_get_domain_overview`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_domain_overview): Get a domain overview. Traffic estimate, ranked keyword count, position spread, top pages and domain rank for one domain. From 5 credits.
- [`seo_get_serp_competitors`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_serp_competitors): Find search competitors. Domains that share search results with a target, with how many keywords overlap. From 5 credits.
- [`seo_run_technical_crawl`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_run_technical_crawl): Run a technical audit. Crawl a site for technical SEO issues. From 3 credits.

Every parameter and return field: [SEO tools in the docs](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo.md).

## The questions you ask Ahrefs, without the plan

Ahrefs’ own MCP server is hosted and draws on the monthly API units of an Ahrefs plan, Lite or higher. Manifold answers the same kinds of questions from DataForSEO’s index and charges per call.

| | Ahrefs MCP | Ahrefs in the browser | Manifold |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Needs an Ahrefs plan | Lite or higher | Yes | No |
| Keywords, rankings and gaps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Backlinks and referring domains | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ahrefs’ own index and DR | Yes | Yes | No, DataForSEO’s |
| Social, Reddit and leads beside it | No | No | Yes |
| How you pay | Plan’s monthly units | Monthly plan | Per call |

## Things to ask

- Which keywords does our competitor rank for that we don’t? [competitor.com]
- List the domains linking to our competitor, strongest first.
- What is this domain’s authority, traffic and top pages? [domain]
- Find keyword ideas around “expense tracking” with volume and difficulty.
- Which pages on our site lost rankings, and for what?
- Audit this site for broken links and missing titles. [site]

## Pay per call

- Get keyword ideas: From 5 credits
- Check keyword metrics: From 5 credits
- Get a domain's ranked keywords: From 5 credits
- The same answer again, from the cache: 25% or less

Details: [pricing](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/pricing.md) and [how credits work](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/credits.md).

## Questions about the Ahrefs MCP alternative

### Is it the same data as Ahrefs?

No. Manifold’s SEO tools run on DataForSEO, whose index and scores differ from Ahrefs’. Its domain rank runs from 0 to 1,000, the same kind of number as Ahrefs’ DR on a different scale.

### Do I need an Ahrefs account?

No. You spend credits from one Manifold balance, which also covers AI answers, Reddit, social and leads.

### Which Ahrefs features does it cover?

Keyword ideas and metrics, rank tracking by lookup, keyword gaps, backlinks and referring domains, domain overviews and technical site audits. [SEO tools in the docs](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo.md).

### Which clients does it work with?

Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Grok, OpenCode and any other client that connects to a remote MCP server. Sign in with OAuth, or use an API key from the dashboard for scripts. [Setup guides for every client](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/clients.md).

### What does it cost?

Per call, in credits, with the price stated before your agent calls. A repeat of a recent call costs a fraction of the price. [Plans and pricing](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/pricing.md).

## On the same server

- [Semrush MCP alternative](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/semrush.md): Keyword research and rankings, pay per call.
- [DataForSEO MCP](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/dataforseo.md): DataForSEO's data, hosted, with no account.
- [SEO MCP](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/seo.md): Keywords, rankings, backlinks and audits.
- [AI visibility MCP](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/ai-visibility.md): What ChatGPT, Gemini and others say and cite.
- [Reddit MCP](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/reddit.md): Threads, comments and subreddits.
- [YouTube MCP](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/youtube.md): Videos, channels, comments and transcripts.
- [Apollo MCP alternative](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/apollo.md): Companies, people and verified work emails.
- [LinkedIn MCP](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/linkedin.md): Posts, profiles and company pages.
- [All MCP servers](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp.md)