# SEO MCP server

> Keyword research, rankings, search results, backlinks and technical audits from Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor. Hosted and read-only, paid per call, with no SEO tool seat.

## 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.

## What your agent can do for SEO

- [`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_serp`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_serp): Get search results for a query. The top organic results and SERP features Google shows for one query. From 1 credit.
- [`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_position`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/seo#seo_get_position): Get a site's position for a keyword. Where one target ranks for one keyword, scanning the top 100 server-side. From 6 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_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_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).

## SEO data without a seat

The big SEO suites now reach agents through MCP servers of their own, each tied to that suite’s plan. Manifold charges per call, and its answers come from DataForSEO.

| | An SEO suite’s own MCP | Open-source servers | Manifold |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly plan | The suite’s plan | Your data provider’s | No, pay per call |
| Keywords, rankings and SERPs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Backlinks | Yes | Some | Yes |
| What AI answers say and cite | Some | Rarely | Yes |
| Social and Reddit beside it | No | No | Yes |
| Setup | Paste a URL | Install and keys | Paste one URL |

## Things to ask

- Which keywords do we rank 5 to 15 for that could reach page one?
- Find the keywords our competitor ranks for that we don’t. [competitor.com]
- Who links to our competitor but not to us?
- Audit our blog for technical SEO issues and list the worst first.
- What does Google show for “best CRM for startups”, and who ranks?
- Rate these 200 domains by authority.

## Pay per call

- Get keyword ideas: From 5 credits
- Check keyword metrics: From 5 credits
- Get search results for a query: From 1 credit
- 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 SEO MCP

### Where does the SEO data come from?

DataForSEO, one of the largest SEO data providers. Its domain rank runs from 0 to 1,000: the same kind of score as Ahrefs’ DR or Moz’s DA, on a different scale.

### Can it see our Google Search Console data?

Not yet. The SEO tools read Google’s public results, so they work for any site, including your competitors’.

### Can it audit a whole site?

Yes. The technical crawl checks a site page by page and runs in the background, and the on-page snapshot of a single URL is free. [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?

Most SEO calls cost a few credits, and a repeat of a recent call costs a fraction of that. Every workspace starts with 500 free credits and no card. [Plans and pricing](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/pricing.md).

## Pairs well with SEO

- [AI visibility MCP](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/ai-visibility.md): What ChatGPT, Gemini and others say and cite.
- [Ahrefs MCP alternative](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/ahrefs.md): Keywords and backlinks without an Ahrefs plan.
- [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.
- [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)