Semrush MCP
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation that provides tools for accessing Semrush API data.
What is Semrush MCP?
Semrush MCP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to model context protocol (mcp) server implementation that provides tools for accessing semrush api data.
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation that provides tools for accessing Semrush API data.
This server falls under the Marketing & SEO and Analytics categories on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation that pr
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx semrushConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Semrush MCP
Semrush MCP is a TypeScript implementation that exposes 77 Semrush API tools to MCP-compatible AI assistants, covering domain analytics, keyword research, backlink analysis, traffic and audience data, site audits, and project management. It authenticates with a single SEMRUSH_API_KEY and operates as both a CLI utility and an MCP server, making Semrush's competitive intelligence platform directly queryable through natural language. SEO professionals and marketing analysts use it to automate research workflows, compare competitor keyword profiles, and analyze site health without leaving their AI assistant.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or later and npm
- A Semrush account with an active API key (SEMRUSH_API_KEY)
- Sufficient Semrush API units for the reports you plan to run (usage varies from 10 to 100 units per data row)
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop
- Optional: a Semrush .Trends subscription for traffic and audience tools
Install the Semrush MCP package
Install globally from GitHub using npm. This compiles the TypeScript source and makes the 'semrush' binary available on your PATH.
npm install -g github:mrkooblu/semrush-mcpObtain your Semrush API key
Log in to your Semrush account and navigate to API & Integrations to copy your API key. Store it securely — it will be passed as the SEMRUSH_API_KEY environment variable.
Test the CLI to verify your API key
Run a quick CLI command to confirm the installation and API key are working. The 'units' command checks your remaining API credit balance.
SEMRUSH_API_KEY=your_api_key_here semrush unitsAdd the server to your MCP client configuration
Open claude_desktop_config.json and add the Semrush MCP server block. The server is started via npx directly from GitHub, so no local install step is strictly required for client usage.
{
"mcpServers": {
"semrush-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "github:mrkooblu/semrush-mcp"],
"env": {
"SEMRUSH_API_KEY": "your_semrush_api_key_here"
}
}
}
}Restart your MCP client and begin analysis
Restart Claude Desktop and ask it to perform a domain or keyword analysis. The 77 available tools will be discovered automatically.
Semrush MCP Examples
Client configuration
Complete claude_desktop_config.json snippet for the Semrush MCP server.
{
"mcpServers": {
"semrush-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "github:mrkooblu/semrush-mcp"],
"env": {
"SEMRUSH_API_KEY": "your_semrush_api_key_here",
"API_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS": "300",
"LOG_LEVEL": "info"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Sample prompts covering domain analysis, keyword research, backlinks, and competitive gap analysis.
- "Give me a full domain overview for shopify.com including organic traffic, keywords, and authority score."
- "Research the keyword 'project management software': show difficulty, search volume, and the top 10 SERP results."
- "Analyze the backlink profile of ahrefs.com and list the top 20 referring domains by authority."
- "Compare the keyword gap between notion.so and monday.com — what keywords does Monday rank for that Notion doesn't?"
- "Run a site audit crawl on my project and list all critical SEO issues found."Troubleshooting Semrush MCP
API returns 403 Forbidden or 'invalid key' errors
Confirm SEMRUSH_API_KEY is set to your active Semrush API key with no extra spaces. Log in to Semrush and regenerate the key if needed. Also check that your Semrush subscription plan includes API access — some plans do not.
Traffic and audience tools return no data or errors
Traffic analytics (17 tools) require a Semrush .Trends subscription add-on. If you see errors for those specific tools, verify your subscription level in the Semrush dashboard.
API units are depleted faster than expected
Different Semrush reports consume 10–100 API units per row of data. Use the 'semrush units' CLI command or the API units balance tool to monitor usage. Avoid running broad domain reports with high row limits repeatedly; cache results where possible using API_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS.
Frequently Asked Questions about Semrush MCP
What is Semrush MCP?
Semrush MCP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that model context protocol (mcp) server implementation that provides tools for accessing semrush api data. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Semrush MCP?
Follow the installation instructions on the Semrush MCP GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Semrush MCP?
Semrush MCP works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Semrush MCP free to use?
Yes, Semrush MCP is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Semrush MCP in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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