DataForSEO Model Context Protocol – DataForSEO
Empower AI integration with DataForSEO MCP
Connect your AI application with the most capable source of SEO data
Get Started With DataForSEO MCP
Choose your AI client and follow the instructions to connect with DataForSEO APIs.
ConnectorsConfig file
Open Claude Desktop and go to Customize → Connectors.
Click Add custom connector and paste the DataForSEO MCP HTTP URL:
https://mcp.dataforseo.com/mcp
When prompted, approve the Authorization request to access the DataForSEO API.
Start a new chat. Claude will request your approval the first time it calls a DataForSEO tool.
Configuration file
- Open the configuration file:
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
On Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
- Add the following configuration to the file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"dataforseo": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "dataforseo-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"DATAFORSEO_USERNAME": "your_api_login",
"DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD": "your_api_password"
}
}
}
}
```
3. Replace `your_api_login` and `your_api_password` with credentials from the [API Access dashboard](https://app.dataforseo.com/api-access).
4. Restart Claude Desktop. The DataForSEO tools will appear in your tool list.
### ConnectorsConfig file
1. Generate a Base64 token from your API login and password (or copy a pre-encoded one from the [API Access dashboard](https://app.dataforseo.com/api-access) via the **Send by Email** button).
2. Add the remote DataForSEO MCP server in your terminal:
```bash
claude mcp add --header "Authorization: Basic " --transport http dfs-mcp https://mcp.dataforseo.com/mcp
```
3. Verify the connection:
```bash
claude mcp list
```
4. Make sure you have Node.js 18+ installed.
5. Register the local NPX server with your credentials:
```bash
claude mcp add dataforseo \
--env DATAFORSEO_USERNAME=your_api_login \
--env DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD=your_api_password \
-- npx -y dataforseo-mcp-server
```
6. Verify the connection:
```bash
claude mcp list
```
### Configure in Cursor
1. In Cursor, open **Settings → Tools & Integrations → MCP Tools**.
2. Click **Add Custom MCP** and paste the remote configuration:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"dataforseo": {
"url": "https://mcp.dataforseo.com/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Basic "
}
}
}
}
```
3. Replace `` with your Base64-encoded `username:password` from the [API Access dashboard](https://app.dataforseo.com/api-access).
4. Save and reopen the chat. Cursor supports up to 40 active MCP tools — disable any modules you don’t need.
### Global Cursor MCP configuration
1. Open the global Cursor MCP configuration:
~/.cursor/mcp.json
You can also access this file from **Settings → Tools & Integrations → Add Custom MCP**.
2. Add the local NPX configuration:
3. Replace credentials with values from the [API Access dashboard](https://app.dataforseo.com/api-access) and save the file.
4. Restart Cursor or reload the MCP servers from **Tools & Integrations**.
### OpenAI platform dashboard setup
1. Log into the [OpenAI platform dashboard](https://platform.openai.com/), go to **Settings → Apps → Advanced Settings** and enable the **Developer mode**.
2. Go back to **Apps** and click **Create app**.
3. Paste the DataForSEO MCP server URL and give the app a name:
https://mcp.dataforseo.com/mcp
4. Select the **OAuth** authentication method and click **Create**.
5. When prompted, approve the **Authorization** request to access the DataForSEO API.
6. Start a new chat. ChatGPT will request your approval the first time it calls a DataForSEO tool.
### Gemini CLI integration
1. Install the Gemini CLI globally:
```bash
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
```
2. Open the Gemini settings file:
~/.gemini/settings.json
Windows: `C:\Users\.gemini\settings.json`
3. Add the DataForSEO MCP server:
```json
{
"selectedAuthType": "gemini-api-key",
"mcpServers": {
"dataforseo": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "dataforseo-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"DATAFORSEO_USERNAME": "your_api_login",
"DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD": "your_api_password"
}
}
}
}
```
4. Restart the CLI and run `/mcp list` to confirm DataForSEO is connected.
### Docker setup
1. Install [Docker](https://www.docker.com/get-started) for your operating system.
2. Pull and run the official DataForSEO MCP image:
```bash
docker run -p 3000:3000 \
-e DATAFORSEO_USERNAME=your_api_login \
-e DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD=your_api_password \
dataforseo/mcp:latest
```
Use your API login and password from the [API Access](https://app.dataforseo.com/api-access) section of the dashboard.
3. The MCP server is now available locally at:
http://localhost:3000
Connect any MCP-compatible client to that URL. See the [Docker Hub repository](https://hub.docker.com/r/dataforseo/mcp) for advanced configuration.
### Remote (HTTP) and Local (NPX) configuration
1. Point your MCP-compatible client to the official DataForSEO remote endpoint:
https://mcp.dataforseo.com/mcp
2. Authenticate with a Base64-encoded Basic Auth header:
Authorization: Basic
```
Get your credentials from the API Access dashboard. The Send by Email button delivers a pre-encoded token.
- If your client expects a separate SSE endpoint, use
https://mcp.dataforseo.com/http.
Local server launch
- Make sure Node.js 18+ is installed, then launch the server locally:
npx -y dataforseo-mcp-server
```
2. Provide your credentials as environment variables:
```bash
export DATAFORSEO_USERNAME=your_api_login
export DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD=your_api_password
```
3. Or register the server directly inside your client config:
Need a different setup? See the full [DataForSEO MCP help center](/content/help-center/category/mcp/index.html).
## How does it work?
### MCP Clients
AI applications that communicate with MCP servers.
### MCP Server
A bridge between your AI model and DataForSEO APIs, managing requests and responses.
### MCP Host
The application managing MCP clients and controlling permissions and security policies.
## Fast-track your AI training: gather data at scale without interruption
### Accelerated integration
Take advantage of out-of-the-box MCP to swiftly connect your AI model to a range of DataForSEO APIs without undertaking lengthy technical integration.
### Interoperability
MCP server allows connecting DataForSEO APIs to a variety of AI models, like Claude, and Integrated Development Environments like Cursor AI.
### Scalability
From pay-as-you-go pricing model to API endpoints – all DataForSEO services are built for utmost scalability. DataForSEO MCP server is no exception.
## Connect to DataForSEO APIs with MCP server
- [**SERP API** Get real-time Google, Bing, and Yahoo SERPs for any location and language.](/content/pricing/serp/serp-api/index.html)
- [**AI Optimization API** Access LLM prompt data and aggregated AI agent responses.](/content/pricing/ai-optimization/index.html)
- [**Keyword Data API**](/content/pricing/keywords-data/index.html)
- [**On-Page API**](/content/pricing/on-page/index.html)
- [**DataForSEO Labs API** SEO data for keyword research and market analysis.](/content/pricing/dataforseo-labs/index.html)
- [**Backlinks API** Fetch accurate backlink and relevant domains data from our up-to-date index](/content/pricing/backlinks/backlinks/index.html)
- [**Business Data API** Collect reviews, business listings, and social media data.](/content/pricing/business-data/index.html)
- [**Domain Analytics API** Analyze technologies and Whois records of any website](/content/pricing/domain-analytics-api/index.html)
## DataForSEO MCP server is made for every application
The DataForSEO MCP server is designed to support AI-driven applications across different industries and use cases. It enables seamless access to structured SEO and marketing data, making it a reliable foundation for training language models, powering search intelligence tools, and enriching large-scale datasets.
You can install DataForSEO MCP locally or easily connect through the Docker container.
### AI-powered SEO tools
The DataForSEO MCP server delivers structured, real-time SEO data optimized for use in AI-powered tools, enabling accurate insights and intelligent automation at scale.
### In-house SEO & marketing analysis
You get reliable, high-volume access to SEO and marketing data without any coding, making it easy to power up in-house analysis and reporting.
## Jumpstart your journey with DataForSEO Labs API
### DataForSEO MCP Server: Bridging the Gap Between AI Models and SEO Data
In this blog post, we’ll explain the essence of MCP and why it matters for AI SEO.
### DataForSEO API Documentation
Documentation is the starting point on your journey towards building a powerful SEO software.
### DataForSEO Help Center
Have questions about DataForSEO APIs and integrations? Visit our Help Centre to find the right answers.
## Start your unlimited free trial
## Release in days, not weeks
Integrating a new data source can take a lot of time and money. We accelerate this process by providing a user-friendly interface for controlling your API usage and spending.
### Well-rounded documentation
DataForSEO offers a detailed documentation for every parameter, field and function you can come across while using our APIs and databases.
### GUI for API usage control
Every DataForSEO user has access to a comprehensive graphic user interface (GUI) and can monitor and control every aspect of data usage.
### Ad hoc integration and deployment support
Our support team is available 24/7 to ensure you get the required assistance and all your requests are addressed promptly and proficiently.
## Data industry leaders trust
### Customer success story
### Twinword Wins 35% More Paid Customers After Switching To DataForSEO APIs
### How DataForSEO Helps Pathfinder SEO Guide its Customers, One Simple Task at a Time
### DataForSEO API Helps On the Map Marketing Go Up at the Time of a Downturn
### theWebShed boost innovation in SEO software with DataForSEO APIs
### Worldwide Backlinks’ Secret Sauce: DataForSEO Backlinks API
## Join DataForSEO No-Code Community on Discord!