Semrush MCP: plans, API units and setup

Semrush MCP is Semrush's official remote server that lets an AI agent such as Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or Claude Code read Semrush data. It works with Semrush One Starter (€177 a month) and Pro+, and with the older SEO Classic Pro and Guru plans. Those plans include 50,000 API units for MCP each month. The cheaper SEO plan (€124) does not include it. If you would buy Semrush only to get MCP access, zaDojo's server costs €10 a month with €10 of usage included.

Facts below come from Semrush's developer documentation and semrush.com/pricing, checked on 22 October 2026. Semrush lists prices in US dollars; we show them in euros converted at 1 EUR = 1.1225 USD (ECB rate, 19 October 2026), so the amount you pay depends on your card's exchange rate. We make zaDojo, so read the comparison part with that in mind; our editorial policy explains how we write about competitors.

What the Semrush MCP server gives your agent

• SEO data from the Standard API: domain and keyword reports, backlinks and the other SEO API endpoints.
• Traffic and market data from the Trends API, but only if you also pay for a Trends API plan.
• Read-only access to your Semrush projects. The agent can read project data. It cannot create projects or change settings.

The server lives at https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp and uses streamable HTTP. You sign in with OAuth, or pass a Semrush API key in the Authorization header for agents that cannot do OAuth. Semrush documents setup for Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Cursor, VS Code, Perplexity and others. For any other agent it asks you to contact support.

Which Semrush plans include MCP

Full plan details, extra seats and add-ons are on our Semrush pricing page.

How the API units work

MCP calls spend the same units as the Semrush API. Each request costs units depending on the report and how many rows it returns, so a call that pulls hundreds of keyword rows costs far more than a single overview. The 50,000 units refresh on your renewal date. When they run out, you buy a unit package (2, 5, 10 or 20 million units) through Semrush.

In practice this means an agent that runs broad research, such as pulling all ranking keywords for several competitors, can use a month's allowance quickly. Ask the agent to limit rows, and check your balance in Semrush before a big batch.

Set it up

1. Make sure your plan is one of those above.
2. In Claude, open Customize > Connect your apps and add Semrush. In ChatGPT, add the Semrush app.
3. In Claude Code, run claude mcp add semrush https://mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp -t http and sign in when asked.
4. Ask a small question first, such as the top keywords for your own domain, to confirm it works.

Choose Semrush MCP if

• Your team already pays for Semrush One Starter or above. MCP adds no extra fee.
• You rely on Semrush's own database, its ad research or its Trends traffic data.
• You want your agent to read the projects you already keep in Semrush.

A cheaper option: zaDojo MCP

zaDojo is an SEO and AI visibility platform built to be used from an agent. Its remote server works in the same clients (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Codex, VS Code, Windsurf, Gemini CLI) with OAuth or an API key.

• Price: €10 a month with €10 of usage included. New accounts get €0.10 of trial credits with no card. One keyword research search is about €0.07, and a domain or backlink overview about €0.10.
• Free reads: Google Search Console and Google Analytics with a normal Google sign-in, plus reports and plain site audits, use no credits.
• More than reads: the agent can save keywords, reports and AI answer trackers into a project your team opens in the web app.
• AI visibility: checks whether ChatGPT and Gemini mention your brand, with Google AI Overviews, Claude and Perplexity optional.

zaDojo does not have Semrush's ad research or Trends-style traffic panels, and its data comes from a different provider, so volumes will not match Semrush exactly. Setup is in the MCP guide. For a wider look at both products, see zaDojo vs Semrush, and for other servers, the best SEO MCP servers. The Ahrefs MCP guide covers the same questions for Ahrefs, and Semrush alternatives looks beyond MCP.

Questions people ask

Is the Semrush MCP free? There is no extra charge for MCP, but it only works on paid plans from Semrush One Starter (€177 a month) upward, or with a Trends API plan.

Does Semrush MCP work in ChatGPT? Yes. Semrush has an official ChatGPT app, and MCP use spends units from your Semrush subscription.

Can the Semrush MCP change my Semrush account? No. Project access is read-only.