SE Ranking MCP Server
This Model Context Protocol (MCP) server connects AI assistants to SE Ranking's SEO data and project management APIs. It enables natural language queries for:
- Keyword research and competitive analysis
- Backlink analysis and monitoring
- Domain traffic and ranking insights
- Website audits and technical SEO
- AI search visibility tracking
- Project and rank tracking management
Prerequisites
Before you begin, please ensure you have the following software and accounts ready:
- SE Ranking Account: You will need an active SE Ranking account to generate an API token. If you don’t have one, you can sign up here.
- Docker: A platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers. If you don’t have it, you can download it from the official Docker website.
- Git: A free and open-source distributed version control system. You can download it from the official Git website.
- AI Assistant: You will need an MCP-compatible client, such as Claude Desktop or the Gemini CLI.
API Tokens
This MCP server supports two types of API access:
| Token | Environment Variable | Format | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data API | DATA_API_TOKEN |
UUID (e.g., 80cfee7d-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-fc8500816bb3) |
Access to keyword research, domain analysis, backlinks data, SERP analysis, and website audits. Tools prefixed with DATA_. |
| Project API | PROJECT_API_TOKEN |
40-char hex (e.g., 253a73adxxxxxxxxxxxx340aa0a939) |
Access to project management, rank tracking, backlink monitoring, and account management. Tools prefixed with PROJECT_. |
Get your tokens from: https://online.seranking.com/admin.api.dashboard.html
You can use one or both tokens depending on which tools you need. If you only use Data API tools, you can omit PROJECT_API_TOKEN, and vice versa.
Rate Limits
| API | Default Rate Limit |
|---|---|
| Data API | 10 requests per second |
| Project API | 5 requests per second |
Rate limits are customizable. Contact api@seranking.com to request adjustments.
Installation
Choose the installation method that best fits your needs:
- Option 1: Docker (Recommended) - Best for standard usage, stability, and ease of updates. Use this if you just want to run the tool without managing dependencies.
- Option 2: Local Node.js Server (For Developers) - Best for development, debugging, or environments where Docker isn't available (like Replit). Use this if you need to modify the code or run a custom setup.
Option 1: Docker (Recommended)
- Open your terminal (or Command Prompt/PowerShell on Windows).
- Clone the project repository from GitHub:
git clone https://github.com/seranking/seo-data-api-mcp-server.git
- Navigate into the new directory:
cd seo-data-api-mcp-server
- Build the Docker Image:
docker build -t se-ranking/seo-data-api-mcp-server .
# Check that the image is built and named `se-ranking/seo-data-api-mcp-server`:
docker image ls
How to Update SEO-MCP (Docker)
To ensure you have the latest features, pull the latest changes and rebuild:
git pull origin main
docker build -t se-ranking/seo-data-api-mcp-server .
Option 2: Local Node.js Server (For Developers)
In order to run the local Node server, you need to have Node.js 20+ version installed on your machine.
- Install dependencies:
npm install
- Build the project:
npm run build
- Start the server:
npm run start-http
Then your HTTP server should be running at: http://0.0.0.0:5000/mcp.
In case you'd like to modify the HOST and PORT, you can do so by creating a .env file in the root directory of the project with the settings you want to override, for example:
HOST=127.0.0.1
PORT=5555
Additionally, when running in external environments like Replit, you can set the DATA_API_TOKEN and PROJECT_API_TOKEN environment variables in the configuration panel.
Note: If you change the API token values when the server is running, you need to restart the server.
Verifying the HTTP Server
To send a sample test request and verify your setup:
./test-http-server-curl-request.sh '<your-api-token-here>'
For batch MCP Requests testing:
./test-batch-http-server-curl-request.sh '<your-api-token-here>'
Connect to Claude Desktop
Claude Desktop reads its configuration from claude_desktop_config.json.
- Click on the Claude menu and select Settings....
- In the Settings window, navigate to the Developer tab in the left sidebar.
- Click the Edit Config button to open the configuration
Tools 4
DATA_keyword_researchPerforms keyword research and competitive analysis.DATA_backlink_analysisRetrieves backlink data for a specific domain.PROJECT_rank_trackingRetrieves current rank tracking data for a project.DATA_website_auditInitiates or retrieves results for a technical website audit.Environment Variables
DATA_API_TOKENUUID token for accessing keyword research, domain analysis, and website audits.PROJECT_API_TOKEN40-char hex token for accessing project management and rank tracking.