For pay-as-you-go SEO data without a subscription
DataForSEO MCP
By DataForSEO. Official open-source server (Apache-2.0) from DataForSEO. The previous v2 server is deprecated.
The flexible, metered option. Instead of dozens of specific tools it gives your assistant four: browse the docs, then call any DataForSEO endpoint. That makes it powerful for people comfortable checking what the assistant requested, and less predictable for people who aren’t.
Disclosure: the publisher of this site has commercial relationships with some of the companies whose products we rank. Read our full disclosure.
- Reads data
- Yes
- Makes changes
- No
- Runs
- Hosted or local
- Cost
- Pay per request
What it does
- docs_index, docs_list_sections and docs_search let the assistant find the right endpoint and its parameters.
- api_request makes the authenticated call and returns the data.
- Runs hosted, or locally over stdio or HTTP.
Reads
Any DataForSEO API endpoint your account can use, such as search results, keyword data and backlinks.
Makes changes: No
Does not change your marketing accounts. Requests do spend your DataForSEO balance.
Marketing tasks it helps with
Pull search results for a list of keywords
Pay only for the requests you make.
Build a one-off competitor snapshot
Good for projects that don’t justify a monthly SEO tool.
Who it’s for
A good fit if
- Freelancers and agencies with irregular research needs.
- Technical marketers who want the full API surface.
Look elsewhere if
- You want curated reports and fewer decisions per question. See Semrush MCP
- You want recommendations, not raw responses. See Digital Marketing + SEO
Requirements and setup
- A DataForSEO account with balance.
- For local use: Node.js to run npx dataforseo-mcp-server.
- Add https://mcp.dataforseo.com/v3/mcp as a remote server and sign in with OAuth.
- Or run npx dataforseo-mcp-server@latest locally with DATAFORSEO_LOGIN and DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD set.
- Set a budget limit in your DataForSEO account before exploratory use.
Step-by-step for each assistant: How to connect an MCP.
Limitations
- A single generic request tool means results depend on the assistant choosing the right endpoint and parameters.
- Every request costs money; set spending limits in the DataForSEO account panel.
Sources and evidence
Documentation reviewed. We read the maker’s current documentation and linked sources. We have not installed it or run a workflow, so this page says nothing about speed, reliability or output quality.
- GitHub: dataforseo/mcp-server-typescript (README) (opens in a new tab)
- DataForSEO pricing (opens in a new tab)
Facts checked against these sources on .