DataForSEO MCP connector

What agents can do

The server has 82 actions (82 read, 0 write) across nine DataForSEO modules. See the full action list.

• SERP: serp_google_organic, serp_bing_organic, serp_yahoo_organic and serp_youtube_organic, plus serp_youtube_video_info, serp_youtube_video_comments, serp_youtube_video_subtitles and serp_locations.
• Keywords Data: kw_google_ads_search_volume, kw_google_trends_explore, kw_dataforseo_trends_explore, kw_dataforseo_trends_demography and kw_dataforseo_trends_subregion_interests.
• DataForSEO Labs: labs_keyword_ideas, labs_keyword_suggestions, labs_related_keywords, labs_bulk_keyword_difficulty, labs_search_intent, labs_ranked_keywords, labs_competitors_domain, labs_domain_intersection and labs_bulk_traffic_estimation.
• Backlinks: backlinks_summary, backlinks_backlinks, backlinks_referring_domains, backlinks_anchors, backlinks_timeseries_new_lost_summary, backlinks_domain_intersection and backlinks_bulk_spam_score.
• On-Page: onpage_instant_pages, onpage_content_parsing and onpage_lighthouse.
• Domain Analytics: domain_whois_overview and domain_technologies.
• Content Analysis: content_analysis_search, content_analysis_summary and content_analysis_phrase_trends.
• Business Data: business_listings_search for Google Maps business listings.
• AI Optimization: ai_opt_kw_search_volume, ai_opt_llm_response, ai_opt_chatgpt_scraper, ai_opt_llm_mentions_search, ai_opt_llm_mentions_top_domains and ai_opt_llm_mentions_top_pages.

Before you connect

• A DataForSEO account with API access, and the API login and API password shown in your DataForSEO dashboard.
• Enough DataForSEO balance for the requests you plan to run. Some APIs, such as Backlinks, may need to be activated on your DataForSEO account first.
• An InsightfulPipe workspace with a brand for the connection. Owners, admins and operators can add connections.

Connect DataForSEO

1. In the InsightfulPipe app, open Connectors, choose DataForSEO and click Connect.
2. Copy your API login and API password from the DataForSEO dashboard.
3. Enter a Connection Name, your API Login and your API Password.
4. Click Connect to DataForSEO.

Add the MCP server to your AI client

Server URL: https://dataforseo.insightfulmcp.com/ and server name: dataforseo-mcp.

• Claude: open Claude Connectors Settings, scroll to the bottom and click Add custom connector, paste the URL, click Add, then click Connect.
• ChatGPT: in ChatGPT Security Settings turn on Developer mode, click Create on the Connectors page, paste the URL, click Create, then click Connect. Turn the connector on in each new chat with + → More.
• Claude Code: run claude mcp add --transport http dataforseo-mcp https://dataforseo.insightfulmcp.com/, then type /mcp, select dataforseo-mcp and click Authenticate.
• Cursor: in the app, open MCP Servers, choose DataForSEO and click Install DataForSEO MCP, click Open Cursor then Install, then click Connect and Open.
• Gemini CLI: run gemini mcp add --transport http dataforseo-mcp https://dataforseo.insightfulmcp.com/, then /mcp auth dataforseo-mcp.
• Codex CLI: run codex mcp add dataforseo-mcp --url https://dataforseo.insightfulmcp.com/; authorization starts automatically.

Each client opens a browser window where you log in to InsightfulPipe and click Authorize access. Step-by-step guides: Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini CLI and Codex CLI. To reach every connected platform through one server, use the unified server.

Permissions and safety

• All 82 actions are read-only research requests, so there is no Read Only or Read + Write choice and nothing in DataForSEO can be changed.
• Every request uses DataForSEO credits from your account. Owners, admins and operators can turn off actions you don't want agents to run, such as bulk or AI Optimization requests, in Configure actions for this account. Disabled actions are hidden from agents and blocked.
• Members with the User role only reach connections granted to them.
• Your DataForSEO credentials are stored encrypted, and your AI client never sees them.

Limits

• DataForSEO charges each request to your DataForSEO account at its own rates. Your InsightfulPipe plan covers the MCP server, not DataForSEO data costs.
• Bulk actions follow DataForSEO's request limits: labs_bulk_keyword_difficulty takes up to 1,000 keywords and labs_bulk_traffic_estimation up to 1,000 domains. Many list actions accept a limit of 1 to 1,000 rows, with a default of 10.
• The server covers the 82 actions listed on the MCP server page, not every DataForSEO endpoint.
• One connection can research any number of domains, keywords, locations and languages.

Example prompts

• "Give me 50 keyword ideas for project management software in the US with volume and difficulty."
• "Which keywords does competitor.com rank for that example.com does not?"
• "Summarize the backlink profile of example.com: referring domains, top anchors and spam score."
• "How often do LLMs mention our brand compared with two competitors?"

Troubleshooting

• The credentials are rejected when you connect: use the API login and API password shown in your DataForSEO dashboard, then connect again.
• Backlinks or another module returns an access error: that API may not be activated on your DataForSEO account. Activate it in DataForSEO and retry.
• Requests fail with a balance or billing message: resolve it in your DataForSEO account. InsightfulPipe doesn't pay for DataForSEO usage.
• "This action is disabled for this connected account. An owner or admin must enable it for the account.": an owner, administrator or operator can turn the action on in Configure actions for this account.

FAQ

Who pays for DataForSEO data?

DataForSEO bills every request to your DataForSEO account. InsightfulPipe plans cover the MCP server and CLI. Plans start at $29.99/month with a 7-day free trial.

Can the agent change anything?

No. Every DataForSEO action is a read-only research request.

Is this DataForSEO's official MCP server?

No. DataForSEO publishes its own open-source MCP server and a hosted endpoint for it. InsightfulPipe is a separate hosted server that calls the DataForSEO API with your credentials, with team access controls and your other connected platforms in the same AI client.

Related

• DataForSEO MCP server
• Google Search Console
• Bing Webmaster Tools
• Web Crawler
• PageSpeed Insights
• MCP troubleshooting