{ "data": { "category": { "area": "web-data", "capabilities": [ "seo.keywords", "seo.backlinks", "seo.serp", "seo.rankings", "seo.traffic" ], "description": "Data about how websites rank and are found. Keywords and search volumes, backlinks, ranking positions and traffic estimates, through an API or an MCP server. Compared on the data sets covered, how fresh they are, price per request and limits.", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/categories/seo.json", "name": "SEO \u0026 search visibility", "slug": "seo", "test": "The same ten domains and fifty keywords asked of each listing (search volume, ranking position, backlink count, referring domains and a traffic estimate). We check coverage, the date of each figure, agreement between listings and the cost of the run. In this run listings are graded from public evidence against the published checklist.", "title": "SEO and search visibility data for AI agents", "toolCount": 10, "tools": [ "dataforseo", "google-search-console", "manifold-mcp", "semrush", "se-ranking", "ahrefs", "keywords-everywhere", "similarweb", "moz-api", "majestic" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/categories/seo" }, "faq": [ { "answer": "DataForSEO has the highest benchmark score of the 10 ranked SEO and search visibility data, 64.9 (B). Google Search Console API is second with 59 (C).", "question": "What are the highest-rated SEO and search visibility data for AI agents?" }, { "answer": "0 of the 10 ranked here grade BB or better, the bar for agent-ready on the Anchor benchmark.", "question": "How many SEO and search visibility data are agent-ready?" }, { "answer": "None of the ranked listings here accepts x402 for its main call yet.", "question": "Which SEO and search visibility data accept x402 payments?" }, { "answer": "By published paid prices, Manifold, at $0.01 per call, the lowest of the 4 listings here with a paid price in this unit (free allowances aside). Plans, volume tiers and free allowances change the sum, so check the listing's price table.", "question": "Which of these SEO and search visibility data is cheapest?" }, { "answer": "By the Anchor benchmark score out of 100, a weighted mean of the scored categories minus deductions for negative events, from public evidence re-checked as vendors change. Listings cannot pay for a place. The latest assessment behind this page is from 9 October 2026.", "question": "How is this list ranked?" } ], "howToChoose": [ { "label": "Data freshness per figure", "detail": "Check whether every ranking, volume and traffic figure comes with the date it was measured, since an agent that mixes stale and current numbers will give a wrong answer." }, { "label": "Data sets behind each call", "detail": "Check which data sets sit behind each call, such as search volumes, backlinks, referring domains and rankings, since a listing may cover only some of them." }, { "label": "Cost per call and run", "detail": "Check how each call is charged, by credit, request or allowance, and what a full domain run costs, so an agent's budget is set in advance." }, { "label": "Keyword and domain limits", "detail": "Check the maximum number of keywords and domains per request and the rate limit, since a batch of keywords for many domains may need splitting across calls." } ], "picks": [ { "also": { "name": "Google Search Console API", "slug": "google-search-console", "why": "C, 59/100" }, "name": "DataForSEO", "need": "Highest score overall", "slug": "dataforseo", "why": "B, 64.9/100 on the benchmark" }, { "name": "Google Search Console API", "need": "Security \u0026 auth", "slug": "google-search-console", "why": "56/100 on security \u0026 auth, against 45 for the overall leader" }, { "also": { "name": "DataForSEO", "slug": "dataforseo", "why": "$0.012 per call" }, "name": "Manifold", "need": "Lowest paid price per call", "slug": "manifold-mcp", "why": "$0.01 per call, the lowest of the 4 listings here with a paid price in this unit (free allowances aside)" } ], "ranked": 10, "shortlist": [ { "bestFor": "Agents and products that need raw SEO data in bulk at a low unit price, across SERPs, keyword volumes, backlinks, ranked keywords and traffic estimates, and that can work with a task queue.", "grade": "B", "name": "DataForSEO", "position": 1, "price": "$0.60 / 1k req", "score": 64.9, "slug": "dataforseo", "strengths": [ "Per-request prices published for every API, from $0.0006 a results page in the standard queue, with the cost returned in each response", "OpenAPI 3.0.1 specification with 564 operations, llms.txt and a Markdown copy of each docs page", "Status feed shows no incident between 16 June and 8 October 2026 across 13 API components" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/dataforseo", "verdict": "Per-request prices are public for every endpoint, a $1 credit and a free sandbox need no payment, and the status feed shows no incident since 15 June 2026. The REST API accepts one account-wide login and password with no scopes, and no SLA or security certification was found in the reviewed pages.", "weaknesses": [ "The REST API takes one account-wide login and password over HTTP Basic, with no scopes or read-only credential", "No SLA found, and the terms disclaim liability for downtime", "Errors arrive as HTTP 200 with a `status_code` in the body, at both the response and the task level" ], "where": "both", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "An agent reporting on or monitoring search performance and index status for sites its user owns, with first-party click and impression counts.", "grade": "C", "name": "Google Search Console API", "position": 2, "price": "Free", "score": 59, "slug": "google-search-console", "strengths": [ "All use is free of charge per the pricing page, with no card needed", "Quotas are published with numbers, 1,200 Search Analytics queries a minute per site and per user and 40,000 a minute per project", "Public discovery document (revision 20261007, 11 methods, 30 schemas) with enums for dimensions, search types, data states and six filter operators" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/google-search-console", "verdict": "The API is free, with published quotas of 1,200 Search Analytics queries a minute per site and typed filters that accept regular expressions. It covers only properties the signed-in user manages, returns at most 50,000 rows a day per search type, and has no status page, SLA or dedicated changelog. A person must complete OAuth consent first.", "weaknesses": [ "Data covers only properties the signed-in user has owner, full or read access to. It cannot be asked about any other domain", "Search Analytics exposes at most 50,000 rows a day per search type, and the reference says it returns top rows, not all rows", "No status page, SLA or dedicated changelog was found. Google's Search Status Dashboard lists Crawling, Indexing, Ranking and Serving only" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "A founder or marketer who wants keyword, ranking, backlink and audit lookups inside an MCP client, with AI answer, social, ad library and lead lookups on the same balance, and who values a stated price per call.", "grade": "C", "name": "Manifold", "position": 3, "price": "$20 / mo", "score": 56.2, "slug": "manifold-mcp", "strengths": [ "All 79 documented tools are read-only, and each description states when to use it, when not to, what it returns and what it costs", "`dry_run: true` returns a call's price for free, `max_credits` refuses a call above a cap, and every result reports `meta.credits_charged`", "500 free credits on sign-up with no card, and per-call credit costs published for every tool without a login" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/manifold-mcp", "verdict": "Every tool is read-only, states its credit cost in its description and returns the charge in `meta.credits_charged`, with `dry_run` and `max_credits` to check or cap spend. 500 free credits need no card. The service launched in September 2026 and is run by one person, and no status page, changelog or SLA was found.", "weaknesses": [ "Two weeks old on 8 October 2026. The domain was registered on 21 September and the registry entry published on 27 September 2026", "No status page, incident history, changelog or SLA found. The terms say the service isn't guaranteed to be uninterrupted", "Run by one person, a sole trader in the United Kingdom, who also answers support. No security certification or bug bounty found" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "Teams already paying for Semrush who want an agent to pull keyword, backlink, ranking and traffic estimates in one place, mainly through the MCP server.", "grade": "D", "name": "Semrush API + MCP", "position": 4, "price": "Paid", "score": 53.1, "slug": "semrush", "strengths": [ "Hosted MCP server at mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp with OAuth 2.1, dynamic client registration and 14 named tools, limited to reads", "Version 4 keys can be read-only or read and write, carry an expiry, and be revoked. An account can hold up to 100", "Every method page states its cost in API units, and `limit`, `fields` and `filter` cap what a call spends" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/semrush", "verdict": "The hosted MCP server exposes 14 tools that load a report's parameters on demand, and version 4 API keys can be read-only, time-limited and revoked. Most reports still sit in version 3, whose single key travels in the URL and can't be revoked. No status page, OpenAPI file or API unit price was found.", "weaknesses": [ "Domain, URL, Trends, Position Tracking and Site Audit reports are version 3 only, where the one key is a URL parameter and can't be revoked", "Version 4 Keyword and Backlinks reports are labelled Early Access, with endpoints, formats and pricing subject to change", "No public status page, SLA terms, OpenAPI file or official SDK found in the reviewed pages" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "An agent that needs keyword, backlink, domain and AI search visibility data at a published price per call, or that manages rank tracking projects for an SE Ranking customer.", "grade": "D", "name": "SE Ranking API + MCP", "position": 5, "price": "$0.0002 / credit", "score": 50.9, "slug": "se-ranking", "strengths": [ "Credit cost is published per endpoint, failed requests aren't charged, and pay-as-you-go packs start at $50 for 250,000 credits that don't expire", "A 14-day trial with 100,000 credits covers the API and the MCP server, with no card, per the pricing page", "Hosted MCP server at `https://api.seranking.com/mcp`, listed in the official MCP registry as `com.seranking/mcp` with 15 versions since 22 May 2026" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/se-ranking", "verdict": "Every Data API endpoint has a published credit cost, credits sell from $50 for 250,000 with no expiry, and a 14-day trial needs no card. Keys carry full account access with no scopes or read-only mode, the key may travel in the URL, and no security page, SLA or llms.txt was found.", "weaknesses": [ "No scoped or read-only keys. The MCP docs say a key has the same access as the account, including Project API deletes", "The API key is accepted as an `apikey` query parameter, and the OpenAPI file and its README describe only that method", "No security page, certification statement, bug bounty or readable security.txt was found, and the API terms say there is no SLA without a separate agreement" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "An agent doing backlink, keyword, SERP, rank and traffic research for a team that already pays for Ahrefs, and reading that team's Rank Tracker, Site Audit, Web Analytics and Search Console data.", "grade": "D", "name": "Ahrefs", "position": 6, "price": "$129 / mo", "score": 49.8, "slug": "ahrefs", "strengths": [ "Public OpenAPI 3.2.0 description of all 153 operations, per-tool specs, llms.txt and Markdown copies of every guide", "`select` and `limit` size each response, and response headers report the rows returned and the units charged", "Up to 1,000 API keys per workspace, each with a one-year expiry and an optional monthly unit cap" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ahrefs", "verdict": "API v3 has a public OpenAPI 3.2 description of 153 operations, llms.txt, and `select` and `limit` parameters that set both response size and unit cost. No status page or SLA was found, access needs a paid plan from $129 a month, and several parameters were removed or renamed in 2026 on the day of the changelog entry.", "weaknesses": [ "No public status page, incident history or SLA found. status.ahrefs.com returns 404", "API and MCP need a paid plan from $129 a month. No trial, and the $29 Starter plan has no API access", "Parameters were removed or renamed within v3 during 2026 with changelog entries dated the day of the change" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "An agent that needs Google Keyword Planner volume, CPC and competition for lists of keywords at a low price per keyword, plus keyword ideas and a quick view of a site's ranking keywords, traffic estimate and top backlinks.", "grade": "D", "name": "Keywords Everywhere API + MCP", "position": 7, "price": "$7 / mo", "score": 47.2, "slug": "keywords-everywhere", "strengths": [ "Every REST endpoint and MCP tool is read-only, and each one's credit cost is published, from 1 credit a keyword to 5 a unique backlink", "Hosted MCP server at `https://mcp.keywordseverywhere.com/mcp`, in the official MCP registry as `com.keywordseverywhere/keywords-everywhere` since 10 September 2026", "MCP sign-in is OAuth 2.1 with dynamic client registration and PKCE. Access tokens expire after 3 hours, per the server's docs" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/keywords-everywhere", "verdict": "Fourteen read-only lookups with a published credit cost each, available over REST and a hosted MCP server listed in the official registry. Data needs an annual plan from $84, with no trial. No OpenAPI file, no REST rate limit and no API changelog were found, and the status page shows outages on seven of the last 90 days.", "weaknesses": [ "No free credits or trial. Data calls need an annual plan, from $84 for 100,000 credits that expire after a year", "No OpenAPI file, llms.txt or official SDK was found. The reference is 15 Markdown pages behind a docsify viewer", "No rate limit is documented for the REST API. The only published limit is 120 MCP tool calls a minute per account" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "Traffic and engagement estimates, traffic channel mix and keyword click data for domains an agent doesn't own, with app, company and retail data on the same key.", "grade": "D", "name": "Similarweb", "position": 8, "price": "Paid", "score": 46, "slug": "similarweb", "strengths": [ "Hosted MCP server at https://mcp.similarweb.com accepts an `api-key` header or OAuth, with dynamic client registration and one `read` scope", "V5 endpoints take a `metrics` list, so one request returns only the fields asked for, and each result costs one data credit", "Keyword endpoints cost one credit per 100 results, and errors and empty responses aren't charged, per the data credits guide" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/similarweb", "verdict": "The V5 API returns traffic estimates, keyword clicks and SERP positions with selectable metrics, and the hosted MCP server accepts OAuth with a read scope. Access needs a Business, Enterprise or API-only subscription sold through sales, with no API trial, public price per credit or public status page found.", "weaknesses": [ "API and MCP access need a Business, Enterprise or API-only plan bought through sales. The FAQ says there's no API test without a subscription", "No public status page found. similarweb.statuspage.io redirects to a Statuspage login", "No public OpenAPI file or official SDK found. The FAQ answers the SDK question by saying any HTTP client works" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "Agents that need Domain Authority, backlink lists, link intersects, keyword volume and difficulty, search intent and ranking keywords at a low entry price, on a read-only data set.", "grade": "E", "name": "Moz API", "position": 9, "price": "$20 / mo", "score": 45.3, "slug": "moz-api", "strengths": [ "Error reference lists 13 codes, each with HTTP status, a machine-readable `data.issue` and the parameter at fault", "Edge rate limits are published with numbers, and per-method 429 responses carry `Retry-After`", "Each method page states its row cost, and validation and quota checks run before any rows are used" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/moz-api", "verdict": "The JSON-RPC API documents every error code, its rate limits and the row cost of each method, and failed validation uses no quota. No working status page, SLA, machine-readable spec or official SDK was found. Tokens carry no scopes, and the free plan needs a credit card.", "weaknesses": [ "No working public status page was found, and moz.statuspage.io reports the Moz Status page as inactive", "No downloadable OpenAPI or OpenRPC file, no llms.txt and no official SDK in the reviewed documentation", "Tokens have no scopes or read-only mode, and one token works on both the Data and Local MCP endpoints" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" }, { "bestFor": "An agent that needs backlink, referring domain, anchor text and Trust Flow data in volume for an owner who already pays for the API plan.", "grade": "F", "name": "Majestic API", "position": 10, "price": "$399.99 / mo", "score": 33.4, "slug": "majestic", "strengths": [ "Every command page states its cost in analysis units, and `GetSubscriptionInfo` returns the remaining allowances at no cost", "A sandbox endpoint at `developer.majestic.com` answers the same commands from a reduced Historic data set without spending allowance", "Several API keys per account, each of which can be disabled and limited to IPv4 addresses or CIDR ranges, with an IP activity page per key" ], "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/majestic", "verdict": "Each command's cost in units is published and a sandbox endpoint returns sample data without spending allowance. API access starts at $399.99 a month with no trial, and no OpenAPI file, status page, numeric rate limit, SLA or API changelog was found. The supply terms require permission before querying with automated tools.", "weaknesses": [ "Clause 14.1(f) of the supply terms forbids querying Majestic's database or servers with automated tools without prior permission. This matters before any probe is run", "API access needs the API plan, from $399.99 a month for 100 million analysis units. No trial or free key was found, and the 7-day refund covers Lite and Pro only", "No OpenAPI file, no API version and no API changelog were found. Sample responses in the docs carry 2017 index dates" ], "where": "hosted", "x402": "no" } ], "updated": "2026-10-09" }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/seo/", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/seo/index.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/seo/index.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/seo/index.min.md" }, "markdown": "All 10 ranked SEO and search visibility data on the Anchor benchmark, with a pick for each need and where each one falls short. Scores come from public evidence, re-checked as vendors change.\n\n- Ranked: 10 · agent-ready (BB or better): 0 · accept x402: 0 · hosted endpoints: 10\n- Full ranked table: https://www.anchorterminal.com/categories/seo.md\n- Head-to-head comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/seo/index.md (45)\n- Methodology: https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/index.md\n\n## The shortlist\n\n| # | Tool | Grade | Score | Best for | Price | Where |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | [DataForSEO](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/dataforseo.md) | B | 64.9 | Agents and products that need raw SEO data in bulk at a low unit price, across SERPs, keyword volumes, backlinks, ranked keywords and traffic estimates, and that can work with a task queue. | $0.60 / 1k req | hosted and local |\n| 2 | [Google Search Console API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/google-search-console.md) | C | 59 | An agent reporting on or monitoring search performance and index status for sites its user owns, with first-party click and impression counts. | Free | hosted |\n| 3 | [Manifold](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/manifold-mcp.md) | C | 56.2 | A founder or marketer who wants keyword, ranking, backlink and audit lookups inside an MCP client, with AI answer, social, ad library and lead lookups on the same balance, and who values a stated price per call. | $20 / mo | hosted |\n| 4 | [Semrush API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/semrush.md) | D | 53.1 | Teams already paying for Semrush who want an agent to pull keyword, backlink, ranking and traffic estimates in one place, mainly through the MCP server. | Paid | hosted |\n| 5 | [SE Ranking API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/se-ranking.md) | D | 50.9 | An agent that needs keyword, backlink, domain and AI search visibility data at a published price per call, or that manages rank tracking projects for an SE Ranking customer. | $0.0002 / credit | hosted |\n| 6 | [Ahrefs](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ahrefs.md) | D | 49.8 | An agent doing backlink, keyword, SERP, rank and traffic research for a team that already pays for Ahrefs, and reading that team's Rank Tracker, Site Audit, Web Analytics and Search Console data. | $129 / mo | hosted |\n| 7 | [Keywords Everywhere API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/keywords-everywhere.md) | D | 47.2 | An agent that needs Google Keyword Planner volume, CPC and competition for lists of keywords at a low price per keyword, plus keyword ideas and a quick view of a site's ranking keywords, traffic estimate and top backlinks. | $7 / mo | hosted |\n| 8 | [Similarweb](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/similarweb.md) | D | 46 | Traffic and engagement estimates, traffic channel mix and keyword click data for domains an agent doesn't own, with app, company and retail data on the same key. | Paid | hosted |\n| 9 | [Moz API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/moz-api.md) | E | 45.3 | Agents that need Domain Authority, backlink lists, link intersects, keyword volume and difficulty, search intent and ranking keywords at a low entry price, on a read-only data set. | $20 / mo | hosted |\n| 10 | [Majestic API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/majestic.md) | F | 33.4 | An agent that needs backlink, referring domain, anchor text and Trust Flow data in volume for an owner who already pays for the API plan. | $399.99 / mo | hosted |\n\n## Picks by need\n\n- Highest score overall: [DataForSEO](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/dataforseo.md), B, 64.9/100 on the benchmark. Also [Google Search Console API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/google-search-console.md), C, 59/100.\n- Security \u0026 auth: [Google Search Console API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/google-search-console.md), 56/100 on security \u0026 auth, against 45 for the overall leader.\n- Lowest paid price per call: [Manifold](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/manifold-mcp.md), $0.01 per call, the lowest of the 4 listings here with a paid price in this unit (free allowances aside). Also [DataForSEO](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/dataforseo.md), $0.012 per call.\n\n## How to choose\n\n- Data freshness per figure: Check whether every ranking, volume and traffic figure comes with the date it was measured, since an agent that mixes stale and current numbers will give a wrong answer.\n- Data sets behind each call: Check which data sets sit behind each call, such as search volumes, backlinks, referring domains and rankings, since a listing may cover only some of them.\n- Cost per call and run: Check how each call is charged, by credit, request or allowance, and what a full domain run costs, so an agent's budget is set in advance.\n- Keyword and domain limits: Check the maximum number of keywords and domains per request and the rate limit, since a batch of keywords for many domains may need splitting across calls.\n\n- How the benchmark tests this category: The same ten domains and fifty keywords asked of each listing (search volume, ranking position, backlink count, referring domains and a traffic estimate). We check coverage, the date of each figure, agreement between listings and the cost of the run. In this run listings are graded from public evidence against the published checklist.\n\n## Each one in detail\n\n### 1. DataForSEO, B 64.9/100\n\nSEO data API from DataForSEO OÜ in Estonia. It returns search results pages, keyword volumes, backlinks, ranked keywords and traffic estimates as JSON, billed per request from a prepaid balance, with an official MCP server.\n\n- Verdict: Per-request prices are public for every endpoint, a $1 credit and a free sandbox need no payment, and the status feed shows no incident since 15 June 2026. The REST API accepts one account-wide login and password with no scopes, and no SLA or security certification was found in the reviewed pages.\n- Choose it for: Agents and products that need raw SEO data in bulk at a low unit price, across SERPs, keyword volumes, backlinks, ranked keywords and traffic estimates, and that can work with a task queue.\n- Strength: Per-request prices published for every API, from $0.0006 a results page in the standard queue, with the cost returned in each response\n- Strength: OpenAPI 3.0.1 specification with 564 operations, llms.txt and a Markdown copy of each docs page\n- Strength: Status feed shows no incident between 16 June and 8 October 2026 across 13 API components\n- Weakness: The REST API takes one account-wide login and password over HTTP Basic, with no scopes or read-only credential\n- Weakness: No SLA found, and the terms disclaim liability for downtime\n- Weakness: Errors arrive as HTTP 200 with a `status_code` in the body, at both the response and the task level\n- Price: $0.60 / 1k req · Auth: OAuth or key · x402: no · Where: hosted and local\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/dataforseo.md\n\n### 2. Google Search Console API, C 59/100\n\nREST API from Google for Search Console data on sites the user manages. It returns clicks, impressions and average position by query, page, country and device, inspects a URL's index status and manages sitemaps. Access is by OAuth 2.0.\n\n- Verdict: The API is free, with published quotas of 1,200 Search Analytics queries a minute per site and typed filters that accept regular expressions. It covers only properties the signed-in user manages, returns at most 50,000 rows a day per search type, and has no status page, SLA or dedicated changelog. A person must complete OAuth consent first.\n- Choose it for: An agent reporting on or monitoring search performance and index status for sites its user owns, with first-party click and impression counts.\n- Strength: All use is free of charge per the pricing page, with no card needed\n- Strength: Quotas are published with numbers, 1,200 Search Analytics queries a minute per site and per user and 40,000 a minute per project\n- Strength: Public discovery document (revision 20261007, 11 methods, 30 schemas) with enums for dimensions, search types, data states and six filter operators\n- Weakness: Data covers only properties the signed-in user has owner, full or read access to. It cannot be asked about any other domain\n- Weakness: Search Analytics exposes at most 50,000 rows a day per search type, and the reference says it returns top rows, not all rows\n- Weakness: No status page, SLA or dedicated changelog was found. Google's Search Status Dashboard lists Crawling, Indexing, Ranking and Serving only\n- Price: Free · Auth: OAuth · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/google-search-console.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-google-search-console.md\n\n### 3. Manifold, C 56.2/100\n\nManifold is a hosted MCP server of read-only marketing data tools covering SEO keywords, rankings, backlinks and site audits, plus AI answers, lead data, ad libraries and social platforms. It launched in September 2026 and is sold on prepaid credits.\n\n- Verdict: Every tool is read-only, states its credit cost in its description and returns the charge in `meta.credits_charged`, with `dry_run` and `max_credits` to check or cap spend. 500 free credits need no card. The service launched in September 2026 and is run by one person, and no status page, changelog or SLA was found.\n- Choose it for: A founder or marketer who wants keyword, ranking, backlink and audit lookups inside an MCP client, with AI answer, social, ad library and lead lookups on the same balance, and who values a stated price per call.\n- Strength: All 79 documented tools are read-only, and each description states when to use it, when not to, what it returns and what it costs\n- Strength: `dry_run: true` returns a call's price for free, `max_credits` refuses a call above a cap, and every result reports `meta.credits_charged`\n- Strength: 500 free credits on sign-up with no card, and per-call credit costs published for every tool without a login\n- Weakness: Two weeks old on 8 October 2026. The domain was registered on 21 September and the registry entry published on 27 September 2026\n- Weakness: No status page, incident history, changelog or SLA found. The terms say the service isn't guaranteed to be uninterrupted\n- Weakness: Run by one person, a sole trader in the United Kingdom, who also answers support. No security certification or bug bounty found\n- Price: $20 / mo · Auth: OAuth or key · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/manifold-mcp.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-manifold-mcp.md\n\n### 4. Semrush API + MCP, D 53.1/100\n\nSemrush is a search marketing data platform, owned by Adobe since April 2026. Agents reach its keyword, backlink, ranking and traffic data through REST APIs with API keys or a hosted MCP server that spends the same API units.\n\n- Verdict: The hosted MCP server exposes 14 tools that load a report's parameters on demand, and version 4 API keys can be read-only, time-limited and revoked. Most reports still sit in version 3, whose single key travels in the URL and can't be revoked. No status page, OpenAPI file or API unit price was found.\n- Choose it for: Teams already paying for Semrush who want an agent to pull keyword, backlink, ranking and traffic estimates in one place, mainly through the MCP server.\n- Strength: Hosted MCP server at mcp.semrush.com/v2/mcp with OAuth 2.1, dynamic client registration and 14 named tools, limited to reads\n- Strength: Version 4 keys can be read-only or read and write, carry an expiry, and be revoked. An account can hold up to 100\n- Strength: Every method page states its cost in API units, and `limit`, `fields` and `filter` cap what a call spends\n- Weakness: Domain, URL, Trends, Position Tracking and Site Audit reports are version 3 only, where the one key is a URL parameter and can't be revoked\n- Weakness: Version 4 Keyword and Backlinks reports are labelled Early Access, with endpoints, formats and pricing subject to change\n- Weakness: No public status page, SLA terms, OpenAPI file or official SDK found in the reviewed pages\n- Price: Paid · Auth: OAuth or key · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/semrush.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-semrush.md\n\n### 5. SE Ranking API + MCP, D 50.9/100\n\nSE Ranking is an SEO platform whose Data API returns keyword, backlink, domain, site audit and AI search data for credits. A Project API manages rank tracking in the account, and a hosted MCP server exposes both to agents.\n\n- Verdict: Every Data API endpoint has a published credit cost, credits sell from $50 for 250,000 with no expiry, and a 14-day trial needs no card. Keys carry full account access with no scopes or read-only mode, the key may travel in the URL, and no security page, SLA or llms.txt was found.\n- Choose it for: An agent that needs keyword, backlink, domain and AI search visibility data at a published price per call, or that manages rank tracking projects for an SE Ranking customer.\n- Strength: Credit cost is published per endpoint, failed requests aren't charged, and pay-as-you-go packs start at $50 for 250,000 credits that don't expire\n- Strength: A 14-day trial with 100,000 credits covers the API and the MCP server, with no card, per the pricing page\n- Strength: Hosted MCP server at `https://api.seranking.com/mcp`, listed in the official MCP registry as `com.seranking/mcp` with 15 versions since 22 May 2026\n- Weakness: No scoped or read-only keys. The MCP docs say a key has the same access as the account, including Project API deletes\n- Weakness: The API key is accepted as an `apikey` query parameter, and the OpenAPI file and its README describe only that method\n- Weakness: No security page, certification statement, bug bounty or readable security.txt was found, and the API terms say there is no SLA without a separate agreement\n- Price: $0.0002 / credit · Auth: OAuth or key · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/se-ranking.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-se-ranking.md\n\n### 6. Ahrefs, D 49.8/100\n\nAhrefs is an SEO data platform covering backlinks, keywords, search results, rank tracking, site audits and traffic estimates. Outside agents reach it through the REST API v3 with an API key, or through a hosted MCP server.\n\n- Verdict: API v3 has a public OpenAPI 3.2 description of 153 operations, llms.txt, and `select` and `limit` parameters that set both response size and unit cost. No status page or SLA was found, access needs a paid plan from $129 a month, and several parameters were removed or renamed in 2026 on the day of the changelog entry.\n- Choose it for: An agent doing backlink, keyword, SERP, rank and traffic research for a team that already pays for Ahrefs, and reading that team's Rank Tracker, Site Audit, Web Analytics and Search Console data.\n- Strength: Public OpenAPI 3.2.0 description of all 153 operations, per-tool specs, llms.txt and Markdown copies of every guide\n- Strength: `select` and `limit` size each response, and response headers report the rows returned and the units charged\n- Strength: Up to 1,000 API keys per workspace, each with a one-year expiry and an optional monthly unit cap\n- Weakness: No public status page, incident history or SLA found. status.ahrefs.com returns 404\n- Weakness: API and MCP need a paid plan from $129 a month. No trial, and the $29 Starter plan has no API access\n- Weakness: Parameters were removed or renamed within v3 during 2026 with changelog entries dated the day of the change\n- Price: $129 / mo · Auth: OAuth or key · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ahrefs.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ahrefs-vs-dataforseo.md\n\n### 7. Keywords Everywhere API + MCP, D 47.2/100\n\nKeywords Everywhere is a keyword research service whose REST API and hosted MCP server return Google search volume, CPC, competition, keyword ideas, the keywords a site ranks for, traffic estimates and backlinks, paid for with prepaid credits.\n\n- Verdict: Fourteen read-only lookups with a published credit cost each, available over REST and a hosted MCP server listed in the official registry. Data needs an annual plan from $84, with no trial. No OpenAPI file, no REST rate limit and no API changelog were found, and the status page shows outages on seven of the last 90 days.\n- Choose it for: An agent that needs Google Keyword Planner volume, CPC and competition for lists of keywords at a low price per keyword, plus keyword ideas and a quick view of a site's ranking keywords, traffic estimate and top backlinks.\n- Strength: Every REST endpoint and MCP tool is read-only, and each one's credit cost is published, from 1 credit a keyword to 5 a unique backlink\n- Strength: Hosted MCP server at `https://mcp.keywordseverywhere.com/mcp`, in the official MCP registry as `com.keywordseverywhere/keywords-everywhere` since 10 September 2026\n- Strength: MCP sign-in is OAuth 2.1 with dynamic client registration and PKCE. Access tokens expire after 3 hours, per the server's docs\n- Weakness: No free credits or trial. Data calls need an annual plan, from $84 for 100,000 credits that expire after a year\n- Weakness: No OpenAPI file, llms.txt or official SDK was found. The reference is 15 Markdown pages behind a docsify viewer\n- Weakness: No rate limit is documented for the REST API. The only published limit is 120 MCP tool calls a minute per account\n- Price: $7 / mo · Auth: OAuth or key · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/keywords-everywhere.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-keywords-everywhere.md\n\n### 8. Similarweb, D 46/100\n\nSimilarweb estimates website and app traffic from panel and other data sources. Its REST and Batch APIs and a hosted MCP server return visits, engagement, traffic channels, keywords and SERP data for a domain, under a paid subscription.\n\n- Verdict: The V5 API returns traffic estimates, keyword clicks and SERP positions with selectable metrics, and the hosted MCP server accepts OAuth with a read scope. Access needs a Business, Enterprise or API-only subscription sold through sales, with no API trial, public price per credit or public status page found.\n- Choose it for: Traffic and engagement estimates, traffic channel mix and keyword click data for domains an agent doesn't own, with app, company and retail data on the same key.\n- Strength: Hosted MCP server at https://mcp.similarweb.com accepts an `api-key` header or OAuth, with dynamic client registration and one `read` scope\n- Strength: V5 endpoints take a `metrics` list, so one request returns only the fields asked for, and each result costs one data credit\n- Strength: Keyword endpoints cost one credit per 100 results, and errors and empty responses aren't charged, per the data credits guide\n- Weakness: API and MCP access need a Business, Enterprise or API-only plan bought through sales. The FAQ says there's no API test without a subscription\n- Weakness: No public status page found. similarweb.statuspage.io redirects to a Statuspage login\n- Weakness: No public OpenAPI file or official SDK found. The FAQ answers the SDK question by saying any HTTP client works\n- Price: Paid · Auth: OAuth or key · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/similarweb.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-similarweb.md\n\n### 9. Moz API, E 45.3/100\n\nMoz API is a hosted JSON-RPC 2.0 service for SEO data from Moz's link and keyword indexes. It returns Domain Authority, backlinks, keyword metrics, ranking keywords and search results, with a beta MCP server for AI clients.\n\n- Verdict: The JSON-RPC API documents every error code, its rate limits and the row cost of each method, and failed validation uses no quota. No working status page, SLA, machine-readable spec or official SDK was found. Tokens carry no scopes, and the free plan needs a credit card.\n- Choose it for: Agents that need Domain Authority, backlink lists, link intersects, keyword volume and difficulty, search intent and ranking keywords at a low entry price, on a read-only data set.\n- Strength: Error reference lists 13 codes, each with HTTP status, a machine-readable `data.issue` and the parameter at fault\n- Strength: Edge rate limits are published with numbers, and per-method 429 responses carry `Retry-After`\n- Strength: Each method page states its row cost, and validation and quota checks run before any rows are used\n- Weakness: No working public status page was found, and moz.statuspage.io reports the Moz Status page as inactive\n- Weakness: No downloadable OpenAPI or OpenRPC file, no llms.txt and no official SDK in the reviewed documentation\n- Weakness: Tokens have no scopes or read-only mode, and one token works on both the Data and Local MCP endpoints\n- Price: $20 / mo · Auth: API key · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/moz-api.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-moz-api.md\n\n### 10. Majestic API, F 33.4/100\n\nMajestic crawls the web and sells backlink data. Its HTTP API returns backlinks, referring domains, anchor text, Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores and keyword counts from a Fresh and a Historic index, as XML or JSON.\n\n- Verdict: Each command's cost in units is published and a sandbox endpoint returns sample data without spending allowance. API access starts at $399.99 a month with no trial, and no OpenAPI file, status page, numeric rate limit, SLA or API changelog was found. The supply terms require permission before querying with automated tools.\n- Choose it for: An agent that needs backlink, referring domain, anchor text and Trust Flow data in volume for an owner who already pays for the API plan.\n- Strength: Every command page states its cost in analysis units, and `GetSubscriptionInfo` returns the remaining allowances at no cost\n- Strength: A sandbox endpoint at `developer.majestic.com` answers the same commands from a reduced Historic data set without spending allowance\n- Strength: Several API keys per account, each of which can be disabled and limited to IPv4 addresses or CIDR ranges, with an IP activity page per key\n- Weakness: Clause 14.1(f) of the supply terms forbids querying Majestic's database or servers with automated tools without prior permission. This matters before any probe is run\n- Weakness: API access needs the API plan, from $399.99 a month for 100 million analysis units. No trial or free key was found, and the 7-day refund covers Lite and Pro only\n- Weakness: No OpenAPI file, no API version and no API changelog were found. Sample responses in the docs carry 2017 index dates\n- Price: $399.99 / mo · Auth: API key · x402: no · Where: hosted\n- Full assessment: https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/majestic.md\n- Against #1: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-majestic.md\n\n## Head to head\n\n- [DataForSEO vs Google Search Console API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-google-search-console.md)\n- [DataForSEO vs Manifold](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-manifold-mcp.md)\n- [DataForSEO vs Semrush API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-semrush.md)\n- [DataForSEO vs SE Ranking API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dataforseo-vs-se-ranking.md)\n- [Google Search Console API vs Manifold](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-search-console-vs-manifold-mcp.md)\n- [Google Search Console API vs Semrush API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-search-console-vs-semrush.md)\n- [Google Search Console API vs SE Ranking API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-search-console-vs-se-ranking.md)\n- [Manifold vs Semrush API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/manifold-mcp-vs-semrush.md)\n- [Manifold vs SE Ranking API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/manifold-mcp-vs-se-ranking.md)\n- [SE Ranking API + MCP vs Semrush API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/se-ranking-vs-semrush.md)\n\n## Questions\n\n### What are the highest-rated SEO and search visibility data for AI agents?\n\nDataForSEO has the highest benchmark score of the 10 ranked SEO and search visibility data, 64.9 (B). Google Search Console API is second with 59 (C).\n\n### How many SEO and search visibility data are agent-ready?\n\n0 of the 10 ranked here grade BB or better, the bar for agent-ready on the Anchor benchmark.\n\n### Which SEO and search visibility data accept x402 payments?\n\nNone of the ranked listings here accepts x402 for its main call yet.\n\n### Which of these SEO and search visibility data is cheapest?\n\nBy published paid prices, Manifold, at $0.01 per call, the lowest of the 4 listings here with a paid price in this unit (free allowances aside). Plans, volume tiers and free allowances change the sum, so check the listing's price table.\n\n### How is this list ranked?\n\nBy the Anchor benchmark score out of 100, a weighted mean of the scored categories minus deductions for negative events, from public evidence re-checked as vendors change. Listings cannot pay for a place. The latest assessment behind this page is from 9 October 2026.\n\n## How this list is made\n\nThe order is the Anchor benchmark score, the same number as on each listing. Each listing is graded from public evidence against the benchmark checklist, and the picks are worked out from those grades, prices and facts. No listing pays for its place, and paid audits or listing help never change a score.\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-10", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Best of", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/" }, { "name": "SEO \u0026 search visibility", "url": "" } ], "description": "DataForSEO (B), Google Search Console API (C) and Manifold (C) lead the 10 ranked SEO and search visibility data. Picks by need, strengths, weaknesses and prices from the Anchor benchmark.", "facts": [ "DataForSEO B", "Google Search Console API C", "Manifold C" ], "h1": "Best SEO and search visibility data for AI agents", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/best-seo.png", "path": "/best/seo/", "published": "", "section": "tools", "title": "Best SEO and search visibility data for AI agents in 2026, ranked", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-09", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/seo/" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 6650, "slim": 1480 }, "version": 1 }