DataForSEO MCP — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Connects AI assistants to DataForSEO with built-in API documentation search and clean response normalization.
claude mcp add --env DATAFORSEO_USERNAME=<DATAFORSEO_USERNAME> --env DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD=<DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD> --env DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD=<DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD> --transport stdio dataforseo-mcp -- npx -y @scalably-io/dataforseo-mcpWhat DataForSEO MCP does
This server acts as a wrapper around DataForSEO's official integration. It exposes four tools: docs_list_sections, docs_index, and docs_search let the assistant look up current endpoint paths and parameters without spending balance, while api_request sends live calls.
Outputs arrive as structured JSON with operational statuses, summaries, and recovery hints. The tool normalizes vendor-specific task envelopes and error codes before the model sees them.
Setup requires DATAFORSEO_USERNAME and DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD from your account dashboard. Live calls via api_request draw from your account balance, and the server returns ambiguous_paid_request on indeterminate failures so the model does not trigger duplicate charges.
What it helps with
- inspect DataForSEO documentation endpoints directly inside the coding assistant
- execute authenticated DataForSEO API calls without writing manual curl requests
- parse normalized task statuses and error messages instead of raw vendor envelopes
- avoid duplicate billing charges during network hiccups on paid endpoints
Example prompts for the agent
- Look up the available Google SERP endpoints using
docs_index - Search the documentation for backlink analysis request parameters via
docs_search - Call the live DataForSEO API using
api_requestto check keyword volume
How to install DataForSEO MCP
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env DATAFORSEO_USERNAME=<DATAFORSEO_USERNAME> --env DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD=<DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD> --env DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD=<DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD> --transport stdio dataforseo-mcp -- npx -y @scalably-io/dataforseo-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
codex mcp add dataforseo-mcp --env DATAFORSEO_USERNAME=<DATAFORSEO_USERNAME> --env DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD=<DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD> --env DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD=<DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD> -- npx -y @scalably-io/dataforseo-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"dataforseo-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@scalably-io/dataforseo-mcp"
],
"env": {
"DATAFORSEO_USERNAME": "<DATAFORSEO_USERNAME>",
"DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD": "<DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD>",
"DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD": "<DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"dataforseo-mcp": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@scalably-io/dataforseo-mcp"
],
"env": {
"DATAFORSEO_USERNAME": "<DATAFORSEO_USERNAME>",
"DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD": "<DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD>",
"DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD": "<DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e DATAFORSEO_USERNAME=<DATAFORSEO_USERNAME> -e DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD=<DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD> -e DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD=<DATAFORSEO_PROXY_TEST_CHILD> dataforseo-mcp npx -y @scalably-io/dataforseo-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about DataForSEO MCP
How to install DataForSEO MCP in Claude Code?
Run `claude mcp add dataforseo-mcp -e DATAFORSEO_USERNAME=<DATAFORSEO_USERNAME> -e DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD=<DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD> -- npx -y @scalably-io/dataforseo-mcp`, inserting your login email and API password.
What is the difference between the docs tools and api_request?
The three docs_* tools perform free documentation lookups, whereas api_request makes billable calls to live DataForSEO endpoints using your account balance.
What credentials does DataForSEO MCP require?
It needs your DataForSEO account email in DATAFORSEO_USERNAME and your API password in DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD.
