# Ahrefs

> Backlinks, keyword research, and rank tracking from the official Ahrefs remote MCP.

[Canonical HTML page](https://top-mcps.com/mcp/ahrefs) · [server.json](https://top-mcps.com/mcp/ahrefs.json) · [methodology](https://top-mcps.com/about/methodology)

## At a glance

- **Maintainer:** Ahrefs
- **Transport:** Streamable HTTP
- **Auth model:** API key
- **Required secrets:** None
- **Supported clients:** Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Copilot Studio, Any remote-MCP-compatible client, Paid Ahrefs plan
- **License:** MIT
- **Language:** TypeScript
- **Latest version:** remote
- **Last verified:** 2026-06-15
- **GitHub stars:** 100 (fetched 2026-06-17T07:09:46.844Z)
- **Score:** 74/100 (rubric 2026-04 — see https://top-mcps.com/about/methodology)
- **Source:** https://github.com/ahrefs/ahrefs-mcp-server
- **Homepage:** https://docs.ahrefs.com/docs/mcp/reference/introduction

## Tools & permissions

| Tool | Description | Args | Side effects |
|------|-------------|------|--------------|
| `backlinks` | Return backlinks and referring domains for a target from the Ahrefs index. | `target: string` | network |
| `keywords_explorer` | Keyword research with Ahrefs volume, difficulty, and intent metrics. | `keywords: string[]` | network |
| `rank_tracker` | Return rank-tracking positions for a tracked project. | `—` | network |
| `site_explorer` | Return Domain Rating, organic traffic, and top pages for a domain. | `target: string` | network |

## Security & scope

- **Access scope:** network
- **Sandbox:** Hosted remote MCP reached over Streamable HTTP at api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp. Authentication is an Ahrefs API key with an MCP scope; each connection gets its own key for per-integration tracking. No local process runs and no local filesystem access is involved — the trust boundary is the API key and your Ahrefs plan unit allowance.
- **Gotchas:**
  - The local @ahrefs/mcp npm package is archived and unmaintained — do not use it; it only supports legacy v3 keys.
  - Calls consume your monthly Ahrefs API unit allowance; an agent that loops can exhaust units before month end.
  - Treat the MCP-scoped API key like any credential — revoke the per-connection key if a client is decommissioned.

## Quick answer

**What it does.** Connects to the Ahrefs API via a hosted remote MCP endpoint and exposes backlink profiles, referring domains, keyword research with Ahrefs proprietary metrics, and rank-tracking data so an agent can enrich answers with Ahrefs SEO intelligence.

**Best for:**
- Backlink and referring-domain analysis
- Keyword research with Ahrefs metrics
- Rank tracking queries
- Competitor SEO analysis
- Domain Rating / URL Rating lookups

**Not for:**
- Teams without a paid Ahrefs plan
- Pay-per-request budgets
- Self-hosted-only environments

## Description

The official Ahrefs MCP connects an AI agent to the Ahrefs API — backlink and referring-domain data, keyword research with Ahrefs metrics, rank tracking, and competitor analysis. Ahrefs now ships a hosted remote MCP at api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp over Streamable HTTP; the older local npm server is archived and the vendor no longer recommends it. Access requires a paid Ahrefs plan (Lite and up) and consumes your monthly API unit allowance.

## Why it matters

Ahrefs runs one of the largest independent backlink indexes and its metrics (Domain Rating, URL Rating) are an industry reference. The remote MCP means an agent can pull that data with no local setup — you connect by URL and authenticate with an MCP-scoped key.

## Key features

- Official Ahrefs maintainership
- Hosted remote MCP (no local install)
- Streamable HTTP transport
- MCP-scoped API keys with consent screen
- Ahrefs backlink index + proprietary metrics
- Per-connection key tracking

## FAQ

### Local or remote server?

Remote. Ahrefs archived the local npm server (@ahrefs/mcp) and explicitly recommends against it — it only works with legacy v3 API keys. The supported path is the hosted remote MCP at https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp over Streamable HTTP, which you connect to by URL with no local install.

### Is it free?

No. The remote MCP requires a paid Ahrefs plan starting at Lite, and each call consumes your monthly API unit allowance. The unit limit and which endpoints are available vary by plan tier.

### How do I authenticate?

With an Ahrefs API key carrying the MCP scope. You can authorise through a consent screen, generate a key manually, or (Enterprise) reuse an existing API key. Each MCP connection gets its own key so usage is tracked per integration.

### How does this compare to DataForSEO?

Ahrefs gives you its proprietary index and metrics (Domain Rating, URL Rating) on a paid plan with a monthly unit allowance. DataForSEO gives raw SEO data at pay-per-request pricing. Pick Ahrefs when its scores and backlink index are what you need; pick DataForSEO when you want metered raw data and no seat cost.

## Changelog

- **2026-06-15** — Refreshed install snippets and fact sheet; verified for 2026.
- **2025-04-01** — Initial directory listing.