How to integrate Semrush MCP with Claude Code

Connect Claude Code to Semrush MCP. Show top anchor texts for example.com, compare backlink profiles for three domains, and more using natural language, with authentication handled for you.

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Semrush is a leading SEO tool suite for keyword research, competitor analysis, and campaign tracking. It empowers marketers to improve search rankings and optimize online visibility.

74 Tools

Introduction

Manage your Semrush directly from Claude Code with zero worries about OAuth hassles, API-breaking issues, or reliability and security concerns.

You can do this in two different ways:

  1. Via Composio Connect - Direct and easiest approach
  2. Via Composio SDK - Programmatic approach with more control

Also integrate Semrush with

Why use Composio?

  • Only one MCP URL to connect multiple apps with Claude Code with zero auth hassles.
  • Programmatic tool calling allows LLMs to write its code in a remote workbench to handle complex tool chaining. Reduces to-and-fro with LLMs for frequent tool calling.
  • Handling Large tool responses out of LLM context to minimize context rot.
  • Dynamic just-in-time access to 20,000 tools across 1500+ other Apps for cross-app workflows. It loads the tools you need, so LLMs aren't overwhelmed by tools you don't need.

Connecting Semrush to Claude Code using Composio

1. Add the Composio MCP to Claude

Terminal

2. Start Claude Code

bash
claude

3. Open your MCP list

bash
/mcp

4. Select Composio and click on Authenticate

Select Composio and click Authenticate

5. This will redirect you to the Composio OAuth page. Complete the flow by authorizing Composio and you're all set.

Composio OAuth authorization page
Composio authorization complete
Ask Claude to connect to your account and authenticate via the link

What is the Semrush MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Semrush MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Semrush account. It provides structured and secure access to keyword, search competitor, backlink, and advertising data, so your agent can research keywords, compare domains, inspect backlink profiles, analyze search competitors, and review paid campaigns on your behalf.

  • Keyword research and content planning: Have your agent find related, broad match, and question-based keywords, then review search volume, cost per click, competition, and keyword difficulty.
  • Organic search analysis: Let the agent examine a domain's ranking keywords, top organic pages, ranking subdomains, and search results across supported regional databases.
  • Competitor and keyword gap research: Direct your agent to identify organic or paid search competitors and compare up to five domains for shared, unique, and missing keywords.
  • Backlink profile assessment: Instruct your agent to review backlinks, referring domains, anchor text, indexed pages, authority score distribution, historical trends, and geographic or top-level domain diversity.
  • Paid search and shopping research: Have your agent inspect paid keywords, search ads, advertising history, Product Listing Ad keywords and copies, and competing advertisers.

Connecting Semrush via Composio SDK

Composio SDK is the underlying technology that powers these integrations. It provides a universal gateway with full programmatic control. You can programmatically generate an MCP URL with the app you need (here Semrush) for even more tool search precision. It's secure and reliable.

How the Composio SDK works

The Composio SDK follows a three-phase workflow:

  1. Discovery: Searches for tools matching your task and returns relevant toolkits with their details.
  2. Authentication: Checks for active connections. If missing, creates an auth config and returns a connection URL via Auth Link.
  3. Execution: Executes the action using the authenticated connection.

Step-by-step Guide

Step by step10 STEPS
1

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:
  • Claude Pro, Max, or API billing enabled Anthropic account
  • Composio API Key
  • A Semrush account
  • Basic knowledge of Python or TypeScript
2

Install Claude Code

bash
# macOS, Linux, WSL
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

# Windows PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

# Windows CMD
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

To install Claude Code, use one of the following methods based on your operating system:

3

Set up Claude Code

bash
cd your-project-folder
claude

Open a terminal, go to your project folder, and start Claude Code:

  • Claude Code will open in your terminal
  • Follow the prompts to sign in with your Anthropic account
  • Complete the authentication flow
  • Once authenticated, you can start using Claude Code
Claude Code initial setup showing sign-in prompt
Claude Code terminal after successful login
4

Set up environment variables

bash
COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_composio_api_key_here
USER_ID=your_user_id_here

Create a .env file in your project root with the following variables:

  • COMPOSIO_API_KEY authenticates with Composio (get it from Composio dashboard)
  • USER_ID identifies the user for session management (use any unique identifier)
5

Install Composio library

npm install @composio/core dotenv

Install the Composio TypeScript library to create MCP sessions.

  • @composio/core provides the core Composio functionality
  • dotenv loads environment variables from your .env file
6

Generate Composio MCP URL

import 'dotenv/config';
import { Composio } from '@composio/core';

const { COMPOSIO_API_KEY, USER_ID } = process.env;

if (!COMPOSIO_API_KEY || !USER_ID) {
  throw new Error('COMPOSIO_API_KEY and USER_ID required in .env');
}

const composioClient = new Composio({ apiKey: COMPOSIO_API_KEY });

const composioSession = await composioClient.create(USER_ID, {
  toolkits: ['semrush'],
});

const composioMcpUrl = composioSession?.mcp.url;

console.log(`MCP URL: ${composioMcpUrl}`);
console.log(`\nUse this command to add to Claude Code:`);
console.log(`claude mcp add --transport http semrush-composio "${composioMcpUrl}" --headers "X-API-Key:${COMPOSIO_API_KEY}"`);

Create a script to generate a Composio MCP URL for Semrush. This URL will be used to connect Claude Code to Semrush.

What's happening

  • We import the Composio client and load environment variables
  • Create a Composio instance with your API key
  • Call create() to create a Tool Router session for Semrush
  • The returned mcp.url is the MCP server URL that Claude Code will use
  • The script prints this URL so you can copy it
7

Run the script and copy the MCP URL

node --loader ts-node/esm generate_mcp_url.ts
# or if using tsx
tsx generate_mcp_url.ts

Run your TypeScript script to generate the MCP URL.

  • The script connects to Composio and creates a Tool Router session
  • It prints the MCP URL and the exact command you need to run
  • Copy the entire claude mcp add command from the output
8

Add Semrush MCP to Claude Code

bash
claude mcp add --transport http semrush-composio "YOUR_MCP_URL_HERE" --headers "X-API-Key:YOUR_COMPOSIO_API_KEY"

# Then restart Claude Code
exit
claude

In your terminal, add the MCP server using the command from the previous step. The command format is:

  • claude mcp add registers a new MCP server with Claude Code
  • --transport http specifies that this is an HTTP-based MCP server
  • The server name (semrush-composio) is how you'll reference it
  • The URL points to your Composio Tool Router session
  • --headers includes your Composio API key for authentication

After running the command, close the current Claude Code session and start a new one for the changes to take effect.

9

Verify the installation

bash
claude mcp list

Check that your Semrush MCP server is properly configured.

  • This command lists all MCP servers registered with Claude Code
  • You should see your semrush-composio entry in the list
  • This confirms that Claude Code can now access Semrush tools

If everything is wired up, you should see your semrush-composio entry listed:

Claude Code MCP list showing the toolkit MCP server
10

Authenticate Semrush

The first time you try to use Semrush tools, you'll be prompted to authenticate.

  • Claude Code will detect that you need to authenticate with Semrush
  • It will show you an authentication link
  • Open the link in your browser (or copy/paste it)
  • Complete the Semrush authorization flow
  • Return to the terminal and start using Semrush through Claude Code

Once authenticated, you can ask Claude Code to perform Semrush operations in natural language. For example:

  • "Show top anchor texts for example.com"
  • "Compare backlink profiles for three domains"
  • "Get keyword overview for 'organic coffee'"

Complete Code

Here's the complete code to get you started with Semrush and Claude Code:

import 'dotenv/config';
import { Composio } from '@composio/core';

const { COMPOSIO_API_KEY, USER_ID } = process.env;

if (!COMPOSIO_API_KEY || !USER_ID) {
  throw new Error('COMPOSIO_API_KEY and USER_ID required in .env');
}

const composioClient = new Composio({ apiKey: COMPOSIO_API_KEY });

const composioSession = await composioClient.create(USER_ID, {
  toolkits: ['semrush'],
});

const composioMcpUrl = composioSession?.mcp.url;

console.log(`MCP URL: ${composioMcpUrl}`);
console.log(`\nUse this command to add to Claude Code:`);
console.log(`claude mcp add --transport http semrush-composio "${composioMcpUrl}" --headers "X-API-Key:${COMPOSIO_API_KEY}"`);

Conclusion

You've successfully integrated Semrush with Claude Code using Composio's MCP server. Now you can interact with Semrush directly from your terminal using natural language commands.

Key features of this setup:

  • Terminal-native experience without switching contexts
  • Natural language commands for Semrush operations
  • Secure authentication through Composio's managed MCP
  • Tool Router for dynamic tool discovery and execution

Next steps:

  • Try asking Claude Code to perform various Semrush operations
  • Add more toolkits to your Tool Router session for multi-app workflows
  • Integrate this setup into your development workflow for increased productivity

You can extend this by adding more toolkits, implementing custom workflows, or building automation scripts that leverage Claude Code's capabilities.

TOOLS

Supported Tools

Every Semrush action and event your agent gets out of the box.

Check Semrush account units balance

Fetch remaining Semrush Standard API units for a legacy v3 connection.

Add Semrush review comment

Publish an owner comment to a review that supports replies.

Get ad copies

Retrieves unique ad copies Semrush has observed for a specified domain from a regional database, detailing ads seen in Google's paid search results.

Get competitors in organic search

Use to get a domain's organic search competitors from Semrush as a semicolon-separated string; `display_date` requires 'YYYYMM15' format if used.

Get competitors in paid search

Retrieves a list of a domain's competitors in paid search results from a specified regional database.

Create Semrush GBP post

Create a draft, scheduled, or ready-to-send GBP post.

Create Listing Management location

Create a Semrush Listing Management location.

Create location image

Add a base64-encoded JPEG or PNG image to a Semrush Listing Management location using a read-write v4 key and Local Pro or Business.

Manage Semrush GBP suggestion

Start accepting or rejecting an open GBP suggestion.

Delete Semrush GBP post

Permanently delete a DRAFT, SCHEDULED, or TO_SEND GBP post.

Delete Listing Management location

Permanently delete an eligible location using a read-write v4 key and Local plan.

Delete location image

Permanently delete an image using a read-write v4 key and Local plan.

Delete Semrush review comment

Permanently remove a public review comment.

Disable location listing

Stop distribution for a controllable listing; a parent may affect child listings.

Get domain ad history

Retrieves a domain's 12-month advertising history from Semrush (keywords bid on, ad positions, ad copy) for PPC strategy and competitor analysis; most effective when the domain has ad history in the selected database.

Get domain organic pages

Fetches a report on a domain's unique organic pages ranking in Google's top 100 search results, with options for specifying database, date, columns, sorting, and filtering.

Get domain organic search keywords

Retrieves organic search keywords for a domain from a specified Semrush regional database; `display_positions` must be set if `display_daily=1` for daily updates.

Get domain organic subdomains

Retrieves a report on subdomains of a given domain that rank in Google's top 100 organic search results for a specified regional database.

Get domain paid search keywords

Fetches keywords driving paid search traffic to a specified, existing domain using a supported Semrush regional database.

Get PLA search keywords for a domain

Retrieves Product Listing Ad (PLA) search keywords for a specified domain from a Semrush regional database.

Compare domains

Analyzes keyword rankings by comparing up to five domains to find common, unique, or gap keywords, using specified organic/paid types and comparison logic in the `domains` string.

Enable location listing

Resume distribution for a controllable disconnected listing.

Get Semrush GBP metrics

Return GBP metrics for up to five locations.

Get Listing Management location

Get one Listing Management location using a v4 key and Local Pro or Business.

Get Semrush review auto-reply config

Return review auto-reply settings for a location.

Get Semrush review overview

Return review counts, rating distribution, and reply statistics.

List Semrush GBP additional-hour types

Return additional business-hour types available for a GBP location.

List Semrush GBP attributes

Return GBP attributes and allowed values for a category and country.

List Semrush GBP categories

Return GBP categories supported in a country.

List Semrush GBP posts

Return filtered GBP posts for one or more Semrush locations.

List Semrush GBP suggestions

Return GBP data-change suggestions for one or more active locations.

List Listing Management locations

List locations using a v4 key and Local Pro or Business; uses no API units.

List location categories

List Semrush Local business categories supported for a country.

List location images

List location images using a v4 key and Local Pro or Business.

List location listings

Get directory listings using a v4 key and Local Pro or Business.

List location payment options

Get payment options using a v4 key and Local Pro or Business.

List Semrush location reviews

Return a filtered, paginated list of reviews for a Semrush location.

Collect Map Rank Tracker campaign data (consumes credits)

Start a data-collection mutation that creates a new campaign report.

Create Map Rank Tracker campaign

Create persistent Map Rank Tracker campaign data.

Delete Map Rank Tracker campaign

Permanently delete a campaign and all its collected data.

Get Map Rank Tracker campaign

Get one Map Rank Tracker campaign without consuming API units.

Get Map Rank Tracker heatmap

Get a campaign heatmap for one keyword and report timestamp.

Get Map Rank Tracker keyword statuses

Get campaign keyword statuses for the latest or a specified report.

Get Map Rank Tracker metrics

Get average-position and share-of-voice history for one keyword.

Get Map Rank Tracker user limits

Get campaign-slot and monthly Map Rank Tracker credit limits.

List Map Rank Tracker campaigns

List and filter Map Rank Tracker campaigns without consuming API units.

List Map Rank Tracker top competitors

Get a paginated competitor ranking for one keyword and report.

Update Map Rank Tracker campaign

Mutate selected settings of an existing Map Rank Tracker campaign.

Get PLA competitors

Retrieves domains competing with a specified domain in Google's Product Listing Ads (PLA) from a given Semrush regional database.

Get PLA copies

Fetches Product Listing Ad (PLA) copies that Semrush observed for a domain in Google's paid search results.

Update Semrush GBP post

Update a DRAFT, SCHEDULED, or TO_SEND GBP post.

Update Listing Management location

Patch selected fields on a Semrush Listing Management location.

Update location image

Replace a location image caption using a read-write v4 key and Local Pro or Business.

Replace Semrush review auto-reply config

Replace all review auto-reply settings for a location.

Update Semrush review comment

Replace the public text of an editable review comment.

List v4 backlink anchors

List v4 backlink anchors for a URL or domain.

Get v4 authority score profile

Get the v4 referring-domain authority-score distribution.

List v4 backlink competitors

List v4 backlink competitors based on referring-domain overlap.

List v4 backlinks

List v4 backlinks with field selection, filtering, sorting, and pagination.

Compare v4 backlink summaries

Compare v4 backlink summaries for up to ten targets.

Get v4 backlinks historical summary

Get monthly v4 backlink history for a URL or domain.

Get v4 backlinks matrix

Compare shared referring domains and backlinks for up to six targets.

Get v4 backlinks overview

Get aggregated v4 backlink metrics for a URL or domain.

Create v4 project

Create a Semrush v4 project for a domain.

Delete v4 project

Permanently delete a Semrush v4 project and all associated data.

Get v4 project

Get the full details of one accessible Semrush v4 project.

List v4 indexed pages

List v4 indexed backlink pages for a URL or domain.

Get v4 keyword metrics

Get Semrush v4 SEO and PPC metrics for one keyword and country.

List v4 projects

List Semrush v4 projects by ownership or sharing scope.

List v4 referring domains

List v4 referring domains for a URL or domain.

List v4 referring IPs

List v4 referring IP addresses for a URL or domain.

Update v4 project

Rename a Semrush v4 project.

Validate Listing Management location creation

Validate a Listing Management location payload without creating it or consuming a Local Pro location limit.

Validate Listing Management location update

Validate selected changes to a Listing Management location without applying them.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

With a standalone Semrush MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of Semrush tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from Semrush and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

Yes, you can. Claude Code fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right Semrush tools.

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which Semrush scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Semrush data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

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