> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.crakseo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> For SEO data and indexing, start with /seo-mcp/overview.md and /seo-mcp/connect.md, then read the focused server reference.
> The documentation search MCP at https://docs.crakseo.com/mcp searches documentation only. Product tools use https://crakseo.com/mcp/<server>.
> Check tool availability and API credit balance before paid calls. Request owner approval for paid indexing. Never invent prices, indexing guarantees or directory approval.

# DataForSEO MCP alternative: CrakSEO

> CrakSEO vs the official DataForSEO MCP server: setup, minimum spend, tool design, indexing and Search Console. When to use each.

The official DataForSEO MCP server is free and open source, and it reaches the whole DataForSEO API. CrakSEO's data tools are built on DataForSEO's APIs too, so the data overlaps. The difference is packaging: CrakSEO sells task-named tools per call from small prepaid packs, alongside URL indexing and a free Search Console server, under one account.

## Side by side

| | DataForSEO MCP | CrakSEO |
| - | - | - |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://mcp.dataforseo.com/v3/mcp` (OAuth), or local with `npx dataforseo-mcp-server` | `https://crakseo.com/mcp/<server>` (OAuth or API key) |
| Tool design | A small set of tools that read DataForSEO's docs and call any endpoint | Task-named tools such as `get_keyword_search_volume` and `check_backlinks`, split into focused servers |
| How you pay | DataForSEO's per-request prices from a prepaid balance | Per-call prices from prepaid API credits |
| Minimum to start | $50 minimum top-up, after a $1 trial credit | Small packs (see [API credits](https://docs.crakseo.com/pricing/api-credits.md)) |
| URL indexing | Not included | [URL Indexing MCP](https://docs.crakseo.com/mcp-servers/url-indexing.md): IndexNow, Bing, sitemaps, paid Google submission |
| Search Console and Bing Webmaster | Not included | [Free Search Console MCP](https://docs.crakseo.com/mcp-servers/search-console.md) |
| Pay per call without an account | No | MPP or x402 where enabled |

DataForSEO facts checked October 24, 2026 on [dataforseo.com/pricing](https://dataforseo.com/pricing) and DataForSEO's MCP help center. Check their site for current terms.

## Choose DataForSEO MCP when

* You'll spend \$50 or more on data anyway. DataForSEO's own prices are lower than ours, because CrakSEO adds a margin on top.
* You need an endpoint CrakSEO doesn't expose. DataForSEO's server can call any of its APIs.
* You want to self-host the server.

## Choose CrakSEO when

* You want to try SEO data in an AI client without a \$50 deposit.
* Your agent works better with a few clearly named tools than with a generic "call any endpoint" tool.
* You also need to submit pages for indexing or read your own Search Console and Bing data in the same account.
* Your agent pays per call without an account.

## Switch in one step

Replace the DataForSEO server in your client config with the [SEO MCP](https://docs.crakseo.com/mcp-servers/seo.md):

```bash theme={null}
claude mcp add --transport http crakseo-seo https://crakseo.com/mcp/seo
```

Other clients: see the [quickstarts](https://docs.crakseo.com/quickstarts/claude-code.md).


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