Agent setup

Ranktide works inside AI agents like Claude, ChatGPT, Codex and Cursor. Setup has two parts:

• The MCP server gives your agent Ranktide's tools: keyword research, SERPs, rank tracking, site audits, backlinks, local SEO, AI visibility, Search Console, GA4 and reports. It runs at https://app.ranktide.io/mcp.
• The skills are SEO workflows your agent follows step by step, like an SEO audit or keyword research. Each skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file. Skills call the MCP tools for data, so connect the MCP server first.

The quickest route is the setup prompt in the app. Open Agent setup, copy the prompt and paste it into your agent. It sets up what your agent supports and tells you what to do by hand. The guides below cover the same steps manually.

Set up your agent

Follow the guide for your agent. Each one covers the MCP server, sign-in and the skills.

Any other client that supports remote MCP servers over Streamable HTTP can connect with the server URL. See other clients.

Sign in

The first time your agent connects, it opens a Ranktide sign-in in your browser. Approve the connection and pick the organisation the agent should work in. You don't need an API key.

MCP works on every plan, including Free. For headless setups and CI, the Growth plan and up can connect with an API key instead.

Check the connection

Send this in a new chat:

Use Ranktide to check my connection and list my projects. Don't run any research.

Your agent calls whoami and list_projects and returns your account, credit balance and projects. These are free reads, so they use no credits. An empty project list still means the connection works.

Install the skills

Download the skills from the skills page. The install guide shows where each agent reads them. Install the SEO report skill along with any others: the other skills use it to save their reports to your project.

To try one, ask your agent for an SEO audit of your website, or start with SEO project setup so every skill knows your goals and competitors.

What uses credits

Reading or saving your own data is free. That covers projects, project context, saved keywords, audit results, Search Console, GA4, AI visibility results and reports. Tools that fetch new data use credits, at the same cost as the matching feature in the app.

Before paid setup, scheduled tracking or batches over 2,000 credits, Ranktide tells your agent to show you the cost and ask first. Tools can't buy credits or charge your card. See what uses credits and what common actions cost.

Update your skills

Ranktide updates its MCP tools on the server, so you get new tools without reinstalling anything. Start a new chat or session to load them.

Skills are files your agent keeps, so update them when they change:

Unzipping over a skill folder replaces its SKILL.md. If you edited a skill, copy your changes out first and add them back after the update. Install only the public skills listed on the skills page.

Your agent can do the update for you. Copy the update prompt from Agent setup in the app and paste it into your agent.