MCP reference

Ranktide's MCP server: the URL, API keys, organisations, credits, every tool and troubleshooting.

Ranktide's MCP server lets AI assistants work with your Ranktide projects: keyword research, SERPs, rank tracking, site audits, backlinks, local SEO, AI visibility, Search Console, GA4 and reports.

The server URL is:

https://app.ranktide.io/mcp

The first time you connect, your client opens a Ranktide sign-in. Approve the connection and your assistant can call Ranktide tools for that organisation. For headless environments and CI, connect with an API key instead.

MCP works on every plan, including Free. For a copyable endpoint in the app, open Agent setup. For an overview of the MCP server and the skills, see agent setup.

Connect your client

Each guide covers adding the server, signing in and installing the SEO skills:

Client	Guide	Quick setup
Claude: claude.ai, desktop app and Cowork	Claude	Customize → Connectors → Add custom connector
Claude Code	Claude Code	`claude mcp add --transport http ranktide https://app.ranktide.io/mcp`
ChatGPT	ChatGPT	The Ranktide plugin, or a custom MCP server
Codex	Codex	`codex mcp add ranktide --url https://app.ranktide.io/mcp`
Cursor	Cursor	Add the server URL to `mcp.json`

Other clients

Any client that supports remote MCP servers over Streamable HTTP with OAuth can connect with the server URL. For clients without OAuth, use an API key.

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 assistant should return your account, credit balance and project list. An empty project list still means the connection works. These calls use no credits.

Connect with an API key

API keys are available on the Growth, Pro, Agency and Scale plans. Use one in headless environments, CI, or clients where OAuth is awkward.

API keys are personal. Anything an agent does with your key acts as you, in the organisation that was active when you created the key.

In the app, open Settings → API keys, create a key and copy it. It isn't shown again.

For Claude Code:

claude mcp add --transport http --scope user ranktide https://app.ranktide.io/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

For Cursor, add headers to the server entry in mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ranktide": {
      "url": "https://app.ranktide.io/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

For Codex CLI, put the key in an environment variable and reference it:

export RANKTIDE_API_KEY=YOUR_API_KEY
codex mcp add ranktide --url https://app.ranktide.io/mcp --bearer-token-env-var RANKTIDE_API_KEY

Any other client that supports custom HTTP headers can send Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY or x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY.

Organisations and revoking access

A connection or API key works in one organisation: the one you pick when you approve the sign-in, or the one active in the app when you create the key. To use another organisation, connect again and pick it, or switch to it in the app before creating a key.

To disconnect an assistant, open Settings in the app and choose Disconnect under Connected agents. To revoke a key, choose Revoke key under API keys. A disconnected assistant has to sign in again before it can use Ranktide.

What uses credits

Tools cost the same as the matching feature in the app. See what common actions cost.

Tools that fetch new data use credits: keyword research, SERPs, domain and backlink data, local SEO, rank checks, AI answers and audits with JavaScript rendering or Lighthouse.
Tools that read or save your own data use none: projects, context, saved keywords, trackers, audit results, Search Console, GA4, AI visibility results and reports.
Before paid setup, scheduled tracking or large batches, assistants are told to show you the cost estimate and ask first.
Tools can't buy credits or charge your card. When credits run out, the tool says so and links to Billing.

Available tools

Area	Tools
Account and projects	`whoami`, `list_projects`, `create_project`, `research_project_website`, `save_project_website_setup`, `get_project_context`, `update_project_context`
Keyword research	`research_keywords`, `get_keyword_metrics`, `get_suggested_keywords`, `save_keywords`, `list_saved_keywords`, `remove_saved_keywords`
SERPs and competitors	`get_serp_results`, `search_serp_locations`, `find_serp_competitors`, `get_ranked_keywords`, `get_domain_overview`, `get_domain_keyword_suggestions`
Backlinks	`get_backlinks_overview`, `get_backlinks_profile`
Rank tracking	`create_rank_tracker`, `get_rank_tracker`, `add_rank_tracking_keywords`, `remove_rank_tracking_keywords`, `pin_rank_tracking_keywords`, `estimate_rank_tracker_cost`, `run_rank_tracker`, `get_rank_history`
Local SEO	`search_local_businesses`, `get_local_serp_results`, `get_local_rank_grid`, `get_business_profile`, `get_business_reviews`, `get_business_updates`, `get_google_business_questions`, `list_business_categories`
Site audits	`run_site_audit`, `get_audit_status`, `get_audit_issues`, `get_audit_pages`, `list_site_audits`, `delete_site_audit`
AI visibility	`explore_prompt`, `research_ai_visibility_prompts`, `generate_ai_visibility_prompts`, `complete_ai_research_setup`, `get_ai_visibility_tracker`, `save_ai_visibility_tracker`, `estimate_ai_visibility_cost`, `set_ai_visibility_schedule`, `run_ai_visibility_check`, `get_ai_visibility_run`, `get_ai_visibility_results`, `get_ai_visibility_answer`, `get_ai_visibility_sources`, `get_ai_visibility_trend`, `export_ai_visibility_data`
Search Console	`list_search_console_sites`, `set_search_console_site`, `get_search_console_performance`, `inspect_urls`, `submit_indexnow_urls`
Google Analytics	`list_google_analytics_properties`, `set_google_analytics_property`, `get_google_analytics_organic_overview`, `get_google_analytics_organic_landing_pages`, `get_google_analytics_page_performance`, `get_google_analytics_traffic_acquisition`, `get_google_analytics_key_events`, `get_google_analytics_ecommerce_performance`, `get_google_analytics_site_search`, `get_google_analytics_audience_breakdown`, `get_google_analytics_measurement_health`, `get_search_opportunities`
Reports	`save_report`, `list_reports`, `get_report`, `set_report_sharing`, `delete_report`, `list_report_templates`, `save_report_template`, `delete_report_template`

Clients that support MCP Apps also get show_serp_results and show_search_console_performance, which open interactive views of results you already fetched.

Connecting a Google account happens in the app, in the project's settings under Integrations. Once connected, assistants can list your Search Console sites and GA4 properties and bind one to a project without using credits.

Troubleshooting

What you see	What to do
The client can't connect	Check that the server URL is exactly `https://app.ranktide.io/mcp`.
Sign-in fails	Remove the Ranktide server from your client, add it again and repeat the sign-in.
ChatGPT shows "Error fetching OAuth configuration: Unsafe URL"	Enter the full URL, including `https://`, with no spaces.
ChatGPT asks for a client ID or secret	Keep OAuth selected and wait for discovery. If offered, use dynamic client registration. You don't need your own client credentials.
ChatGPT gives general advice instead of calling Ranktide	Start a new chat, select Ranktide with `@` or the + menu, and resend the connection check.
Codex reports `Authorization server response missing required issuer`	Upgrade Codex CLI or the ChatGPT desktop app to 0.147.0 or later, or connect with an API key.
The assistant can't find a project	Ask it to list your Ranktide projects first and use the returned project ID.

If setup still fails, email support@ranktide.io with your client and version, the step that failed and the error message. Don't include passwords, API keys or sign-in codes.

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