Installation guide

How to install Ahrefs MCP

Q: Sign-in fails or the server does not appear in my client. What can I check?

Check that the URL is exactly https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp. Confirm you are signing in with an Ahrefs account on a Lite, Standard, Advanced or Enterprise plan. Remove and re-add the connector, then restart the client. For ChatGPT, confirm Developer mode is enabled, as connectors there are in beta.

In Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, Cursor and Claude Code, with what to check before you start and the first prompts to run.

Ahrefs MCP is a remote server hosted by Ahrefs. You add it to your AI assistant by URL and sign in with your Ahrefs account. There is nothing to install locally and no package to run. The vendor article gives the remote connection URL as `https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp` and says help docs exist for five AI tools, including Claude, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot Studio.

The connection should be set up by someone who holds the Ahrefs account on a Lite, Standard, Advanced or Enterprise plan, ideally the account owner or an SEO lead. Queries draw API units and the rows returned per request depend on the plan, so agree who uses the units before sharing the connection with the wider team. Keep the first use read-only and supervised.

Ahrefs MCP setup guide: Ahrefs's MCP documentation page on ahrefs.com, shown in a browser frame (seo MCP server for e-commerce) — Ahrefs MCP setup guide preview: Ahrefs’s documentation on ahrefs.com, captured Oct 13, 2026. The page may have changed since; the link opens the live version.

Before you start

An Ahrefs account on the Lite, Standard, Advanced or Enterprise plan, as stated in the vendor article.
Confirmation from the account owner of how many API units are available and who else draws on them.
The remote connection URL: https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp.
An AI assistant that supports remote MCP servers. For ChatGPT, custom MCP connectors need Developer mode, and the vendor article notes connectors are in beta there.
The Ahrefs MCP help docs open in a second tab, to follow the guide for your assistant.

How it runs: Remote, added by URL
Access: Read-only
Server address: https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp

Ahrefs MCP in Claude

Open Claude.ai in the browser or the Claude Desktop app and go to Settings > Connectors.
Choose the option to add a custom connector by URL.
Enter https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp as the server URL and give it a name such as Ahrefs.
Save, then click Connect and sign in with your Ahrefs account when prompted.
Enable the connector in a new chat, then run a first read-only prompt starting with 'Using the Ahrefs MCP server'.

Connector URL

https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp

Ahrefs MCP in ChatGPT

In ChatGPT, open Settings > Connectors and enable Developer mode if you need to add a custom MCP connector. Menu names can change, so check the current OpenAI documentation.
Create a new connector and paste https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp as the server URL.
Name it Ahrefs and complete the sign-in with your Ahrefs account when prompted.
Enable the connector for the conversation you are using.
Start prompts with 'Using the Ahrefs MCP server' so ChatGPT does not fall back to web search. The vendor article says ChatGPT connectors are in beta.

Connector URL

https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp

Ahrefs MCP in Gemini

The Ahrefs documentation provided to us does not cover Gemini, so check the Ahrefs MCP help docs for any Gemini guide.
For Gemini CLI, the standard method is to add an entry under mcpServers in the Gemini CLI settings file that points to the remote server URL. Check the Gemini CLI docs for the exact key name for remote URLs.
Use https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp as the server URL.
Restart Gemini CLI and complete any Ahrefs sign-in it asks for.
Run a small read-only prompt that names the Ahrefs MCP server.

Ahrefs MCP in Microsoft Copilot

The vendor article lists Microsoft Copilot Studio among the supported assistants and points to the Ahrefs MCP help docs for its guide. Follow that guide for the exact steps.
In Copilot Studio, the standard route is to add an MCP tool or custom connector to your agent and supply the server URL.
Use https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp if asked for the server address, and sign in with your Ahrefs account.
GitHub Copilot in VS Code is not covered by the documentation we have. The usual method is a remote entry in .vscode/mcp.json, so check the Ahrefs help docs before relying on it.
Test with a read-only prompt that names the Ahrefs MCP server.

Ahrefs MCP in Perplexity

The documentation we have does not mention Perplexity, so check the Ahrefs MCP help docs for support.
If your Perplexity version supports custom remote connectors, open its connectors settings and add a new one.
Enter https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp as the server URL.
Sign in with your Ahrefs account when prompted.
Run a small read-only prompt that names the Ahrefs MCP server and confirm the data comes from Ahrefs.

Connector URL

https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp

Ahrefs MCP in Cursor

The documentation we have does not cover Cursor, so check the Ahrefs MCP help docs for a Cursor guide.
Open Cursor's MCP settings and add a new MCP server, or edit the mcp.json file it opens.
Add an entry with url set to https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp.
Save, and complete the Ahrefs sign-in if Cursor prompts for authorization.
Confirm the server is listed as enabled, then run a read-only test prompt.

mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ahrefs": {
      "url": "https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Ahrefs MCP in Claude Code

Open a terminal where the claude CLI is installed.
Run the command below to add the remote server over HTTP.
Start claude and run /mcp to check the server is listed.
Follow the prompt to authenticate with your Ahrefs account.
Run a small read-only prompt that begins 'Using the Ahrefs MCP server'.

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http ahrefs https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp

Check that it works

Start with questions that only read data. If these answer from your real account, the connection is good.

Using the Ahrefs MCP server, list the closest organic search competitors for [your domain].
Using the Ahrefs MCP server, show the top 10 pages on [your domain] by number of links, with estimated organic search traffic.
Using the Ahrefs MCP server, give me Domain Rating and organic traffic for these 5 domains: [domain list].

Troubleshooting

+The assistant answers from a web search instead of Ahrefs. What should I do?

The vendor article says assistants do not always choose the Ahrefs MCP server over web search. Start the request with 'Use the Ahrefs MCP server' or 'Using the Ahrefs MCP server'. Also confirm the connector is enabled in the current chat or session.

+Sign-in fails or the server does not appear in my client. What can I check?

Check that the URL is exactly `https://api.ahrefs.com/mcp/mcp`. Confirm you are signing in with an Ahrefs account on a Lite, Standard, Advanced or Enterprise plan. Remove and re-add the connector, then restart the client. For ChatGPT, confirm Developer mode is enabled, as connectors there are in beta.

+Results are truncated, slow, or use more API units than expected. Why?

The vendor article says rows per request depend on your Ahrefs plan, and larger requests use more units and take longer. Batch domain metrics, multi-site backlink comparisons and large keyword sets are the heaviest. Start with small requests, watch unit usage, and agree limits with the account owner.

Written Oct 13, 2026 from the vendor documentation. Exact menus, addresses and commands change; the official documentation is the source of truth.