# Semrush setup for PopMCP The API key from My Profile > API keys, which lists your autogenerated Version 3 and Version 4 keys. PopMCP appends it as the `key=` query parameter. - Auth: API credentials - Setup time: 5 min - API base URL: https://api.semrush.com - Credentials screen: https://www.semrush.com/accounts/api-keys/active - Provider docs: https://developer.semrush.com/api/ ## Approval required before this works Semrush gates the standard Analytics/Projects API behind its top subscription tier, and API calls additionally consume API unit packages that must be purchased separately from the plan. - Typical wait: Instant once the qualifying plan and an API unit package are purchased. There is no application and no human review. - Cost: Plan naming is in flux: developer.semrush.com still says 'Standard API access is available to users of the SEO Toolkit who have a Business subscription', while semrush.com/prices now lists SEO ($139/mo, $117.33/mo annual), Starter ($199/mo, $165.17/mo annual), Pro+ ($299/mo, $248.17/mo annual) and Advanced ($549/mo, $455.67/mo annual), with 'API data integration' shown only on Advanced. Treat the top tier (legacy Business / current Advanced) as the requirement and confirm the current price on semrush.com/prices. API units are bought on top of the plan in packages of 2,000,000 / 5,000,000 / 10,000,000 / 20,000,000 units; Semrush does not publish the package prices, so budget from the in-account API Units screen rather than from any figure quoted elsewhere. - Blocked until approved: Below the API-enabled tier the API key page will not issue a working standard-API key, so every Analytics and Projects endpoint is unavailable. Even on the right plan, a zero API-unit balance makes requests fail on quota rather than auth: one line of a Domain Organic Search Keywords response costs 10 API units live and 50 units historical, so a modest report can burn tens of thousands of units. - Works meanwhile: Read the endpoint reference at developer.semrush.com and pre-compute your unit budget from the per-line costs. Map Rank Tracker API and Listing Management API run off Local subscriptions and do not consume standard API units, and the Trends API is sold as its own Basic/Premium plan with a request quota instead of units, so those can be exercised without the top SEO tier. ## Before you begin - A Semrush SEO Business subscription with an API units package. Standard API access is not included with Pro or Guru, and calls fail on a zero balance. - Access to My profile, where the key sits under API keys and the balance under Subscription info - A separate Trends API subscription if you want the Traffic Analytics and .Trends reports ## Get your credentials ### 1. Open the API keys page Sign in at semrush.com, click your profile icon in the top-right corner, and choose My Profile. In the sidebar select API keys. Screen: https://www.semrush.com/accounts/api-keys/active ### 2. Copy the key, or create a scoped one Copy the value on the Version 3 row, which is a single long string with no separate secret. To use a dedicated key instead, click + Create API key, set a name, pick read-only or read-and-write, and copy the value straight away. Screen: https://www.semrush.com/accounts/api-keys/active ### 3. Check the API units balance Open Subscription info in the sidebar and switch to the API units tab. Confirm the Standard API balance is above zero, and top it up if it is not. Screen: https://www.semrush.com/accounts/subscription-info/api-units ### 4. Paste the key into PopMCP Paste the key into PopMCP's API Key field and click Connect. ## Fields PopMCP asks for - API Key (apiKey) [required]: In Semrush, click your account icon (top-right) → Subscription info → the API Units tab and copy your API key. A Semrush plan with API units is required (the Trends / Traffic Analytics reports need the separate Trends API subscription). The key is sent as the `key` query param, stored encrypted, and used server-side only. ## Verify PopMCP marks Semrush as Connected. Asking for a domain overview returns an authority score and organic traffic numbers rather than an API units or wrong key error. ## Troubleshooting ### ERROR 50 :: NOTHING FOUND or ERROR 120 :: WRONG KEY Cause: The key was truncated on copy, or it carries whitespace from the clipboard. Fix: Re-copy the full key from My Profile > API keys and paste it with no leading or trailing whitespace. If you created a scoped v4 key and never copied it, create a replacement, because the value is shown only once. ### Every report fails after working fine yesterday Cause: The API unit balance hit zero, or the units package renewed and the key was regenerated. Fix: Open Subscription info > API units, top the balance up, and re-paste the key into PopMCP if it changed. You can also check the balance for free at www.semrush.com/users/countapiunits.html?key=YOUR_KEY. ### Traffic Analytics or Trends tools return an access error Cause: Trends is a separate paid API subscription from the Standard API units. Fix: Add the .Trends API subscription under Subscription info, then retry. No key change is needed. ### Site Audit or Position Tracking returns nothing Cause: Those endpoints read from Semrush Projects, and the domain has no Project configured. Fix: Create the Project in Semrush, run the audit or tracking campaign once, then query it from PopMCP. --- Source: https://www.docs.popmcp.com/docs/integrations/semrush/