@cite42/mcp

MCP server for Cite42, the AI search visibility, SEO keyword & trends API: market research tools for your AI agent.

Once installed, your MCP client (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex CLI, Cursor, Windsurf, etc.) can:

• Query AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews) and see each model's answer and the sources it cites
• Track brand visibility in AI answers: rankings, head-to-head comparisons, and sentiment
• Pull SEO data: keyword search volume, CPC, competition, and Google Trends
• Mine Reddit and YouTube for audience questions, pain points, and rising content
• Run full research workflows: content gaps, topic demand, AI prompt maps, competitor analysis, and content briefs in a single call

Requirements

• Node.js 18 or newer (node --version to check)
• A Cite42 API key, free to create at www.cite42.dev/app/keys

Installation

There is nothing to install manually. Every client below runs the server on demand with npx -y @cite42/mcp. You only need to register it once.

Step 1: Get your API key

1. Sign in at cite42.dev
2. Open Dashboard → API Keys: www.cite42.dev/app/keys
3. Create a key and copy it (it looks like cite42_live_...)

Step 2: Add the server to your client

Pick one of the clients below and replace cite42_live_your_key_here with your real key.

Claude Code

claude mcp add cite42 -e CITE42_API_KEY=cite42_live_your_key_here -- npx -y @cite42/mcp

Codex CLI

codex mcp add cite42 --env CITE42_API_KEY=cite42_live_your_key_here -- npx -y @cite42/mcp

Claude Desktop

Add this to claude_desktop_config.json (Settings → Developer → Edit Config):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cite42": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@cite42/mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CITE42_API_KEY": "cite42_live_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor / Windsurf / other JSON-config clients

Use the same JSON block as Claude Desktop in your client's mcpServers config (Cursor: ~/.cursor/mcp.json or Settings → MCP).

Step 3: Restart so the server loads

MCP servers are started by the client, so the config is only picked up on a fresh start:

• Claude Code / Codex CLI: exit the current session and open a new terminal (or start a new claude / codex session)
• Claude Desktop / Cursor / Windsurf: fully quit and reopen the app

You do not need to keep npx -y @cite42/mcp running in a separate terminal. The MCP client starts it automatically when the session needs tools.

Step 4: Verify it's running

• Claude Code: run claude mcp list and check that cite42 shows as ✔ connected. Or type /mcp inside a session.
• Codex CLI: run codex mcp list.
• Claude Desktop / Cursor: look for cite42 in the MCP/tools indicator. 15 tools should be listed.

If it doesn't appear, see Troubleshooting.

Try it: example prompts

After restarting, just ask in plain language. Your agent picks the right Cite42 tool automatically.

• "Use Cite42 to check which brands AI models recommend for 'best project management software'."
• "Which sources do AI models cite when asked about CRM tools for startups? Is mycompany.com among them?"
• "Get search volume, CPC, and related keywords for 'ai seo tools'."
• "What are people on Reddit complaining about regarding email marketing tools?"
• "Run a content brief for the topic 'ai website builder'."

Example: what a session looks like

You ask:

Use Cite42 to find AI-cited competitors for "best invoicing software for freelancers".

Your agent calls cite42_citations and answers something like:

Across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini, the most-cited sources are:

1. freshbooks.com (cited by 4/5 models)
2. wave.com (cited by 3/5 models)
3. zoho.com/invoice (cited by 3/5 models)
4. bonsai.com (cited by 2/5 models)

Your domain wasn't cited by any model. FreshBooks is cited mainly via comparison/"best of" listicles. A citation-gap analysis (cite42_find_ai_citation_gaps) can show which queries you're missing from.

The exact brands and sources change by query and model. A good result should show the tool used, model/source evidence, and a short summary you can act on.

Endpoint tools

AI search visibility

• cite42_search: run a query against ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. Returns each model's answer plus cited sources.
• cite42_citations: aggregate which URLs the AI models cite for a query. Can also check whether a specific URL is cited.
• cite42_rankings: measure how brands rank in AI answers, including mention rate, average position, and per-model breakdown.
• cite42_compare: compare one brand against competitors in AI answers.
• cite42_sentiment: score positive, neutral, and negative sentiment for a brand, with supporting phrases.

SEO & trend data

• cite42_keywords: get search volume, CPC, competition, competition level, and related keyword ideas.
• cite42_trends: get Google Trends interest over time, related and rising queries, and a trend label.
• cite42_reddit_trends: find Reddit audience questions, pain points, rising threads, and product mentions.
• cite42_youtube_trends: find YouTube rising videos, creator angles, title patterns, and opportunities.

Research workflows (multi-source, one call)

• cite42_find_content_opportunities: find content gaps across AI search, keywords, trends, Reddit, YouTube, and citations.
• cite42_analyze_topic_demand: combine keyword data, trends, AI answers, and audience conversations for a topic.
• cite42_map_ai_prompts: discover and cluster buyer prompts worth tracking in AI search.
• cite42_analyze_competitor_content: analyze AI rankings, comparisons, citations, and topic coverage for competitors.
• cite42_find_ai_citation_gaps: find queries where AI answers cite competitors but not your brand, domain, or URL.
• cite42_generate_content_brief: collect AI answers, citations, keyword demand, and social signals into brief-ready data.

Configuration

• CITE42_API_KEY: required. Your API key from www.cite42.dev/app/keys.
• CITE42_API_BASE: optional. Defaults to https://api.cite42.dev/v1.

You can also pass these as CLI flags instead of environment variables:

npx -y @cite42/mcp --api-key=cite42_live_your_key_here --api-base=https://api.cite42.dev/v1

Billing

Tool calls consume Cite42 credits from your account. Calls fail with a clear error if the API key is missing or credits run out. See www.cite42.dev/pricing.

Troubleshooting

• Server not listed after setup: make sure you fully restarted the client (new terminal for CLI clients, full quit for desktop apps).
• command not found: npx: install Node.js 18+ from nodejs.org, then restart your terminal.
• Tool calls fail with an auth error: check the key was passed correctly (CITE42_API_KEY, no quotes or trailing spaces) and is active at www.cite42.dev/app/keys.
• Tool calls fail with a credits error: top up credits at www.cite42.dev/app.

Links

• Website: Cite42 MCP: AI search visibility, brand rankings, SEO keywords & trends
• API keys: Create a Cite42 API key
• Docs: Cite42 API & MCP documentation
• Pricing: Cite42 pay-per-call pricing