semrush is a terminal cli for semrush. research keywords, compare domains, inspect backlinks, manage projects and run seo tools from your own account. output is json, so scripts, jq and agents can use the same results. built with typescript and effect, with mcp included.

documentation | npm | command reference | mcp

why

if you already pay for semrush, you should be able to use it from the terminal too. this cli uses your web session. no developer api key to buy or configure.

look up a keyword, compare competitors, save a list, run an audit or download a report. your account's permissions and limits still apply. the coverage page lists supported workflows and the parts that still need the web ui.

quickstart

requires node.js 22 or newer. linux, macos and windows are supported.

npm install -g semrush-cli
semrush setup
semrush auth login
semrush keyword-overview --keyword 'email marketing'

semrush-cli is the package. semrush is the command.

setup downloads chromium and starts the bundled galleton session engine. npm users do not need python or go. if chromium needs system libraries on linux, run npx patchright install-deps chromium.

auth

semrush auth login opens a browser. sign in there and the cli saves the session in galleton's encrypted vault. it does not ask for your password in the terminal.

already signed in through a browser with a local debugging port? import that session:

semrush auth import --cdp-url http://127.0.0.1:9234
semrush auth status --check --json
semrush doctor

import does not start or stop your browser. doctor checks the session engine, browser and authenticated semrush connection. see authentication for remote browsers and headless hosts.

sign in or import again when your session expires. after a reboot, start the session engine with semrush daemon start. semrush auth logout forgets the cli's saved session without logging out your other browsers.

examples

keyword research

semrush keyword-overview --keyword 'email marketing'
semrush keyword-magic --keyword 'email marketing' --questions-only --page-size 20
semrush keyword-bulk --keywords '["email marketing","email automation"]' --currency EUR
semrush keyword-serp --keyword 'email marketing'

pull out the fields you need:

semrush keyword-overview --keyword 'email marketing' \
  | jq '.data | {phrase, volume, difficulty, cpc}'

keyword research also includes local metrics, prepared-domain personalization, topic groups, ai topic samples and native table exports. refreshing metrics is a separate confirmed command. see keyword research.

download a keyword overview as a native pdf:

semrush keyword-overview-pdf --keyword typescript --confirm --output overview.pdf

this also keeps a report in my reports. it does not send email or set a schedule.

competitors and backlinks

semrush domain-overview --domain example.com
semrush domain-keywords --domain example.com --page-size 20
semrush keyword-gap --domains '["example.com","example.org"]'
semrush backlink-links --domain example.com
semrush backlink-gap --domains '["example.com","example.org"]'

use organic research for historical comparisons and ranking changes. backlink audit covers saved campaigns, review lists and disavow files.

projects and audits

preview a project before creating it:

semrush project-create --name 'my website' --domain example.com --dry-run
semrush project-create --name 'my website' --domain example.com --confirm

copy the returned folder id, enable its seo project, then use the returned seo project id as the audit campaign id:

semrush project-enable-seo --folder-id 123 --confirm
semrush audit-create --campaign-id 456 --domain example.com --page-limit 100 --confirm
semrush audit-start --campaign-id 456 --confirm
semrush audit-status --campaign-id 456
semrush audit-pages --campaign-id 456 --page 0 --limit 20
semrush audit-export-all --campaign-id 456 --output audit-reports.zip

creating an audit saves settings. starting the crawl is separate. site audit covers crawl settings, protected sites, javascript impact and exports. on page seo checker and position tracking have their own setup and analysis commands.

reports

find saved reports and available templates:

semrush reporting-overview
semrush reporting-overview --ownership own --search monthly

create a report from a template, then inspect its saved document:

semrush reporting-create --template tc_organic_search_positions \
  --parameters '{"domain":"example.com","database":"us"}' --confirm
semrush reporting-get --report-id 123

replace 123 with the returned data.userDocumentId. creation does not generate a pdf. to generate one and inspect its tasks:

semrush reporting-generate --report-id 123 --confirm
semrush reporting-tasks --report-id 123

copy the exact id of a ready task, then download it:

semrush reporting-download --report-id 123 --task-id '<task_id>' --output report.pdf

saving or generating accepts the reporting privacy policy. generation can consume allowance and uses the report's saved delivery settings. review recipients and schedules first. the reporting guide covers full-document edits, cloning, pagination and deletion.

scripting

reports return json. use --help for each command's inputs, filters and defaults:

semrush reports
semrush keyword-magic --help
semrush project-create --help

objects and arrays use json arguments. writes require --confirm; --dry-run validates and previews them offline. writes do not retry automatically. if a response is lost, inspect the resource before sending another write.

file exports require --output and refuse an existing destination. see scripting for exit codes and shell workflows.

mcp

finish setup and authentication, then add this to your client's config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "semrush": {
      "command": "semrush",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

the server exposes the same operations with underscores, such as keyword_overview and project_create. writes require confirm: true or dry_run: true. exports return artifact resources instead of writing a local file. see mcp for resource reads and client setup.

building from source

git clone https://github.com/Microck/semrush-cli.git
cd semrush-cli
npm ci
npm run build
node dist/cli.js --help
npm run check

session storage uses the published galleton sdk. source builds of the bundled daemon need go 1.23 or newer, tar and patch.

contributing

issues and pull requests are welcome. include the command and error when reporting a problem. leave cookies and account details out of it.

disclaimer

this is an unofficial client, not affiliated with semrush. it uses internal web endpoints that can change. your subscription and account limits apply.

license

mit