An OpenSEO alternative for Search Console data in your AI assistant
OpenSEO is an open-source SEO platform with a web app, an MCP server, and agent skills. CalmSEO is a hosted MCP server with free Search Console tools and a small set of credit-based keyword, SERP, and page audit tools.
The short version
OpenSEO covers more of SEO. It has keyword research, backlinks, rank tracking, a site audit crawler, AI visibility tracking, and Google Search Console, and you can run it on its hosted service or self-host the MIT-licensed code. Hosted plans start at $10 per month, and an active subscription is required to use it.
CalmSEO does less. It gives Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and other MCP clients six read-only Search Console tools that are free on the Free plan with no card, plus five paid tools for keyword volume, keyword ideas, ranked keywords, live SERPs, and single-page audits. Paid plans start at $10/month for 300 credits.
Both products serve founders and small businesses who do SEO through an AI agent, and both use DataForSEO for third-party SEO data. This page compares them on what each publishes.
Last checked October 2026 against the OpenSEO homepage, pricing page, Search Console MCP page, agent setup docs, and GitHub repository. OpenSEO ships often, so check those pages for current details.
CalmSEO vs OpenSEO
| OpenSEO | CalmSEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Product | SEO platform with a web app, MCP server, and agent skills | MCP server and REST API |
| Hosting | Hosted, or self-host with Docker or Cloudflare | Hosted only |
| Source code | Open source, MIT license | Closed source |
| Search Console | Search performance and URL inspection. Uses no credits, but needs an active subscription | Search analytics, top queries, top pages, page queries, sites, and sitemaps. Free plan, no card |
| Keyword and SERP data | Keyword research, live SERPs, domain overview | Keyword volume, keyword ideas, ranked keywords, live SERPs |
| Backlinks | Yes | No |
| Rank tracking | Yes | No |
| Site audit | Site crawler | Single-page audit |
| AI visibility | Yes | No |
| Agent extras | Project memory, saved reports, slash-command skills, Claude Code and Codex plugins | MCP tools only |
| Hosted pricing | $10, $30, or $200 per month, including $10, $36, or $240 of usage. Actions cost the data cost plus 28% | Free plan with 20 credits. Paid plans from $10/month for 300 credits. Fixed credits per tool call |
| Free trial | $0.50 of credits | 20 credits, and Search Console stays free |
When OpenSEO is the better fit
- You want to self-host. OpenSEO runs with Docker or on your own Cloudflare account, and you bring your own DataForSEO key and pay DataForSEO directly.
- You want to read, change, or extend the code under the MIT license.
- You need backlinks, rank tracking over time, or a full site crawl.
- You want to track how your brand shows up in AI answers.
- You want URL inspection for index status and canonicals.
- You want a web app next to your agent, with saved reports and project memory that carries across sessions.
- You use Claude Code or Codex and want a plugin that installs the MCP server and SEO skills together.
When CalmSEO fits
- You mainly want your own Search Console data in Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor, and you do not want a subscription for it. The six Search Console tools are free on the Free plan.
- You want a smaller tool set, so your assistant chooses between eleven tools.
- You prefer credits with a fixed cost per call. A live SERP costs 1 to 3 credits, a page audit 5, ranked keywords 5 or 20, keyword volume 15, and keyword ideas 15 to 50.
- You want the same tools from code. CalmSEO has a REST API that shares one account and credit pool with MCP.
- You prefer a hosted service and do not plan to self-host.
CalmSEO has no backlink data, rank tracking, site crawler, or AI visibility tools. If you need those, OpenSEO is the better choice today.
Search Console access compared
Both connect to Google for you, so you do not create a Google Cloud project or OAuth client. Both describe their Search Console access as read-only. CalmSEO requests the webmasters.readonly scope.
OpenSEO's Search Console tools cover search performance with up to 16 months of history and URL inspection for up to 10 URLs at a time. They use no credits, and its pricing page says an active subscription is required to use OpenSEO. Self-hosting is free.
CalmSEO's six Search Console tools are list_gsc_sites, query_gsc_search_analytics, get_gsc_top_queries, get_gsc_top_pages, get_gsc_page_queries, and list_gsc_sitemaps. They are free on every plan, including the Free plan. CalmSEO has no URL inspection. The Google Search Console MCP server page lists each tool and the data it returns.
How to switch, or use both
Both are remote MCP servers, so one client can hold both. OpenSEO's hosted endpoint is https://app.openseo.so/mcp and CalmSEO's is https://mcp.calmseo.com/mcp.
- Sign up for CalmSEO and connect Google Search Console in the dashboard.
- Add CalmSEO to your client. In Claude Code, run
claude mcp add calmseo --transport http https://mcp.calmseo.com/mcp. For other clients, follow the setup docs for Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor. - Keep OpenSEO connected for the tools CalmSEO does not have, or remove it from the client if you no longer need it.
A common split is CalmSEO for free Search Console data and quick keyword checks, and OpenSEO for backlinks, rank tracking, or site crawls. OpenSEO's project memory and saved reports stay in OpenSEO. CalmSEO has no project memory, so keep business context in your client's project instructions.
CalmSEO pricing
Search Console tools are free on every plan. Credits pay for keyword, SERP, ranked keyword, and page audit data, and unused monthly credits expire at the end of each cycle.
For trying it out.
Get started- 20 credits to start
- Search Console tools with basic limits
- MCP and REST API access
- OAuth-secured
For occasional research.
Get started- 300 credits / month
- About 20 search volume checks (up to 1,000 keywords each), 300 SERP checks, or 60 page audits
- Search Console tools with higher limits
- MCP and REST API access
- Email support
For one builder.
Get started- 600 credits / month
- About 40 search volume checks (up to 1,000 keywords each), 600 SERP checks, or 120 page audits
- Search Console tools with higher limits
- MCP and REST API access
- Email support
For growing workflows.
Get started- 1,500 credits / month
- About 100 search volume checks (up to 1,000 keywords each), 1,500 SERP checks, or 300 page audits
- Search Console tools with higher limits
- MCP and REST API access
- Email support
For agencies.
Get started- 3,500 credits / month
- About 233 search volume checks (up to 1,000 keywords each), 3,500 SERP checks, or 700 page audits
- Search Console tools with higher limits
- MCP and REST API access
- Priority support
What each tool costs
Dollar amounts use the Lite rate of $10 for 300 credits. Search Console tools are free.
- SERP check (top 10 results)
- 1 credit, about $0.03
- Page audit
- 5 credits, about $0.17
- Ranked keywords (up to 100)
- 5 credits, about $0.17
- Search volume check (up to 1,000 keywords)
- 15 credits, about $0.50
- Keyword ideas (up to 50)
- 15 credits, about $0.50
Frequently asked.
Is CalmSEO open source like OpenSEO?+
No. CalmSEO is a closed-source hosted service. OpenSEO is MIT licensed and can be self-hosted with Docker or on Cloudflare. If you want to run the code yourself, OpenSEO is the option.
Can I use Google Search Console for free?+
With CalmSEO, yes. The six Search Console tools are free on the Free plan with no card. OpenSEO's Search Console tools use no credits, but its hosted version requires an active subscription, which starts at $10 per month. Self-hosted OpenSEO is free to run.
How do OpenSEO and CalmSEO pricing compare?+
OpenSEO plans cost $10, $30, or $200 per month and include $10, $36, or $240 of usage. Each action costs OpenSEO's data cost plus 28%, and top-up credits roll over. CalmSEO has a Free plan with 20 credits, and paid plans start at $10/month for 300 credits. Each CalmSEO tool call costs a fixed number of credits.
Does CalmSEO have backlinks or rank tracking?+
No. CalmSEO has no backlink data, rank tracking, site crawler, or AI visibility tools. OpenSEO has all four.
Do OpenSEO and CalmSEO use the same data?+
Both use DataForSEO for third-party SEO data such as keywords and SERPs, and both read Search Console data from Google's API. The difference is in the tools each one builds on top of that data and how each one charges for it.
Which AI clients do they support?+
Both work as remote MCP servers. OpenSEO documents Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex, ChatGPT, and others. CalmSEO has setup docs for Claude, ChatGPT developer mode, and Cursor, and works in Claude Code with one command.
Can I use OpenSEO and CalmSEO together?+
Yes. Add both MCP servers to the same client. You can use CalmSEO for free Search Console data and OpenSEO for backlinks, rank tracking, and site audits.
Try CalmSEO with 20 free credits
20 free credits + free Google Search Console tools. No card required.