Search Atlas Help Center

📘 MCP Pricing Explained

Open in
View as Markdown Open in ChatGPT Open in Claude
Camilo Aponte

Camilo Aponte

Last updated on Sep 30, 2026

The Search Atlas MCP uses two separate usage systems: AI assistant tokens and Search Atlas quotas. Understanding how these work together is essential to know what actions cost and when you are charged.

🧠 The Two Cost Layers

1. AI Assistant Tokens — these are billed by your AI provider (for example, Claude). Tokens are consumed when you send prompts and when the assistant processes responses. This cost is separate from Search Atlas.

2. Search Atlas Quotas — these are consumed when the MCP executes actions that produce work inside the Search Atlas platform. Examples include generating content, running audits, creating campaigns, and submitting data to external systems.

⚙️ When You Are Charged

  1. You ask your AI assistant to perform an action, for example: "Generate an SEO article" or "Run a site audit."
  2. The assistant processes your request — this consumes AI tokens.
  3. The MCP executes the requested action — if the action produces work, it consumes Search Atlas quota.
  4. Results are returned to you — viewing results does not consume additional quota.

🔁 Key Rule

Search Atlas quota is charged when work is produced. This is the most important principle to understand MCP pricing.

📊 Examples

  • Read-only action — "Show me my backlinks": uses tokens, does not consume Search Atlas quota.
  • Content generation — "Write an SEO article": uses tokens, consumes Search Atlas quota.
  • Publishing existing content — "Publish this article": uses tokens, does not consume additional quota.

⚠️ Important Notes

  1. MCP does not bypass quotas or pricing rules.
  2. All usage follows your Search Atlas plan limits.
  3. AI tokens are billed separately by your AI provider.

MCP pricing is based on a simple model: tokens for conversation, and quota for execution. Once you understand that quota is only consumed when actual work is produced, it becomes easy to predict and control your usage while working through your AI assistant.

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.