## 🧠 Overview The Search Atlas MCP (Model Context Protocol) server lets you run keyword and domain queries programmatically — but it does **not** use a separate credit pool. Every MCP query draws from the exact same credit allocations you see inside the Search Atlas dashboard. Understanding which quota applies to which query type helps you plan usage and avoid unexpected shortfalls. ## 💳 Which Credits Do MCP Keyword Queries Use? When you run a keyword ranking query for a domain through the MCP server (for example, a query that returns 74 ranked keywords), the credits consumed come from your **Keyword Lookup** allocation — sometimes also referred to as the **Site Explorer detail** quota. This is the same pool that is drawn from when you explore keyword data inside the dashboard via **Left sidebar → Keywords** (Keyword Research). This is a common point of confusion. The quota to check is **not** the Keyword Rank Tracker allocation. The Keyword Rank Tracker quota covers tracked keywords you actively monitor over time (visible at **Left sidebar → Keywords → Rank Tracker** (Keyword Rank Tracker)). MCP domain keyword queries are lookups, not tracked keywords, so they pull from the Keyword Lookup pool instead. To summarise which quota applies to which action: - **Keyword Lookup / Site Explorer detail quota:** MCP keyword ranking queries for a domain, on-demand keyword research lookups in the dashboard. - **Keyword Rank Tracker quota:** Keywords you add to active rank tracking campaigns inside Rank Tracker. - **Keyword Magic quota:** Bulk keyword discovery queries run via **Left sidebar → Keywords → Keyword Magic** or the equivalent MCP call. ## 📊 How Many Credits Does One Query Consume? Credit consumption is based on the number of keyword rows returned, not on the number of API calls made. Each keyword row returned by a query counts as **one Keyword Lookup credit**. Using the example of a domain query that returns 74 keywords: - **Credits consumed: 74 Keyword Lookup credits** (one per keyword row returned). - If a second query for the same or a different domain returns 200 keywords, that query consumes 200 credits. - A query that returns zero results consumes zero credits. There is no flat per-call fee. You are only charged for the data rows actually returned to you. ## 🔄 When Do Keyword Lookup Credits Reset? Your Keyword Lookup allocation is an **annual allocation**, not a monthly one. The standard plan includes **5,000 Keyword Lookup credits per year**. This entire pool resets once per year on your **account renewal date** — the anniversary of when your subscription started — not on a monthly billing cycle. Key points to remember: - Credits do **not** replenish every month. The full 5,000 credits are available for the entire year and reset annually. - Your renewal date may differ from your monthly payment date if you are on an annual plan billed monthly or if you started mid-cycle. - Unused credits do not roll over after the annual reset. To check your current Keyword Lookup balance and renewal date, go to your account usage or billing page inside the platform. ## 🖥️ MCP vs. Dashboard: No Separate Credit Pool It is important to understand that the MCP server is a programmatic interface to the same Search Atlas data — it is not a separate product with its own credits. Every query you run through the MCP server: - Draws from the same credit pools as the dashboard. - Is visible in the same usage counters you see in your account. - Counts toward the same annual or plan-level limits. This means that if you run keyword lookups both through the dashboard and through the MCP server in the same plan period, both sets of queries pull from the single shared Keyword Lookup allocation. Plan your programmatic usage accordingly, especially if your team also runs regular lookups manually through the dashboard. ## ✅ Quick Reference: Credit Consumption by Query Type - **MCP domain keyword ranking query (e.g., 74 results):** 74 Keyword Lookup credits consumed. - **Dashboard Site Explorer keyword detail view:** Keyword Lookup credits consumed per row. - **Adding keywords to Rank Tracker:** Keyword Rank Tracker credits consumed, not Keyword Lookup. - **Keyword Magic bulk discovery:** Keyword Magic credits consumed. - **Keyword Gap analysis (**Left sidebar → Site Metrics → Keyword Gap**):** Draws from its own respective quota, separate from Keyword Lookup. ## 🔍 How to Check Your Current Keyword Lookup Balance 1. Log in to your Search Atlas account. 2. Navigate to your account or subscription settings. 3. Look for the **Keyword Lookup** or **Site Explorer Detail** usage row. 4. Review the credits used, credits remaining, and the next reset date shown next to that allocation. 5. Confirm the reset date shown is your annual renewal date, not a monthly date. If the reset date shown does not match what you expect, contact support to confirm your account renewal anniversary. ## 💬 Need Help? 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.