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SEMrush API Essential Guide

Aug 2, 2024 • 6 minute read

What type of API does SEMrush provide?

Based on the search results provided, SEMrush appears to have a REST API. The API documentation refers to "API calls" and "API requests", which is typical terminology for REST APIs. The API uses API keys for authentication, and it has rate limits, both of which are common features of REST APIs. The API documentation also mentions HTTP methods like GET, which are fundamental to REST APIs. Additionally, the API is described as having a "uniform interface", which is one of the key principles of REST architecture. There is no mention of SOAP or GraphQL in the SEMrush API documentation provided.

Does the SEMrush API have webhooks?

SEMrush API Offerings

  1. SEMrush offers two main API options:

    • Standard API (available as an add-on to Business subscriptions)
    • .Trends API (available to paid users in Basic and Premium plans)

  2. The Standard API includes:

    • Analytics API (for Domain Analytics, Keyword Analytics, Backlink Analytics)
    • Projects API (for Position Tracking and Site Audit data)

  3. The .Trends API comes in two plans:

    • .Trends Basic API: Offers access to broad traffic summaries
    • .Trends Premium API: Includes everything in Basic plus 16 additional data types

  4. SEMrush also offers a Listing Management API for Local Premium plan users.

Webhooks

The search results do not provide any information about SEMrush offering webhooks or the types of events you can subscribe to. The only mention of webhooks is in relation to integrating SEMrush with Webhooks by Zapier, which is a third-party service and not part of SEMrush's official API offerings.

Key Points to Consider

  1. To use the Standard API, you need to upgrade to a Business subscription and purchase API units.

  2. The .Trends API is included in all paid subscriptions but requires selecting a plan (Basic or Premium).

  3. API usage is measured in units, with different costs for different types of requests and data (live vs. historical).

  4. There are rate limits for API requests (e.g., no more than 10 inquiries per second from one IP address).

  5. The Listing Management API is available to all Semrush Local Premium plan users without needing to purchase additional API units.

In conclusion, while SEMrush offers various API options, there is no information in the provided search results about official SEMrush webhooks or events you can subscribe to through their API.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Here are the key points about the API Rate Limits of the SEMrush API:

General Rate Limits

  • You can make up to 10 requests per second from one IP address [3]
  • You can make up to 10 simultaneous requests per user [3]
  • You cannot cache information received via API for more than one month without Semrush's express written consent [3]

API Unit Limits

  • API usage is measured in units, which are determined by the type of report or request [1]
  • Different reports cost different amounts of units (e.g. 10 units for live data vs 50 units for historical data in some reports) [1]
  • You need to purchase API unit packages to use the API (except for the Listing Management API) [1]
  • Unused units expire at the end of each billing cycle rather than rolling over [2]

.Trends API Limits

  • The .Trends API has a separate limit of 10,000 API units per month, which refresh monthly [4]
  • This is separate from the standard API units for Business subscriptions [4]

Other Key Points

  • API access requires a Business subscription or higher [2]
  • There are different API versions (v3 and v4) with some differences in functionality [3]
  • Custom API packages and higher limits may be available by contacting sales [4]

Best Practices

  • Calculate your expected API usage before purchasing units to ensure you get an appropriate package [1]
  • Monitor your unit usage throughout the month to avoid running out [2]
  • Consider upgrading your plan or purchasing additional units if you consistently hit limits [2]

In summary, the main rate limit is 10 requests per second, with usage measured in API units that must be purchased. Careful planning of API usage is recommended to stay within limits and budget.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results provided, here are the key points about the most recent version of the SEMrush API:

Latest API Version

The most recent version of the SEMrush API is Version 4 [2].

Key Features of Version 4

  • Supports authorization with the OAuth 2.0 flow
  • Does not require an API key
  • Provides backward compatibility
  • Offers a unified authentication and response format for all products
  • Does not have product grouping [2]

Available APIs in Version 4

  • The Projects API
  • The Listing Management API (available for all Semrush Local Premium Plan users) [2]

Comparison with Version 3

  • Version 3 is an older and more comprehensive API version
  • Version 3 uses authorization via an API key
  • Version 3 has no major changes - methods, fields, and errors can only be added and not deleted
  • Version 3 currently has more feature reports than Version 4, but Version 4 is expected to become the main version and will be expanded [2]

Additional Information

  • The Listing Management API (Version 4) allows users to push data from their tools into Semrush Listing Management
  • This API is available for all Semrush Local Premium plan users and does not require the purchase of API units [5]

In summary, while Version 3 is still available and more comprehensive, Version 4 is the latest and most actively developed version of the SEMrush API. It offers improved features like OAuth 2.0 authorization and a unified format across products. Semrush is likely to continue expanding Version 4 to make it the primary API version in the future.

How to get a SEMrush developer account and API Keys?

Here's how to get a developer account for SEMrush to create an API integration:

  1. Upgrade to a paid Semrush subscription

To access the SEMrush API, you need to have a paid Semrush subscription. The standard API is available as an add-on to a Business subscription.

  1. Purchase API units

After upgrading to a Business plan, you'll need to purchase API units. The number of units required depends on the types and volume of API calls you plan to make.

  1. Generate an API key

Once you've purchased API units, you can generate an API key from your Semrush account. This key will be used to authenticate your API requests.

Key points to consider:

  • The API key can be found on your Subscription Info page in your Semrush account.
  • There are different types of APIs available: Standard API (Analytics and Projects APIs), .Trends Basic API, and .Trends Premium API.
  • Each API call consumes a certain number of API units, depending on the type of data requested.
  • There's a rate limit of 10 inquiries per second from one IP address.

Best practices:

  • Calculate your API request needs before purchasing units to ensure you get an appropriate package.
  • Use the 'display_limit' parameter in your API calls to limit results and save on API units where possible.
  • Familiarize yourself with the API documentation provided by Semrush for detailed information on available endpoints and request formats.

To get started with development:

  1. Copy your API key from the Subscription Info page.
  2. Review the API documentation for the specific endpoints you need.
  3. Start making API requests using your preferred programming language and HTTP client.

Remember to adhere to Semrush's terms of service and rate limits when using the API.

What can you do with the SEMrush API?

Based on the search results provided, here are the key data models you can interact with using the SEMrush API, along with what is possible for each:

Analytics API

  • Domain Analytics

    • Pull data on domains including traffic, keywords, backlinks, etc.
    • Access broad domain-level metrics and insights

  • Keyword Analytics

    • Retrieve keyword data like search volume, difficulty, CPC, etc.
    • Analyze keyword trends and opportunities

  • Backlink Analytics

    • Get backlink data for domains including referring domains, anchor text, etc.
    • Analyze backlink profiles and link building opportunities

Projects API

  • Position Tracking

    • Pull ranking data for tracked keywords
    • Monitor keyword position changes over time

  • Site Audit

    • Retrieve site audit data and issues
    • Access technical SEO metrics and recommendations

  • Project Management

    • Create, update, delete projects
    • Manage project settings and configurations

.Trends API

  • .Trends Basic

    • Access broad traffic summaries
    • Get website traffic metrics and user behavior data

  • .Trends Premium

    • Everything in Basic, plus 16 additional data types
    • Deeper insights into market dynamics, competitor strategies, traffic flows

Other Key Points

  • API is available as an add-on to Business subscriptions
  • Limits on API calls (e.g. 10 inquiries per second)
  • Data can be pulled for domains, subdomains, subfolders, and URLs
  • API documentation provides details on all available reports and data points
  • Custom API packages available for enterprise needs

The SEMrush API provides extensive access to their data across multiple product areas, allowing for integration of SEMrush insights into custom workflows and applications. The specific data models and endpoints available depend on the API subscription level.

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