Easy Tech TutsHow to Get Semrush API Easily 2026
By Impran M NLast checked against official docs
Pulling Semrush data programmatically opens the door to custom dashboards and automated reporting, but API access isn't bundled into every plan the way the dashboard tools are. It has its own subscription requirement and its own unit-based pricing. This guide covers confirming whether your plan qualifies, following Semrush's own three-step path to a working key, and getting a rough sense of what different requests cost before you buy units.
Before you start
- A Semrush account, on or upgraded to the Business tier of the SEO Toolkit subscription
01Confirm you're managing the right account
Account and billing settings for API access live at semrush.com, under your own account, not inside a third-party SEO tool or browser extension. If you use an SEO extension that layers extra data onto Google search results, that's unrelated to API access and won't get you any closer to a key.
02Check whether your plan includes API access
Open your account icon and go to Subscription Info to see your current plan's toolkit breakdown. Standard API access is a Business-tier feature specifically.
A Pro plan, which covers Position Tracking, Backlink Analysis, and Site Audit, doesn't include it, and neither does Guru, even though Guru unlocks other advanced extras like Extended limits and third-party tool migration. Confirm your plan says Business before doing anything else; upgrading to Guru by mistake won't get you a key.
03Follow Semrush's own three-step path
Semrush lays this out plainly: upgrade to the Business plan, purchase an API unit package sized to your needs, then get your API key. Doing it in that order matters, since skipping straight to "get a key" without the right plan or a purchased unit package leaves you with a key that can't pull any data yet.
04Buy a unit package and copy your key
Head to Subscription Info and open the API Units tab. Your current balance and the available packages (2, 5, 10, or 20 million units) sit together here, with the API key itself, partially masked with a Copy button, listed just below. Semrush shows the full key value only once, at the moment it's generated, so copy it somewhere safe immediately instead of planning to come back for it later.
05Send a test request
Before building anything complex, send one simple request, such as a keyword overview or domain summary call, using your API key to confirm authentication works and units are deducting as expected. Semrush's documentation covers the exact endpoint structure and parameters for each report type once this initial check passes.
06Watch what each request costs
Different request types burn through units at very different rates, check the table below before estimating how big a package to buy. A live keyword lookup and a historical one aren't remotely the same cost, and a project that pulls backlink data will drain a balance faster than one doing simple keyword checks. Return to the API Units tab periodically to watch your balance, especially for scheduled jobs, not just one-off pulls; running out mid-cycle means requests fail until you buy more or the plan's allocation refreshes.
| Request type | Approximate unit cost |
|---|---|
| Live organic keyword data (per line) | 10 units |
| Historical keyword data (per line) | 50 units |
| Backlinks data (per line) | 40 units |
Sampled from Semrush's own API documentation; the full cost table covers many more report types, so check developer.semrush.com before estimating a large project.
When it doesn't work
You upgraded your plan but there's still no API key option
Why: API access is gated to the Business tier specifically. Guru unlocks other advanced features but not this one, so upgrading to Guru instead of Business leaves you exactly where you started.
Fix: Check Subscription Info and confirm the plan itself reads Business before buying units.
Requests that worked last week now fail
Why: The purchased unit balance has hit zero. Units expire at the end of the billing cycle instead of carrying over, so a quiet month can still leave you short the next one if usage picks back up.
Fix: Check the balance on the API Units tab and buy another package, or wait for the next renewal.
Not sure how large a package to buy up front
Why: Different report types cost very different amounts of units per line, so a rough call-count estimate can be wildly wrong if it ignores which reports you're pulling.
Fix: Multiply expected calls by the per-line cost for each report type you plan to use (see the table above) before choosing a package size.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Semrush plans include API access?
No. Standard API access is a Business-tier feature only; Pro and Guru don't include it, even though Guru includes other advanced extras.
What can I do with the Semrush API?
Pull data like keyword research, traffic analytics, and backlink analysis programmatically, for use in custom dashboards or automated reports.
What happens if I run out of API units?
Requests start failing until you buy another package from the API Units tab or your plan's allocation refreshes at the next billing cycle.
Does this apply to Semrush's other APIs, like Trends?
No, not directly. Trends and Map Rank Tracker are separate products with their own access rules; Map Rank Tracker doesn't require purchased units at all, and Trends has its own Basic and Premium tiers.
Is coding experience required to use the Semrush API?
Some technical or development knowledge is needed to send requests and work with the data that comes back, though the endpoint structure itself is documented for each report type.
Sources and last check
Re-checked against Semrush's own developer documentation and knowledge base in September 2026. That check corrected the plan requirement: the original version said API access was a Guru-tier feature, but Semrush's own docs list it under Business specifically. Unit package sizes (2/5/10/20 million) and the per-report unit costs in the table were also pulled from those same official pages.
About the author
Impran M N
I've been hooked on technology for as long as I can remember — especially the new tools and AI apps that seem to land every other week. Easy Tech Tuts is where I write up whatever I've just worked out: I do the task in the real product, record the screen, and turn it into the guide I wish I'd found first.
