API credits system

Last updated: October 6, 2025

Introduction

SE Ranking provides two powerful APIs to integrate our data and platform management capabilities into your own workflows and applications:

• Data API: For pulling large volumes of raw SEO and marketing data using a flexible, pay-as-you-go credit system.
• Project API: For automating and managing your SEO projects directly within the SE Ranking platform using your subscription limits.

This guide covers how to get access, understand billing, and manage keys for both APIs.

Data API

The Data API provides direct access to our extensive databases, allowing you to retrieve raw data for custom analysis and integration. It operates on a flexible credit system, ensuring you only pay for what you use.

Dedicated API plans start at 1 million credits for $149 per month. You can view all available packages and make a purchase on the subscription page.

1. How API credits are consumed

Every successful API call (i.e., one that returns a 2xx status code) consumes a specific number of credits from your balance. Failed requests (4xx or 5xx errors) are always free and do not consume credits.

There are two billing models, depending on the endpoint:

• Cost per Request: A flat number of credits is charged for each successful API request.
• Cost per Record: Credits are charged for each individual record returned in the response (e.g., each backlink, keyword, or domain).

2. Checking your credit balance

Ensure your credit balance is sufficient before making requests. You can check your remaining credits in two ways:

• Via the API Dashboard: Your current balance is displayed prominently in your account’s API Dashboard tab.

• Via a API Call: Programmatically check your balance using the following endpoint in the Data API. This call is free.
  • Endpoint: GET /v1/account/subscription
  • Cost: 0 credits

You can buy more on the API Dashboard page or contact us at [email protected]. To learn more, refer to our guide on How to get API.

3. Forecasting Your Costs

Before running a large-scale workflow, we recommend forecasting the credit cost to avoid interruptions.

1. List the calls in your workflow.
2. Multiply each call by its credit cost using the Data API Endpoint Cost Reference table at the end of this guide.
3. Sum the costs for all calls.
4. Compare the total with your credits_left (obtained via the /v1/account/subscription endpoint).

Example Workflow: You need backlink summaries for 250 domains and a full export for one of them.

• /backlinks/summary batched in groups of 100 → 3 calls × 100 credits/record = 300 credits (assuming 1 record per call for simplicity)
• /backlinks/export task creation → 1 call × 0 credits/request = 0 credits (Note: export itself costs per record)
• /backlinks/export/status polled twice → 2 calls × 0 credits = 0 credits
• Total Forecast: You would then calculate the cost based on the number of records you expect from the summary and export calls.

4. Handling insufficient funds

If your balance is too low for a request, the API will return an HTTP 403 Insufficient funds error, and no credits will be charged.

To replenish your balance, visit the Subscription Page to upgrade your plan or contact our support team at [email protected] to enable overage billing.

Project API

The Project API is designed for automating tasks you would typically perform inside your SE Ranking account, such as adding keywords, running website audits, or updating project settings.

How It Works:

Instead of a separate credit system, the Project API consumes the limits associated with your standard SE Ranking subscription plan. Any action that consumes a limit within the SE Ranking platform will do so when performed via the API.

For example:

• Adding Keywords: An API call to add a keyword will count against your plan’s keyword limit.
• Running a Website Audit: Initiating an audit via the API will consume “Pages” available in your subscription.

You can check your account’s specific usage limits under Profile & Preferences > Billing, as shown below.

How to Get Project API Access

The Project API is available to all users with an active API access. You do not need to purchase separate credits.

Visit the Subscription Page to review available plans.

Data API Endpoint Cost Reference