How to set up a Google Keyword Planner MCP for Claude (every method, tested)

The google-keyword-planner-mcp project on GitHub (by ncosentino / DevLeader) is the most capable open-source option. It ships as a pre-compiled native binary — meaning no Node.js, no Python, no Go toolchain needed. You download the right binary for your OS (e.g., kwp-mcp-go-linux-amd64 for Linux x64, kwp-mcp-go-darwin-arm64 for Apple Silicon, or kwp-mcp-go-windows-amd64.exe for Windows), place it in a permanent directory, and point your Claude Desktop config at it.

The claude_desktop_config.json entry looks like this — add it under the mcpServers key:

"mcpServers": {
  "keyword-planner": {
    "command": "/path/to/kwp-mcp-go-darwin-arm64",
    "env": {
      "GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKEN": "your-developer-token",
      "GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_ID": "your-client-id.apps.googleusercontent.com",
      "GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRET": "your-client-secret",
      "GOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKEN": "your-refresh-token",
      "GOOGLE_ADS_CUSTOMER_ID": "your-sub-account-id",
      "GOOGLE_ADS_LOGIN_CUSTOMER_ID": "your-manager-account-id"
    }
  }
}

If you are using Claude Code or GitHub Copilot CLI instead of Claude Desktop, add "type": "stdio" and "args": [] to the server entry — those clients require both fields even though Claude Desktop does not.

The biggest friction point is generating the refresh token. You run a local OAuth flow, capture the printed token, and store it — you cannot retrieve it again, so save it immediately. Basic API access (auto-approved, 15,000 operations/day) is enough for most research workflows; Standard access removes daily limits but requires manual review from Google taking 1–2 weeks. For teams doing daily high-volume research, see our full Google Ads API walkthrough.

Apify’s GKP MCP Worker is the most friction-free path for non-technical users who do not have a Google Ads API developer token. Instead of six credentials, you authenticate with your Google account (the same one that has Google Ads access), paste the MCP Connector URL into Claude AI’s Settings > Connectors panel, grab your Apify API token from the Apify Console under Settings > Integrations, and you are done.

The trade-off is control. You are running queries through Apify’s Actor infrastructure, which adds a latency layer and means your data access is bounded by their service limits. For exploratory keyword research and content planning it is excellent; for production-level daily automation at high volume, a direct API integration or a managed connector like Ryze AI gives you more headroom.

Keyword Tool’s MCP is the most user-friendly Connectors-based option. In Claude Desktop, go to Settings > Connectors > Add custom connector, paste the Keyword Tool MCP URL, and the integration is live. No JSON editing, no terminal, no Node.js required. The same flow works in claude.ai via Profile > Settings > Connectors.

The free guest endpoint gives you a taste of keyword ideas without volume data. To get monthly search volume, top-of-page bid ranges, and competition scores — the data that actually makes the integration useful for SEO strategy — you need Keyword Tool Pro. One important note: if you previously set up the guest endpoint, remove it before adding the Pro endpoint. Having both active causes Claude to unpredictably choose the limited guest version.

DataForSEO is a data API that sources from Google Keyword Planner (among other platforms) and exposes it via its own MCP server. This is the approach popularized in the local SEO community for getting city- and town-level keyword data that most paid tools aggregate away — DataForSEO lets you query at any geographic granularity Google supports.

Setup involves creating a DataForSEO account, copying your API login credentials from the dashboard, and configuring the MCP in Claude Code by pasting the DataForSEO documentation URL and asking Claude to help you set it up. The cost model is pure pay-as-you-go, so for local SEO campaigns doing targeted research it is often cheaper than a flat-rate tool subscription. See our related guide on Claude Google Ads keyword research automation for a full DataForSEO walkthrough.