Connect DataForSEO: API credentials, costs and balance

DataForSEO is a paid data provider for keyword volumes, SERP rank tracking, competitor analysis and backlink data. The connection is optional: without it, SEOAsist uses its free sources (Search Console positions, Google suggestions, competitor sitemap crawls, Bing Webmaster backlinks); see Data sources. DataForSEO runs on your own account: billing is usage-based and every call is charged to your DataForSEO balance.

#What it adds

Without DataForSEO these pages work on the free sources, with a note about what the free data does not include; the Google Maps grid is the only part that needs DataForSEO. Once DataForSEO is connected and working, it is used for every data type unless you pick another source on the Data sources card of Settings → Integrations.

#Prerequisites

• A DataForSEO account with a balance.
• The admin role in SEOAsist. Only owners and admins can save the connection.

#Get your API login and password

1. Sign in at app.dataforseo.com.
2. Open API Access.
3. Copy the API login (your e-mail) and API password shown there.

#Connect it in SEOAsist

1. On Settings → Integrations, open the DataForSEO card in the Paid data providers group (Connect).
2. Fill in API login (e-mail) and API password.
3. Click Connect.

Before saving, SEOAsist sends a check request to DataForSEO. On success you see “DataForSEO connected. Balance: … USD.” If the credentials are wrong you get “DataForSEO rejected the credentials: …”. The password is stored encrypted.

#How many calls each action uses

The panel shows next to each action how many DataForSEO calls it makes. The price per call depends on DataForSEO's own pricing.

#Account verification and balance

DataForSEO asks new accounts to complete verification before returning data. Until you do, no data comes in even with correct credentials, and an orange “DataForSEO is not working” box appears at the top of the affected pages. For the fix, see DataForSEO account not verified.

You can see your balance in two places:

• In the DataForSEO card summary: “Balance: … USD”.
• Next to the connected login when the card is open: “balance … USD”. The dot next to it turns orange when the balance reaches zero.

If the balance is too low or used up, the warning box says so. Top up at app.dataforseo.com; nothing needs to change in SEOAsist.

#Check that it works

• The DataForSEO card shows Connected and your balance.
• On Keywords → Research, run Ideas for a seed keyword; the results table should fill in.

#FAQ

#How do I remove the connection?

Open the DataForSEO card, click Remove and confirm. From then on the free sources are used; the DataForSEO series is kept but not continued.

#Does SEOAsist charge for DataForSEO?

No. Calls are billed directly to your DataForSEO account, separate from your SEOAsist plan. See Costs for details.

#Backlinks return nothing but other modules work. Why?

On some DataForSEO accounts the Backlinks API has to be enabled separately. If the warning says the API subscription is not active, enable it under app.dataforseo.com → Plans & Subscriptions.

#What does “rate limit reached” mean?

DataForSEO received too many requests in a short time. Wait a few minutes and start the action again.