dataforseo-cli

# Keyword Research with dataforseo-cli

LLM-friendly keyword research CLI. Wraps the DataForSEO API and outputs TSV by default — compact, structured, and optimized for agent context windows.

**npm:** https://www.npmjs.com/package/dataforseo-cli
**GitHub:** https://github.com/alexgusevski/dataforseo-cli

## Setup

### 1. Install from npm

```bash
npm install -g dataforseo-cli
```

### 2. Check credentials

```bash
dataforseo-cli status
```

If credentials are already configured, you're good to go. If not, authenticate:

```bash
# With login + password
dataforseo-cli --set-credentials login=YOUR_LOGIN password=YOUR_PASSWORD

# Or with base64 token (from DataForSEO email)
dataforseo-cli --set-credentials base64=YOUR_BASE64_TOKEN
```

Credentials are stored in `~/.config/dataforseo-cli/config.json`. The `locations` and `languages` commands work without credentials (local data).

## Commands

### `status` — Check credentials

Check if API credentials are configured without making any API calls.

```bash
dataforseo-cli status
```

Exits 0 if configured, exits 1 if not. Shows login username (not password).

### `volume` — Keyword metrics

Get search volume, CPC, keyword difficulty (0–100), competition level, and 12-month search trend.

```bash
dataforseo-cli volume <keywords...> [options]
```

**Arguments:**
- `<keywords...>` — One or more keywords (required). Batch multiple keywords in one call to save API requests.

**Options:**
- `-l, --location <code>` — Location code (default: `2840` = US)
- `--language <code>` — Language code (default: `en`)
- `--json` — Output as JSON array
- `--table` / `--human` — Output as human-readable table

**Example:**
```bash
dataforseo-cli volume "seo tools" "keyword research" "backlink checker"
```

**Output (TSV):**
```
keyword	volume	cpc	difficulty	competition	trend
seo tools	12500	2.35	45	HIGH	14800,13900,12500,12100,11800,12000,12500,13000,12800,12500,12200,11900
```

- `difficulty` — 0–100 scale (0-30 easy, 31-60 medium, 61-100 hard...