CLI — npx rankcontrol <command> (or the short alias rctrl once installed)
MCP server — npx rankcontrol mcp (stdio, for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex)

Every command calls the same authed, rate-limited, org-scoped API the RankControl dashboard uses. Quotas and approval gates apply server-side no matter which client calls.

Auth

The easy way (browser approval; you must be logged in to RankControl):

npx rankcontrol login

That opens your dashboard, you check the confirmation code matches and approve. The CLI stores a key in ~/.rankcontrol/config.json. npx rankcontrol logout removes it (revoke the key itself in Settings → API).

The headless way (CI, servers, MCP env blocks): create a key in RankControl → Settings → API, then:

export RANKCONTROL_API_KEY=rctrl_pk_...

The env var wins over the stored config when both exist. Scopes are set per key; read-only keys work for all get_*/list_* tools.

CLI

# Visibility and citations
npx rankcontrol funnel                 # AI crawls / AI visits (30d)
npx rankcontrol score                  # composite visibility score + subscores (AI/Google/Bing)
npx rankcontrol visibility --days 60   # daily AI visibility score trend
npx rankcontrol sov --days 30          # share of voice vs competitors
npx rankcontrol web-totals             # monthly web total for you + competitors, last 3 months
npx rankcontrol footprint              # web footprint (0-10) for your domain and every competitor you track
npx rankcontrol sources --days 30      # cited domains typed brand/competitive/ugc/editorial
npx rankcontrol sentiment --days 30    # how AI answers frame your brand
npx rankcontrol citations --model chatgpt
npx rankcontrol crawler-access         # can AI crawlers reach your site (daily probe)
npx rankcontrol optimizer              # published pages ranked by citability score, worst first, with their open fixes
npx rankcontrol queries                # tracked queries, each with how many of the 6 engines cite it
npx rankcontrol query-slots            # tracking slots in use and the plan's limit
npx rankcontrol query-add "best crm for agencies"
npx rankcontrol query-add "Do luggage trackers work abroad?" --covered-by <contentId>  # an article already answers it
npx rankcontrol query-edit <queryId> "new text"
npx rankcontrol query-track <queryId> off      # pause weekly checks (frees a slot)
npx rankcontrol query-remove <queryId>
npx rankcontrol competitors
npx rankcontrol competitor-add "Acme"                 # site resolved from the name; pass a URL to override
npx rankcontrol competitor-remove <competitorId>

# Content pipeline
npx rankcontrol capacity               # remaining content-plan slots
npx rankcontrol content                # pages with status
npx rankcontrol plan-content --topics "bus travel" --max-difficulty 40
npx rankcontrol plan-content --topics "Travel insurance" --subject "ski trips"
npx rankcontrol commit-titles --file titles.json
npx rankcontrol ideas                  # scored content-idea backlog
npx rankcontrol idea-hide <queryId>    # hide an idea; a tracked query keeps its checks
npx rankcontrol plan-idea "query text" # put an idea on the calendar
npx rankcontrol delete-planned <contentId>     # its keyword returns to Content Ideas
npx rankcontrol generate <contentId> --confirm # write a planned article now
npx rankcontrol publish <contentId> --confirm  # dry run without --confirm
npx rankcontrol archive <contentId>
npx rankcontrol reschedule <contentId> 2026-08-04
npx rankcontrol article-set <contentId> --length long
npx rankcontrol settings               # article policy (auto-write, auto-publish, images, ...)
npx rankcontrol settings-set --auto-generate off --auto-publish off
npx rankcontrol topics                 # pillar list (topic clusters)
npx rankcontrol topics-set "Topic A" "Topic B"  # replaces the FULL list; up to 20 topics
npx rankcontrol internal-links <contentId>     # who links here / links out
npx rankcontrol site-pages             # pages used for internal links
npx rankcontrol detect-links https://example.com/sitemap.xml
npx rankcontrol add-pages https://example.com/pricing
npx rankcontrol site-page-linking <pageId> off
npx rankcontrol site-page-remove <pageId>

# Analytics
npx rankcontrol traffic --days 30      # page views, visitors, bounce rate, time on page
npx rankcontrol rankings               # Verified Google + Bing positions, GSC clicks/impressions/average, AI Overview rate per keyword (--scope ours|site)
npx rankcontrol engagement             # per-page views, citations, sparkline
npx rankcontrol analytics-sources      # which source writes traffic/crawler data
npx rankcontrol analytics-set-source <dataType> <source>
npx rankcontrol analytics-activate <screen>

# Reports
npx rankcontrol report                 # exec summary: last 30 days vs the 30 before
npx rankcontrol wins                   # biggest wins of the last 30 days
npx rankcontrol agent-activity         # recent runs per agent lane
npx rankcontrol jobs                   # async job status

# Backlinks and outreach
npx rankcontrol backlinks --status live
npx rankcontrol backlink-stats
npx rankcontrol outreach-prospects
npx rankcontrol outreach-stats
npx rankcontrol outreach-find-contact <backlinkId>
npx rankcontrol outreach-draft-reply <backlinkId>
npx rankcontrol outreach-queue <backlinkId> --confirm   # sends from YOUR mailbox
npx rankcontrol outreach-status <backlinkId> <status>
npx rankcontrol outreach-cancel <backlinkId>
npx rankcontrol network                # Editorial Circle credits + placements
npx rankcontrol network-opt-in on --confirm
npx rankcontrol network-remove-placement <placementId> --confirm

# Social and repurposing
npx rankcontrol repurpose [contentId]  # published articles + social drafts (8 platforms)
npx rankcontrol repurpose-generate <contentId> --confirm
npx rankcontrol repurpose-edit <draftId> --title "New hook"
npx rankcontrol repurpose-channels     # Postiz and Buffer channel ids
npx rankcontrol repurpose-push <draftId> --channels <id> --confirm            # --scheduler postiz|buffer when both are connected
npx rankcontrol repurpose-mark-posted <draftId>
npx rankcontrol social                 # Reddit/X threads where your articles fit
npx rankcontrol social-stats
npx rankcontrol social-status <threadId> skipped
npx rankcontrol social-draft-reply <threadId>
npx rankcontrol social-open <threadId> [--text "<edited reply>"]
npx rankcontrol social-x-handle <handle|clear>
npx rankcontrol social-reddit-profile --karma 1240 --age over2yr --goal "..." --story "..." --tone "..."

# Brand, team, workspace
npx rankcontrol brand                  # brand profile, products, ICPs and brand guidelines in one read
npx rankcontrol expedition             # the expeditions on the Overview: each step's name, whether it is done, and the next step
npx rankcontrol brand-set --industry "Software & Technology"    # name, industry, description, authors, style refs, --aliases / --not-us for brand mentions
npx rankcontrol brand-profile-set --json '{"tone":"conversational"}'
npx rankcontrol brand-product --json @product.json
npx rankcontrol brand-icp --json @icp.json
npx rankcontrol icp-suggest                    # up to 8 audiences for this site; saves nothing
npx rankcontrol icp-draft --describe "Ops leads at 50-500 person logistics firms"  # one profile to review; save with brand-icp
npx rankcontrol team
npx rankcontrol team-invite user@company.com --perms content=write,analytics=read --confirm
npx rankcontrol team-revoke <invitationId>
npx rankcontrol team-remove <memberId> --confirm
npx rankcontrol support "Subject" --message "..."
npx rankcontrol help-page nextjs       # a help page; without a page, list the pages
npx rankcontrol billing                # billing as Settings, Billing shows it (read-only)

# Integration helpers
npx rankcontrol cloudflare-connect     # OAuth URL for read-only crawler analytics
npx rankcontrol cloudflare-zones
npx rankcontrol cloudflare-zone <zoneId> <zoneName>
npx rankcontrol framer-install-embed --confirm
npx rankcontrol webflow-custom-code --confirm

MCP

Claude Code:

claude mcp add rankcontrol --env RANKCONTROL_API_KEY=rctrl_pk_... -- npx rankcontrol mcp

Or in .mcp.json / Cursor mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rankcontrol": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["rankcontrol", "mcp"],
      "env": { "RANKCONTROL_API_KEY": "rctrl_pk_..." }
    }
  }
}

Tools (80+)

Visibility and citations

Tool	What it does
`get_overview_funnel`	AI crawls / AI visits, last 30 days
`get_visibility_score`	Composite score blending AI citations with Google and Bing rank share, with subscores
`get_visibility_trend`	Daily visibility score from stored weekly citation checks
`get_share_of_voice`	Your citation rate vs competitor mention rates + your share
`get_web_total_history`	Monthly web total for you and each competitor, last 3 months
`get_web_footprint`	Web footprint for the workspace and every competitor it tracks: how much of the web links to each domain, scored 0 to 10
`get_citation_sources`	Cited domains typed brand / competitive / UGC / editorial
`get_citation_sentiment`	Positive / neutral / negative framing with recent receipts
`get_citability_report`	Published pages by citability score, worst first, with fixes
`list_citations`	Recent citation checks per AI model
`get_crawler_access`	Daily AI-crawler reachability probe (edge blocks, robots.txt)
`list_tracked_queries`	The queries checked weekly across the AI engines
`get_query_slots`	Tracking slots in use and the plan's limit
`add_tracked_query` / `update_tracked_query` / `set_query_tracking` / `remove_tracked_query`	Manage the query pool and its plan slots
`hide_content_idea`	Hide an idea from Content Ideas; a tracked query keeps its weekly checks and its slot
`get_competitors` / `add_competitor` / `remove_competitor`	Manage share-of-voice competitors (max 10)

Content pipeline

Tool	What it does
`get_planning_capacity`	Remaining calendar slots (check before planning)
`plan_content`	Generate candidate titles (capacity-gated, nothing scheduled)
`commit_planned_titles`	Approve reviewed titles onto the calendar
`get_content_ideas` / `plan_content_idea`	Scored idea backlog; put an idea on the calendar
`delete_planned_title`	Remove a planned title (returns to the idea pool)
`generate_article`	Write a planned article's body now; dry run by default
`publish_content`	Dry run by default; `confirm: true` publishes to the CMS
`archive_content`	Archive an article (reversible in the dashboard)
`reschedule_article`	Move a planned article to another day (flexible schedule)
`update_planned_article`	Change a planned article's own settings before it is written: length, tone, image style and custom instructions. Locked once writing starts.
`get_article_settings` / `update_article_settings`	Read / merge-patch the article policy
`get_topics` / `set_topics`	Read / replace the pillar list (full-list replace, up to 20 topics)
`get_internal_links`	Who links to this article internally, and its outbound count
`list_site_pages` / `add_site_pages` / `detect_site_links`	Pages used for in-article internal links
`set_site_page_linking`	Turn linking to a site page on or off. Off keeps the page in your list, but articles published after this don't link to it.
`remove_site_page`	Remove a page from your site pages. Articles published after this don't link to it, and scans don't add it back; add_site_pages adds it again.
`list_content`	Content pages with status

Analytics

Tool	What it does
`get_traffic_overview`	Page views, visitors, sessions, bounce rate, time on page
`get_rankings`	Verified Google and Bing positions per keyword, Search Console clicks, impressions and average position (never shown as a rank), which page earned each query and whether it is yours, how often Google's AI Overview shows and cites you; `scope` ours (default) or site
`get_page_engagement`	Per-page views, citations, and a view sparkline
`get_analytics_sources` / `set_analytics_source`	Which source writes traffic and crawler data
`activate_analytics_screen`	One-time activation of the Analytics or Reports screen

Reports

Tool	What it does
`get_exec_summary`	Last 30 days vs the 30 before: cite rate, views, crawls
`get_top_wins`	Most-cited page, best cite-rate jump, biggest ranking climb
`get_agent_activity`	Recent pipeline runs per agent lane
`list_jobs`	Async job status (agent runs)

Backlinks and outreach

Tool	What it does
`list_backlinks` / `get_backlink_stats`	Backlink table and totals
`list_outreach_prospects` / `get_outreach_stats`	Outreach pipeline per published article, with Domain Rating
`find_outreach_contact`	Scrape a prospect site for an outreach email
`draft_outreach_reply`	AI-draft the next reply in a live conversation
`queue_outreach_email`	Queue an email from the workspace's own mailbox
`cancel_outreach_email`	Cancel a queued outreach email (a first email, a reply or a follow-up) before it sends. Refused once it has gone out.
`update_outreach_status`	Move a prospect through the pipeline
`get_link_network`	Credit balance, membership, placements
`set_link_network_opt_in` / `remove_network_placement`	Join/leave, retire placements; dry run by default

Social and repurposing

Tool	What it does
`list_repurpose_queue` / `get_repurpose_drafts`	Published articles + social drafts (8 platforms)
`generate_repurpose_drafts` / `update_repurpose_draft`	Draft and edit platform-native posts
`list_postiz_channels` / `push_repurpose_draft`	Push to Buffer or Postiz; dry run by default
`mark_repurpose_posted`	Record a draft as posted manually
`list_social_threads` / `get_social_stats`	Reddit/X threads where your articles fit
`update_social_thread_status` / `draft_social_reply` / `open_social_thread` / `set_social_x_handle` / `set_reddit_profile`	Work a thread: draft, then open it to post yourself (X gets a pre-filled composer link); the thread marks itself Posted once your reply is found. Drafts never auto-post; Posted is never set by hand

Brand, team, workspace

Tool	What it does
`get_brand`	Brand profile, links/CTAs, products, ICPs and brand guidelines in one read
`get_setup_progress`	The workspace's expeditions on the Overview: the current expedition, each step's name and whether it is done, and the next step
`confirm_brand_reviewed`	Mark the brand as reviewed
`add_brand_guideline`	Add a brand guideline
`set_brand_guideline_active`	Turn a brand guideline on or off
`remove_brand_guideline`	Delete a brand guideline
`update_brand_identity`	Name, industry, description, authors (EEAT bylines), style refs
`update_brand_profile`	Voice, colors, meta fields, locale
`write_brand_product` / `write_brand_icp`	Create/update/delete products and buyer profiles
`suggest_brand_icps` / `draft_brand_icp`	Suggest audiences for this site and draft one buyer profile to review; nothing is saved until `write_brand_icp`
`get_team` / `invite_team_member` / `revoke_team_invite` / `remove_team_member`	Seats, invites, per-screen permissions
`contact_support`	Message the RankControl team with the workspace identified
`get_help_page`	RankControl's help pages: setup guides for each publishing destination, the crawler and its IP address, AI crawler access, the API, CLI and MCP, getting started, and the plan and pricing. Without a page, lists the pages.
`get_billing`	This workspace's billing as Settings, Billing shows it: status (trial, active or cancelling), billing cycle, next charge, add-ons, usage against the plan's limits and recent payments. Read-only; changes are made in Settings, Billing.

Integration helpers

Tool	What it does
`get_cloudflare_connect_url` / `list_cloudflare_zones` / `select_cloudflare_zone`	Connect read-only Cloudflare crawler analytics
`install_framer_embed` / `install_webflow_custom_code`	Install visit tracking; dry run by default

The plan→commit split is intentional: plan_content proposes, a human (or a supervising agent) reviews, commit_planned_titles approves. publish_content, generate_article, and everything with a public side effect are dry-run-first for the same reason.