FreshlyCited vs IndexLinks: two indexing tools with MCP, compared

They overlap more than most indexing tools: both use IndexNow (an open "this page changed" notice that Bing and other participating engines accept; Google doesn't use it), and both offer an API, an MCP server (Model Context Protocol: a standard way for AI assistants such as Claude or Cursor to use a tool directly) and client reports. That's why this page sticks to what each publishes: how it works, pricing, checks, credits, reporting, API and MCP, then when to choose each.

Which is right for you: IndexLinks or FreshlyCited?

IndexLinks fits a site owner or studio that wants a monthly plan to watch sitemaps, send every new page to Google, Bing, Yandex, Baidu and others automatically, and see which crawlers visited. FreshlyCited fits agencies, link builders and teams that need to index links on sites they don't control, want to pay only for links that get indexed, or need white-label client reports.

How does IndexLinks work, and how does FreshlyCited?

IndexLinks connects to your site and sends new and updated pages through several channels, then records crawler visits. FreshlyCited checks each URL against Google first, pushes only the ones Google can't see, and re-checks them on days 1, 3 and 7.

IndexLinks sends pages to "Bing, Yandex, Seznam, Naver and Yep through IndexNow, Google through your Search Console, Baidu through its push API, and the AI crawlers through the IndexLinks discovery network" (IndexLinks). It describes that network as "a private network of high-authority, topical properties" where it embeds your URLs. Its "Sitemap autopilot" watches your sitemap and sends new pages when you publish, and setup is a key file (one click through Cloudflare) plus a read-only Search Console sign-in. IndexLinks is run by Vynara Technologies.

FreshlyCited's smart push works on any public URL:

1. Paste or upload links, up to 10,000 per push. A pre-flight check flags pages that can't be indexed so you can skip them free.
2. Check. Each link comes back Seen by Google or Invisible, at 1 check credit each.
3. Push only the invisible ones. The rest show Already seen — not pushed.
4. Re-check on days 1, 3 and 7, with an email after each.

Both send IndexNow notices only for sites you verify. In FreshlyCited, IndexNow goes out with every push for sites you verify, shows as Sent to Bing, costs nothing extra and can be switched off per site. Our guide to Bing Webmaster Tools covers Bing's own submission routes.

How do IndexLinks and FreshlyCited price indexing?

IndexLinks charges a monthly fee for a page allowance; FreshlyCited charges per link through credits, with a free tier.

As of October 2026 (IndexLinks pricing):

A page counts as "Each page delivered to the search engines in a billing month. Updating a page and sending it again counts again." Overage is on by default and can be turned off for a hard cap, and you can cancel any time. The pricing page lists no free sending plan, but its site check and AI search readiness check are free.

FreshlyCited has a free tier (10 free links to try, then 100 free checks a month; no card, just a verified email), one-time packs from $0.16 per indexed link, and Agency plans from $59 a month. Current prices are on the FreshlyCited pricing table.

If you publish a steady stream of pages on one or a few sites you own, a monthly allowance may be simpler. If your volume is uneven, or most URLs are backlinks, per-link credits may fit better.

How does each tool check what's indexed?

IndexLinks reports crawler visits and reads Google's index status from your Search Console; FreshlyCited checks Google's index directly for any URL.

IndexLinks shows "the exact minute each verified crawler visited each page" and, once Search Console is connected, "which pages Google has indexed, and why the rest are not" (IndexLinks). Its agent skill lists the statuses as "delivered, crawled (verified crawler visit), indexed (only when Google Search Console says so)" (IndexLinks agent skill), and its changelog says pages are re-checked every day (IndexLinks changelog). Pages you already track are skipped as duplicates unless you resend them (IndexLinks API guide).

FreshlyCited checks before it pushes, so links Google already has aren't sent. Updated pages Google already has are skipped too, unless you choose Refresh anyway (1 index credit, no credit back). The check doesn't need Search Console, which is why it works on backlinks and client pages you can't verify. It checks Google only, and check credits aren't refundable. FreshlyCited reports Google index status, not crawler visits; to see which bots visit you, start with our AI crawlers guide.

If you need to know which of your links Google has right now, including ones on other people's sites, check your links free.

What happens when a page isn't crawled or indexed?

IndexLinks doesn't count a page against your allowance if it misses its 24-hour rule; FreshlyCited returns the index credit if a link isn't indexed after the day-7 re-check.

IndexLinks describes the rule in three places. Its homepage says it "guarantees every new and updated page is indexed by Google and visible in AI search (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini) within 24 hours, or we retry it free" (IndexLinks). Its agent index says it "guarantees a verified crawl within 24 hours, not indexing" (IndexLinks agent index), and its terms, which set the billing rule, say "IndexLinks does not guarantee that any page will be indexed or ranked" (IndexLinks terms). These are IndexLinks' own statements, which we haven't tested.

Sources: IndexLinks terms, IndexLinks pricing. IndexLinks' dashboard includes a "Refunded" page status, according to its October 10, 2026 changelog entry.

Neither tool decides the outcome. Google says crawling "can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks" (Google Search Central), and each AI assistant chooses its own sources; see how AI search chooses sources.

What reporting does each tool give you?

Both offer client reporting. IndexLinks reports crawler receipts and weekly summaries; FreshlyCited reports each link's Google status before and after.

IndexLinks' Studio plan includes "Per-site reports for clients", and every account gets a Monday email per website with "pages sent, pages crawled within 24 hours, pages Google has indexed and a single next step" (IndexLinks changelog). White-label branding: not published.

FreshlyCited emails you after each re-check and lets you share a client report with each link's before-and-after status: your logo on Agency Starter ($59 a month), full white-label on Agency Pro and Agency Scale. For how agencies use it, see FreshlyCited for agencies.

Do IndexLinks and FreshlyCited have an API and MCP server?

Both have a REST API and an MCP server. The differences are which plans include them and what the tools can do.

IndexLinks, as of October 2026:

• REST API: documented in OpenAPI 3.1, with Bearer keys that start il_live_. Sending pages, by URL list or sitemap, needs a paid plan (IndexLinks API guide).
• MCP: an OAuth connector at https://mcp.indexlinks.app/mcp for Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Claude Code and Cursor (IndexLinks AI connector), and an API-key server at https://indexlinks.app/.well-known/mcp where check_site and get_pricing work without an account. Its pricing FAQ says every paid plan includes an MCP server.
• Tools include site checks, adding and verifying websites, linking Search Console, Google rankings from your Search Console, sending pages and reading page status.
• WordPress plugin: not published.

FreshlyCited

• REST API: full with any pack or Agency plan; read-only on the free tier. See the FreshlyCited API and MCP server.
• MCP: https://freshlycited.com/mcp, with OAuth 2.1 or an API key, on Agency Pro ($199 a month) and Agency Scale ($599 a month). Tools cover pushes, index checks, results, reports and client workspaces; see the MCP tool reference.

For more servers in this space, see our SEO MCP servers roundup.

How do IndexLinks and FreshlyCited compare at a glance?

As of October 2026 (checked on October 17, 2026). IndexLinks facts are from indexlinks.app, its pricing, terms, changelog and API guide.

When should you choose IndexLinks, and when FreshlyCited?

Choose IndexLinks when you own the sites and want everything automatic from your sitemap, with crawler receipts. Choose FreshlyCited when you need to index links you don't control, pay per indexed link, or report to clients under your own brand.

Choose IndexLinks if

• You run one or a few sites and want new pages sent automatically from your sitemap on a flat monthly plan.
• You want to see which crawlers, including GPTBot, ClaudeBot and PerplexityBot, visited each page and when.
• You want Baidu, Seznam, Naver and Yep covered, and Google rankings from Search Console in your AI assistant.
• You want MCP access from $49 a month.

Choose FreshlyCited if

• You need to index backlinks, guest posts or citations on other people's sites. See backlink indexing.
• You want a Google index check that doesn't need Search Console, for client sites you can't verify.
• You'd rather pay only for links that get indexed, with credits back after day 7, and start on a free tier.
• You report to clients and want a fully white-label report on Agency Pro or Scale.

Comparing more tools? See indexing tools compared, or FreshlyCited vs the IndexNow plugin for a free IndexNow-only route on WordPress.

How did we check these facts?

We read each IndexLinks page linked above on October 17, 2026, and queried its public MCP server, which needs no account for these calls:

curl -s -X POST https://indexlinks.app/.well-known/mcp \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \
  -H "mcp-protocol-version: 2025-06-18" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":2,"method":"tools/list"}' \
  | jq -r '.result.tools[].name'

check_site
get_pricing
list_websites
add_website
get_website_setup
verify_website
install_key_file
link_search_console
get_search_rankings
set_baidu_token
submit_pages
list_pages
get_page_status

Calling get_pricing the same way returned the same Solo and Studio prices as the pricing page. We re-check these facts each quarter and before any edit; if something is out of date, tell us.

Want to see which of your pages and backlinks Google already has? Start with a free check: FreshlyCited marks each URL Seen by Google or Invisible, pushes only the invisible ones, and re-checks them on days 1, 3 and 7.