The Kafkai Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Kafkai in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Kafkai
The Insider’s Guide
Search data for your AI: keywords, backlinks and competitors
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Kafkai’s own pages.
Made by Kafkai Giken, Inc. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Kafkai’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Kafkai’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 5 of the 136 other writing tools we grade
Kafkai is now a plugin (MCP) that connects an AI assistant such as Claude or ChatGPT to search data, so questions about what a site ranks for, who links to it and who competes with it are answered from real numbers. It no longer sells the AI article writing it was known for. It is prepaid: credits are bought in packs and spent per question, with no monthly plan.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Kafkai, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for search research for an AI assistant
Kafkai gives an AI assistant search data: keywords, backlinks and competitors, paid by credits instead of a monthly plan.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at ¥1,000 one-time top-up for 1,000 credits (¥1,100 with consumption tax).
- 3
You can try it first
1,000 free credits on signup, no credit card; credits are valid for 90 days
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Keywords and content gaps
Lists the keywords a site ranks for with position and monthly search volume, and the keywords competitors rank for that it does not.
- 6
Competitor finding
Returns the sites that rank for the same searches and how far their keywords overlap with yours.
- 7
Backlinks
Shows who links to a site, new and lost links by date, and the sites that link to competitors but not to you.
- 8
A 1.8 GPA, above 5 of 136
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Kafkai you would be making search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Kafkai at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from ¥1,000 one-time top-up for 1,000 credits (¥1,100 with consumption tax)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 1,000 free credits on signup, no credit card; credits are valid for 90 days
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Kafkai Giken, Inc.
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for search research for an AI assistant
Kafkai gives an AI assistant search data: keywords, backlinks and competitors, paid by credits instead of a monthly plan. It has no writing tool of its own, it runs through MCP with about 30 minutes of setup, and credits expire after 90 days.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Pay-as-you-go credits in yen: ¥1,000 buys 1,000 credits, enough for one project with one competitor. It isn't a monthly plan, so it can't be set against the category cleanly. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 1,000 free credits on signup with no card, valid for 90 days. |
| Features | D | Keyword, competitor and backlink research, with Search Console data and WordPress drafts. It needs an AI assistant to be useful and has no writing tool. |
| Ease of use | D | About 30 minutes of one-time MCP setup through an AI assistant. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude Code and WordPress. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Kafkai is for
- Fits if you already work in Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor and want search data inside it
- Works for one-off research projects, since you pay as you go
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want an article writer, because there is no writing tool of its own
- Not for you if you don't use an AI assistant over MCP
- Tight if you want rank tracking, since research runs only when asked
- Watch out: prices are in yen with Japanese consumption tax, and credits expire after 90 days
Good to know
Good for
- People who already work in Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor and want SEO data inside it
- Occasional users who prefer paying per question over a monthly subscription
- Online sellers checking Amazon and Google Shopping positions
Worth knowing
- Prices are in Japanese yen and include Japanese consumption tax; the checkout works out tax from the billing address.
- Credits expire 90 days after they are granted or bought.
- It does not track rankings on a schedule; research runs only when asked.
- It is used through an AI assistant over MCP, with a roughly 30-minute one-time setup, and has no writing tool of its own.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
5
plans to choose from
Kafkai is a paid product with a free trial, starting at ¥1,000 one-time top-up for 1,000 credits (¥1,100 with consumption tax).
It isn't a monthly plan, so it can't be set against the category cleanly.
1,000 credits
¥1,000
one-time top-up, used as you go (¥1,100 with consumption tax)
1,000 credits, enough for one project with one competitor, per the features page.
3,000 credits
¥3,000
one-time top-up, used as you go (¥3,300 with consumption tax)
3,000 credits with no bonus.
5,000 credits
¥5,000
one-time top-up, used as you go (¥5,500 with consumption tax)
5,000 credits with no bonus.
10,500 credits
¥10,000
one-time top-up, used as you go (¥11,000 with consumption tax)
10,000 credits plus a 5% bonus.
22,000 credits
¥20,000
one-time top-up, used as you go (¥22,000 with consumption tax)
20,000 credits plus a 10% bonus.
Trying it first
1,000 free credits on signup, no credit card; credits are valid for 90 days
Read from kafkai.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Search data for your AI: keywords, backlinks and competitors. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, keyword research, rank tracking, backlink analysis.
Keyword, competitor and backlink research, with Search Console data and WordPress drafts.
- Keywords and content gaps
- Lists the keywords a site ranks for with position and monthly search volume, and the keywords competitors rank for that it does not.
- Competitor finding
- Returns the sites that rank for the same searches and how far their keywords overlap with yours.
- Backlinks
- Shows who links to a site, new and lost links by date, and the sites that link to competitors but not to you.
- Search Console for your own site
- After you prove the domain with a DNS record, pages and searches losing clicks can be read through the same AI.
- Amazon and Google Shopping checks
- Shows where a product appears in Amazon and Google Shopping results for a keyword, in the supported countries, at 5 credits per keyword.
- WordPress drafts
- Your AI writes the article and Kafkai sends it to a WordPress site as a draft; Kafkai itself does not write or store articles.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Claude
- ChatGPT
- Cursor
- Claude Code
- WordPress
Kafkai is made by Kafkai Giken, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
5/136
Other writing tools it is graded above
Kafkai's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 5 of the 136 other writing tools we grade, and level with 12.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 71 of 136) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 137 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Kafkai’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 22 of 136
- CFree plan and trialAbove 19 of 136
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 136
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 136
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 71 of 136
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Kafkai you would be making search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 119 of the 136 other writing tools grade higher.
What you could not
- Search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date.
- An index of the links between billions of web pages.
- Daily checks of where your pages rank in search results.
- It plugs into other products, Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Kafkai’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Semrush, Ahrefs, SE Ranking, Mangools and DataForSEO
The 5 tools Kafkai is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Semrush
Free plan · from $117.33/mo
SEO suite for keyword research, rank tracking and AI search visibility.
- Semrush has a free plan. Kafkai does not, though it has a free trial.
- Semrush also covers reports and site audit.
- 2.0GPA
Ahrefs
Free plan · from $29/mo
SEO toolset for backlinks, keyword research, audits and rank tracking.
- Ahrefs has a free plan. Kafkai does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Ahrefs lists a browser extension.
- Ahrefs also covers site audit.
- 2.2GPA
SE Ranking
Free trial · from $103.20/mo
SEO platform for rank tracking, audits, research and AI visibility.
- SE Ranking also covers reports and site audit.
- 2.0GPA
Mangools
Free plan · from $37.70/mo
Bundle of five SEO tools led by the KWFinder keyword research app.
- Mangools has a free plan. Kafkai does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Mangools lists a browser extension.
- 2.8GPA
DataForSEO
Free trial · from $50
Pay-as-you-go APIs for SERP, keyword, backlink and AI mention data.
- Kafkai also covers rank tracking.
- DataForSEO also covers site audit, AI search visibility and sERP API.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Kafkai free?
No, Kafkai is a paid product, but you can try it first. 1,000 free credits on signup, no credit card; credits are valid for 90 days.
How much does Kafkai cost?
Kafkai lists 5 plans. 1,000 credits: ¥1,000 one-time top-up, used as you go (¥1,100 with consumption tax).
What platforms does Kafkai work on?
Kafkai is available on Web.
Does Kafkai have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Kafkai is listed for Web.
Does Kafkai have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Kafkai is listed for Web.
Is Kafkai open source?
Kafkai is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Kafkai integrate with?
Kafkai's listing names Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude Code and WordPress.
Who makes Kafkai?
Kafkai is made by Kafkai Giken, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Kafkai?
The closest alternatives to Kafkai in our directory are Semrush, Ahrefs, SE Ranking, Mangools and DataForSEO.
How does Kafkai compare with other writing tools?
Kafkai's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 5 of the 136 other writing tools we grade, and level with 12.
Could I make my own version of Kafkai?
To replace Kafkai you would be making search volumes for millions of keywords, gathered and kept up to date.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Kafkai’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Kafkai's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Kafkai Giken, Inc. Prices change, so check kafkai.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Kafkai, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/kafkai
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Kafkai: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/kafkai
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/kafkai/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Kafkai, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Writing Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 137 writing tools we grade, compared
- FreeOffice TextMaker Insider's GuideFree word processor that opens and saves Microsoft Word files3.4 GPA
- Microsoft Word Insider's GuideWord processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Apache OpenOffice Insider's GuideFree open-source office suite with the Writer word processor3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Kafkai’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Kafkai is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Kafkai Giken, Inc. Prices and plans change: check kafkai.com before you buy.