Similarweb offers brands and retailers two powerful ways to get the most out of Retail Intelligence data using AI: the Similarweb MCP (to use within your chosen LLM) and AI Studio (Similarweb's own AI tool, available inside our platform).
Both allow you to ask questions and get instant, data-driven answers, but each works differently and suits different workflows.
This article explains how each tool works, how to get started, and how to get the most out of your Retail Intelligence data.
Option 1: Similarweb MCP
What is the MCP?
MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. It's essentially an API connection that links your Similarweb account to a large language model (LLM) like Claude, ChatGPT, or Microsoft Copilot. Once connected, your LLM can pull Similarweb Retail Intelligence data on demand, directly within your existing workflow - without needing to open the Similarweb platform.
You only need to connect the MCP once, and it will work across all Similarweb products, giving you full flexibility to customize how you use and export insights.
💡Note: You'll need access to an LLM platform (such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Microsoft Copilot) to use the Similarweb MCP. Your company may already have a preferred LLM, and the MCP will work with whichever one you use.
How to Connect
To get started, connect the Similarweb MCP to your chosen LLM by following the steps in our MCP setup guide.
Once connected, you'll be ready to start querying Retail Intelligence data with your own prompts.
How to use Similarweb’s MCP for Retail Intelligence insights
Here’s an example of a typical query to show how quick and easy it can be to get instant answers to your own natural language questions:
"What are the fastest-growing brands at Tesco over the last 12 months?"
The MCP pulls the relevant data and shows you the results directly in your LLM. You can then ask follow-up questions, request a different time period, compare brands, or export the output - all without leaving your LLM.
How to get the best Retail Intelligence insights
The more specific your question, the more targeted the output. Here are a few example prompts to try:
- Show me the top 10 brands by sales share at [retailer] in the last 6 months in the food and beverage categories on Amazon UK
- Which brands gained the most market share at [retailer] between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026?
- Compare brand performance at [retailer] vs [retailer] for the [type of category] over the last 12 months
- What's the trend for [brand] within Amazon Canada over the last 24 months?
Option 2: AI Studio
What Is AI Studio?
AI Studio is Similarweb's built-in AI tool, available directly within the platform. Like the MCP, it lets you ask natural language questions about Retail Intelligence data - but without the need for an external LLM, making it the easiest way to get started.
See this full guide on using AI Studio
⚠️ AI Studio currently supports Amazon IQ data as part of our Retail Intelligence data offering. Access to Cross Retail data is coming soon.
How to use AI Studio for Retail Intelligence insights
Using another example:
"What are the fastest-growing brands on Amazon in the US in the Beauty category over the last 12 months?"
AI Studio queries Retail Intelligence data directly and returns clear, structured results - no extra tools or integrations needed.
How to get the best results
Be as specific as possible. Include the retailer, category, metric, and time period in your question.
For example, you could ask:
- What are the top 10 brands in men's shoes on Amazon over the last 6 months?
- Which brands had the biggest increase in sales share on Amazon in Q1 2026?
- Show me the fastest-growing beauty brands on Amazon over the past 12 months
- What's the market share breakdown for the top 5 electronics brands on Amazon
Coming Soon: Cross-Retail IQ Data
AI Studio will soon also support Cross-Retail IQ data, enabling deeper analysis across categories and brands spanning multiple retailer websites, all in one query. This will significantly expand the scope of questions you can ask, from single-retailer insights to cross-market comparisons.
For more information on Cross Retail IQ, visit the Cross Retail IQ Knowledge Center article.
In summary
Both tools give you fast, AI-powered access to Retail Intelligence data:
- Use the Similarweb MCP if you're already working in an LLM and want Similarweb data embedded in your day-to-day workflow, with full flexibility to customise and export results to CSV, slides, or your own documents.
- Use AI Studio for a single-platform experience with no setup required, powered by Similarweb's proprietary data.
Questions? Reach out to your Similarweb account team.
FAQs
Can I use the MCP and AI Studio at the same time?
Yes, they're complementary, not mutually exclusive. Some teams use AI Studio for quick platform-based lookups and the MCP for deeper analysis or exporting insights into reports and presentations.
What export formats are supported with the MCP?
When using the MCP through your LLM, you can export results in formats like CSV, slides, or directly into your own documents, depending on your LLM's capabilities.
Will the MCP connection work across all Similarweb products, or just Retail Intelligence?
The MCP works across all Similarweb products once connected, so the same integration gives you access to web analytics, keywords, and other datasets alongside Retail Intelligence.
How far back does the data go in my queries?
Your available range may depend on your subscription. Contact your account team to confirm your data access window.
Can multiple team members use the MCP or AI Studio, or is it limited to one user?
Access depends on your Similarweb subscription and your company's LLM licensing. Speak to your account team to understand how many users can connect and query data simultaneously.
Are there limits on how many queries I can run?
Query limits, if any, are determined by your Similarweb subscription and your LLM plan. Contact your account team if you're unsure what limits apply to your account.
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