# Cited CLI

> Install the cited command-line tool and run audits from your terminal.

Source: https://youcited.com/docs/integration-guides/cited-cli
Section: Agents and Integrations
Last updated: 2026-10-29
All docs: https://youcited.com/docs/index.md

## Install

With Homebrew (macOS and Linux):

```bash
brew install youcited/cited/cited
```

Use the full name: Homebrew 7 only installs from taps you trust, and the full name trusts just this formula. If you installed with `brew tap` before, run `brew trust --formula youcited/cited/cited` once, then `brew upgrade cited`.

Or with [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) or pipx (Python 3.11+):

```bash
uv tool install cited-cli   # or: pipx install cited-cli
```

To try it without installing anything, `uvx --from cited-cli cited audit free example.com` runs a one-off copy.

## Free audit, no login

```bash
cited audit free example.com
```

It starts the same free audit as the homepage prompt and prints the result when it's done.

## Sign in

```bash
cited login                         # opens your browser
cited login --email you@example.com # password sign-in
cited status                        # who you are, credits, businesses and the next step
cited logout
```

## A paid audit, start to finish

Commands that need a business take `--business` (`-b`), which you can leave out when you have one business. Audit commands use your newest audit unless you give an id.

```bash
cited business setup --website example.com   # add your business
cited audit questions                        # draft the buyer questions, then review them
cited audit quote                            # what the audit costs
cited audit run                              # shows the price and asks first; --yes skips it
cited audit get --wait                       # the report when it's done
cited recommend list                         # what to change
cited fix generate --all                     # fix files and steps (asks before spending)
cited fix get <fix_id> --save ./fixes        # write a fix's files to disk
cited fix done <fix_id>                      # after you put it on your site
cited fix verify <fix_id>                    # check the live site (free)
cited audit schedule --every 30              # re-check every 30 days
cited audit compare <audit_id>               # citations won and lost since the audit before
```

To replace the drafted questions, pass your own: `cited audit questions -q "Best bakery in Austin?" -q "..."`. Mark a recommendation with `cited recommend set <item_key> done` (or `dismissed`, or `open` to undo).

## Credits and docs

```bash
cited credits buy <pack_id>       # prints a Stripe checkout link
cited credits buy --one-audit     # a single audit, no pack
cited credits buy --voucher CODE  # redeem a voucher
cited docs search "llms.txt"      # no login needed
```

Every command has `--help`. Add `--json` right after `cited` for machine-readable output. It's the same JSON an AI agent gets from the matching [tool](/docs/integration-guides/agent-tools):

```bash
cited --json status
```

You can make JSON the default with `cited config set output json`, and switch back for one command with `--text`. `cited tools list` shows every tool, and `cited tools call <name> '{...}'` runs one with JSON arguments.

## Connect your AI agents

```bash
cited agent setup
```

adds Cited's hosted MCP connector to Claude Code, Cursor and Codex on your computer. See [Connect your AI assistant](/docs/integration-guides/connect-your-ai-assistant).

## For agents with no account

An agent can create its own account and key:

```bash
cited agent signup --email you@example.com
```

The key is saved for the CLI and never printed. The command prints a claim link and a 6-digit code for a person to claim the account. See [Agent signup and buying](/docs/integration-guides/agent-signup-and-buying).

## Exit codes

| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Success |
| 1 | Error |
| 2 | Not signed in |
| 3 | Not found |
| 4 | Invalid input |
| 5 | Rate limited |
| 6 | Payment required (not enough credits) |