The best rank checking tools make it simple and easy for you to monitor your keyword rankings and help increase traffic to your website.
Best rank checking tool: quick menu
The top spot on Google’s search results gets around 31.7% of all clicks, while websites on the second page get less than 1%. This makes it super important for you to keep a firm track of your website’s ranking on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) regularly. This is where the rank-checking tools come into play.
Rank-checking tools are software applications designed to monitor and report on the positions of websites in SERPs for specific keywords. These tools work by simulating searches on various search engines for predetermined keywords and recording the position of the target website(s) in the search results. They can provide insights over time, showing how rankings change in response to SEO efforts, algorithm updates, or competitive movements.
With this in mind, our team examined several rank-checking tools closely to find the best ones for you. We tested each tool for accuracy, ease of use, and affordability. Our goal was to create a list of top tools that can help you improve your website’s online visibility with best SEO practices. So, let’s get started with our guide and help you find the right rank-tracking tool for your website’s needs.
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Best SERP checker
(Image credit: SEMrush)
Best SERP checker
Reasons to buy
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Comprehensive SERP tracking
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Extensive database
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Offers complete SEO optimization toolkit
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Detailed SEO, PPC, and link-building analysis
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User-friendly interface
Reasons to avoid
–
Lacks keyword list management capabilities
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Costly plans
Semrush is one of the few tools that offers in-depth insights into search engine rankings across multiple platforms. Its strength lies in its extensive database, which allows detailed analysis of keywords, competitor strategies, and market trends. With this, you can track your website’s performance in both organic and paid search results to gain information on improving ranking.
As you onboard Semrush, you can instantly utilize its Position Tracking tool to keep a daily tab on your domain’s rankings, alongside your competitors’, across different search engines, locations, and devices. This immediate feedback loop delivers critical insights into ranking changes, visibility scores, and estimated traffic. Alongside, you’ll find the Competitor Discovery feature, which identifies your primary organic and paid search competitors based on your chosen keywords. Simultaneously, you also get a Keyword Cannibalization Report, which alerts you to any internal content conflicts where multiple pages on your site are competing for the same keywords.
Processing all this data is also easy, thanks to the user-friendly interface. What we like the most about it is that reports are customizable and comprehensive. This provides actionable insights that can guide your SEO strategies. However, it lacks keyword list management, which could affect efficiency when handling extensive SEO campaigns.
Plus, if you have no previous experience with any SEO tool, you can get help from Semrush’s responsive and helpful customer support to make the most of the tool. For pricing, its basic plan costs $129.95/month and includes access to daily ranking updates, site auditing capabilities, keyword analytics, and much more.
Read our full SEMrush review.
Best position tracker
(Image credit: Serpple)
2. Serpple
In-depth analysis
Reasons to buy
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User-friendly interface
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Detailed Keyword clustering
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Accurate and updated keyword position tracking
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Provides actionable insights
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Budget-friendly
Reasons to avoid
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Occasional minor data inaccuracies
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Inability to filter keywords by individual pages
Serpple sets itself apart when it comes to position tracking with its focus on user experience and precise keyword tracking. It’s designed for both beginners and experienced SEO practitioners. It stands out by offering granular insights into SERP features, such as rich snippets and local packs, which are crucial for strategizing beyond traditional organic rankings. Its tool meticulously tracks your website’s performance for each targeted keyword, pinpointing fluctuations and trends that could indicate broader algorithmic shifts or competitive movements.
Moreover, Serpple differentiates itself with an Alert System that not only notifies you about ranking changes but even provides contextual insights, suggesting potential causes and recommending actionable strategies. Whether it’s a sudden drop due to a Google update or a gradual decline countered by a competitor’s site, Serpple ensures you’re not just informed but also equipped to respond effectively.
Another reason for its appeal among a wide audience is the affordable price plans. The basic plan starts at $19 per month, offering daily keyword updates, comprehensive SEO reports, and customer support that’s both responsive and helpful. Despite its positives, we noticed some minor inaccuracies in the data. These instances are rare and generally do not detract from the overall utility of the tool.
Another area where this tool needs improvement is the functionality to filter keywords by individual pages, which is currently absent. Still, Serpple is a solid tool that offers insightful recommendations and helps you in identifying and act on optimization opportunities. This blend of features and support, coupled with competitive pricing, positions Serpple as a leading tool for maintaining and improving search engine rankings efficiently.
Best rank checker
(Image credit: Rank tracker)
3. Rank Tracker
Simple and intuitive interface
Reasons to buy
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Affordable pricing
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White-label reporting
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Supports local search tracking
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In-depth competitor SERP analysis
Reasons to avoid
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Scaling costs for large keyword sets
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May lack integration with other SEO tools
Rank Tracker stands out not just for its ability to monitor keyword positions across multiple search engines and locations, but for its depth in offering strategic insights. It goes beyond mere rank checking by using advanced SERP analysis and lets you dissect the search landscape down to specific features like featured snippets, local packs, image packs, and the “People Also Ask” (PAA) boxes that influence visibility and click-through rates.
Moreover, Rank Tracker’s algorithm updates tracker is a great feature that alerts the shifts in search engine algorithms that could affect your rankings. Plus, its integration with powerful analytics platforms, like Google Analytics and Search REASONS TO AVOIDole, removes the gap between rank performance and user behavior and delivers a layered analysis that reveals not just how keywords rank but how they contribute to your site’s overall goals, from traffic patterns to conversion rates.
You also get advanced reporting features with Rank Tracker that offer unmatched customization and depth and let you drill down into the data that matters most. Under this, the reports can be tailored to focus on specific aspects of SEO performance, from keyword rankings and visibility scores to detailed competitor analysis.
We are big fans of its pricing plans, with the basic plan starting at $24 per month. It includes keyword tracking, automatic updates, and unlimited reports, making it perfect for small to medium-sized enterprises seeking a straightforward, reliable tool to enhance their SEO efforts. Overall, Its balance of functionality, ease of use, and affordability make it hold a valuable place in the SEO tool market.
Best for data
(Image credit: Nozzle)
4. Nozzle.io
Detailed reporting
Reasons to buy
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Extensive historical SERP data storage
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Competitor analysis with retroactive insights
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Highly customizable data views and segmentation
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Great support team
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Delivers precise SERP data and analytics
Reasons to avoid
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Steep learning curve during setup
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Comparatively expensive plans
Nozzle.io goes beyond traditional rank tracking by measuring your listings’ pixel depth and SERP occupancy. This means it doesn’t just tell you your position on the SERP but it further calculates how much screen real estate your listings occupy on a user’s screen. It doesn’t just monitor your rankings, but the entirety of the SERP landscape for each keyword. This includes data points like the presence of ads, knowledge panels, featured snippets, and even social media mentions within search results.
During our tests, we found an advanced attribution model for keywords that helps you assign value to keywords based on their position in the conversion funnel. By understanding not just the volume but the value of your keywords, you can prioritize SEO efforts on the terms most likely to drive conversions, aligning your strategy with business outcomes.
However, the complexity and amount of data that Nozzle.io provides can confuse newcomers. This is where Nozzle.io’s support system comes in handy. It offers robust customer support, including detailed documentation, responsive email support, and helpful resources to guide you through its advanced features. The pricing structure is decent, as the basic plan starts at $49 monthly. This plan includes daily updates on keyword rankings, comprehensive competitor insights, and customizable data dashboards.
Best for reports
(Image credit: Advanced Web Ranking)
Cloud-based functionality
Reasons to buy
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Intuitive interface
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Precise tracking of search engine rankings
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Superior reporting features with extensive customization
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Google Data Studio integration for custom visualizations
Reasons to avoid
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Can be slower to update rankings than some competitors
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Agency plans may be restrictive for power users
Advanced Web Ranking (AWR) offers precise ranking data that spans across any device, search engine, and language, eventually helping you monitor your website’s SEO performance with confidence. Plus, it tracks both mobile and local rankings, which provides a granular understanding of a website’s performance across diverse platforms and geographies. Additionally, AWR monitors tons of SERP features, including snippets, FAQs, images, videos, and carousels.
Plus, its reporting capabilities provide detailed, tailored reports so you can easily understand and act on the available dataset. This is further complemented by reliable ranking data from various search engines. We were also highly impressed by its accessibility and ease of use, which were possible due to its simple interface and cloud-based service. It’s worth noting the software’s emphasis is less on comprehensive marketing solutions and more on reporting and rank tracking. So, if you’re seeking a larger variety of marketing tools, AWR might not be the best option for you.
That said, AWR offers very responsive customer service 24×7 through email, live chat, and documentation. This level of support ensures you can maximize the tool’s potential and easily resolve any issues.
You might find the starting price of $89/ month for the basic plan is a bit high, but with features like local and mobile ranking, competitor analysis, and unlimited projects, it’s totally worth it. Overall, Advanced Web Ranking’s combination of precision, ease of use, and supportive customer care makes it a great rank-checking tool.
Read our full Advanced Web Ranking review.
Better understand your visitor stats with our guide to the best on-page SEO analytics tools.
Rank checking tool FAQs
Which rank checking tool is best for you?
When deciding which rank checking tool to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes cheaper software may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, higher-end software usually come with with a comprehensive range of additionally useful SEO tools, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require from your rank checking tool.
How we tested the best rank checking tools
To test for the best rank checking tools we first set up an account with the relevant provider, then we tested the service to see how well it could track rankings across a range of search engines, geolocations, and other important criteria. The aim was to push each platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools for general rank checking purposes.
Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
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