SEO Rank Trackers: What Works and Why It Matters

A rank tracker isn’t just a tool to check where you rank on Google—it’s a tool to shape and improve those rankings. SEO isn’t about luck; it’s about strategy, and without data, you’re flying blind. The #1 result on Google gets over 25% of clicks, which is why staying on top of rankings is crucial.

We use Nightwatch, Local Falcon, and BrightLocal (mentioned below), and each serves a different purpose:

• Nightwatch is our go-to for daily rank tracking and detailed keyword insights across multiple locations.
• Local Falcon specializes in local SEO, showing visibility across a geographic grid—essential for businesses that rely on local foot traffic.
• BrightLocal helps us monitor local rankings alongside citation tracking and reputation management.

A good rank tracker doesn’t just show rankings; it provides actionable insights. You can analyze keyword trends, optimize content, and see how you stack up against competitors. But picking the right tool matters—national businesses need a tracker focused on broad keyword coverage, while local businesses benefit from tools that factor in location-based search results.

I’ve talked before about how critical reviews are for SEO, and rank tracking is just as essential. Let’s break down what makes a good SEO rank tracker—and which ones are worth your time.

National Rank Tracking vs. Local Rank Tracking

Your zip code matters a lot more when you have a local business, but not so much for nationwide businesses. A local rank tracker is going to monitor data for local businesses and track keywords as well as Google Business Profile performance. It analyzes results based on your city and your zip code, helping to get that storefront ahead of local competitors.

A national rank tracker looks at a completely different scale. It looks at a much larger area than local rank trackers, usually entire countries or states as opposed to cities. The easiest way to explain the difference is to take a simple search like “tires”. A tire repair shop chain is likely going to track searches like “best tire repair” while a local, singular tire repair shop is going to track “best tire repair near me”.

The difference is just two words, but those words determine what the rank tracker needs to monitor. It also means completely different data analytics, which is why you need to choose your SEO rank tracker wisely.

So which one(s) should you choose?

The Best National SEO Rank Trackers

Ahrefs

One of the many tools that Ahrefs features is its Rank Tracker, which can monitor multiple keywords across hundreds of different countries, search engines, and devices.

Benefits

• Detailed information on site performance and trends
• Audits that offer information on potential SEO improvements
• Competitor analysis on backlinks and keyword strategies
• Reporting features to share with team members

Drawbacks

• Limited number of features compared to other SEO rank trackers
• Expensive compared to other options with no free plan or trial for the rank tracker

Google Search Console

The Google Search Console provides free insight into website rankings specific to Google’s search results.

Benefits

• Track website performance in real-time
• Offers insight into competitor rankings and SEO strategies
• Basic competitor analysis
• Completely free

Drawbacks

• Lack of premium features or tools
• Limited historical and backlink data

Semrush

The “Position Tracking” from Semrush features basic website rank monitoring with tracking for different keywords, helping users understand their website’s performance.

Benefits

• Pinpoints different opportunities to boost SEO and general performance
• Offers competitor analysis and tracking to stay on top of trends
• Gives feedback on how to improve performance and traffic
• Analyzes social media platforms to help increase presence
• Offers consistent and daily updates similar to Nightwatch

Drawbacks

• Complex UI that can confuse beginners
• Limited management tools on the lower-tier plans
• Lower accuracy compared to Google Analytics tracking

SE Ranking

SE Ranking is a comprehensive rank-tracking system and platform that offers a wealth of insight and keyword research.

Benefits

• Numerous ways to track keywords, trends, SERP rankings, and competitors
• Detailed and insightful backlink analysis
• A feature-filled and user-friendly UI
• Local SEO features and rank tracking
• Industry-leading rank tracking and monitoring accuracy
• Website SEO and rank audits

Drawbacks

• Can be difficult for users who are new to SEO and SERPs
• Keyword analysis features are basic
• Limited content analysis

The Best Local SEO Rank Trackers

Whitespark

Whitespark is a tool that helps businesses monitor SERP performance and trends, specifically on smaller scales to increase local visibility.

Benefits

• Location-specific rank tracking and data analysis
• Multi-item tracking that can track multiple locations for businesses
• Trend analysis with reporting that includes progress analysis
• Competitor ranking analysis and comparisons
• Rank monitoring from different device sources like mobile or desktop
• Rank tracking on social media platforms and YouTube

Drawbacks

• Limited tracking for international businesses
• Some tools require more expertise and are not regarded as “user-friendly”
• No free option, but there is a free trial
• Considered expensive for smaller businesses
• Search result analysis is limited to the first 5 pages of SERPs

Local Falcon

Local Falcon’s rank tracker is designed to analyze local business performance as it relates specifically to Google Maps results and data.

Benefits

• Detailed performance analysis in a specific geographic area
• Creates visualizations for how a business ranks compared to different areas and keywords
• Competitor rank tracking and performance analysis
• Scans that can analyze multiple locations simultaneously
• AI-boosted analysis and insight
• Analysis for reviews including competitor reviews

Drawbacks

• Specifically limited to “rank” tracking
• Occasional API issues that impede performance

Nightwatch

Nightwatch is a granular SEO rank tracker, which means the data is updated constantly to provide even more accurate results. They specialize in providing detailed data that can keep companies apprised of any major changes to their SEO, rank, keywords, and other content. Nightwatch is also a competent national rank tracker.

Benefits

• Site audits to improve performance
• Competitor site keyword analysis
• Customizable reports and data visualizations based on your needs
• Alert systems to keep you up-to-date on any fluctuations or changes
• Can track large numbers of keywords at the same time

Drawbacks

• Keywords will be tracked daily, but there’s no way to adjust the frequency of the tracking

BrightLocal Rank Tracker

The BrightLocal platform has tons of tools to benefit small businesses and includes an SEO rank tracker that can track keywords and rankings across Google results and Google Maps.

Benefits

• Rank tracking across different platforms
• SEO strategy analysis and research
• Local competitor ranking analysis
• Google My Business listing audits
• White Label reports on branding
• Rank tracking alerts on fluctuations and trends

Drawbacks

• Strictly limited to local SEO features
• No keyword-specific research
• Some features are locked behind different paywalls