So you’ve chosen the right keywords for your value-packed blog post and sent it off into the wild.
Does this mean you can sit back and watch the traffic roll in?
Unfortunately, the quest for higher rankings doesn’t end there.
Ranking higher (and eventually getting more visitors) requires you to analyze the competition and track your content’s position on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
A reliable SERP checker tool can help you perform the above actions.
However, it doesn’t have to cost the Earth.
In fact, some of the best SERP checker tools are 100% free to use!
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best options available in this article.
Comparison Table
| Tool | Devices | Competitor Tracking | Rank History |
| Ahrefs | Desktop, Mobile | Yes | Yes |
| What’s My SERP | Desktop | No | Yes |
| Link Assistant’s Rank Tracker | Desktop, Mobile | Yes | No |
| Small SEO Tool’s Keyword Rank Checker | Desktop, Mobile | No | Yes |
| SERP Robot | Desktop | Yes | No |
| SERP Surf | All | Yes | No |
| Zutrix | Desktop, Mobile | No | No |
| Ubersuggest | Desktop, Mobile | Yes | Yes |
| Thruuu | Desktop, Mobile | No | No |
| SEObility | Desktop | Yes | Yes |
The 10 Best Free SERP Checkers in 2023
The tools discussed in this section are among the best SERP checker software you can get for free.
So here’s why they made it to our list.
1. Ahrefs
It’s impossible to talk about SERP checker tools without mentioning Ahrefs.
This feature-packed digital marketing tool is a household name in the industry.
With a vast database that draws data from over 200 countries, it’s no wonder SEO agencies and affiliate marketers worldwide endorse this tool for SEO.
From keyword research to competitor analysis, Ahrefs does it all, and so naturally, it also includes a SERP checker among its suite of features and functionality.
As a result, you can incorporate the free version of this tool into your SEO strategy, albeit with limited results.
Ahref’s SERP checker shows you the top ten search engine results for a given keyword.
Also, the tool provides loads of information on the top three sites ranking on Google’s first page, letting you glean what makes them rank so high.
With that said, consider signing up for a 7-day free trial to unlock Ahrefs’ full potential.
Unfortunately, the free version of this tool isn’t as reliable as the others on our list.
2. What’s My SERP
What’s My SERP is another excellent SERP checker for monitoring your site’s performance and ranking on search engines.
You can use this tool to search ten times daily, and you can add 25 keywords per domain.
All without signing up for an account.
When you sign up for an account, you get unlimited searches and the ability to export your data in a CSV file once you complete your search.
You can view your site’s ranking history for the past three months, which helps when you want to determine how effective your SEO campaign has been.
Unfortunately, you can only use this tool to check Google rankings.
You’ll have to use another tool if you want to see ranking data for other search engines.
In addition, you can only search desktop data for free.
You’ll have to upgrade to the premium version of this tool to get mobile device data.
3. Link Assistant’s Rank Tracker
Link Assistant’s Rank Tracker is one of the best free SERP checker tools you can use for your search engine optimization campaigns.
Despite being free to use, it’s packed to the teeth with features you’d ordinarily have to pay for with similar tools.
This SERP keyword checker can help you choose the keywords to use in your content by providing you with keyword ranking difficulty scores, as well as provide you with data for mobile and desktop.
And best of all, it doesn’t impose a daily limit on the number of domains and keywords you can search.
In addition, you can compare the backlinks for two sites to determine which one has higher authority.
And you get 500 URL crawl audits, one of the most overlooked SEO features on tools like this.
With all of the above functionality, there’s got to be a catch.
The answer would depend on whether you’re averse to downloading software to your computer.
Unfortunately, you can only use this software by downloading it.
4. Small SEO Tool’s Keyword Rank Checker
There’s nothing small about the Keyword Rank Checker created by Small SEO Tools.
This feature-packed software can be an all-in-one solution for your SEO efforts.
Small SEO Tool’s Keyword Rank Checker lets you track the keyword position for up to ten keywords across all devices.
You can get information on keywords your domain ranks for, and the tool will give you unlimited results.
Also, this tool shows you a keyword’s search volume, position, and number of page results, i.e., the information you’ll need for SEO strategy adjustments.
And if you want to see the rank history for your keyword, you’ll also be able to see that data.
Given how much information this tool provides, it’s a shame you can’t use it for competitive analysis.
Unfortunately, you can’t compare your domain to competitors’ domains.
5. SERP Robot
SERP Robot has one major advantage over the other free SERP checkers on this list: unlimited searches.
While other free tools limit you to a specific number of daily searches, this one doesn’t.
As such, search engine marketers and bootstrapped digital marketing agencies will appreciate this tool.
Regarding the tool’s functionality, you can give it ten keywords at once and get back the top ten results for each.
And you can compare your site’s ranking in the search results against up to three competitors.
Each search typically takes about three minutes to return the data.
The main disadvantage of opting for this tool over similar options is that you can’t look up keyword data for mobile or tablets, only desktop.
Also, SERP Robot doesn’t do historical tracking, so you’ll have to track your progress manually.
However, the silver lining is that this SERP checker tool provides real-time data and unfettered access when you upgrade to a paid subscription.
6. SERP Surf
SERP Surf is an excellent free SERP tool to check your site’s search engine ranking position.
However, like most of the tools in this roundup, you’re limited to a specific number of checks.
In SERP Surf’s case, you get the keyword ranking data for five keywords and the SERP data for one domain.
Additionally, you can use SERP Surf to see how your site fares against three competitor domains and check your site’s performance on SERPs by device (mobile, tablet, or desktop) and region.
As with other free SERP checker tools, it’ll show you the top ten search results for your given search term.
Unfortunately, you can’t use this tool to track your website’s keyword rankings over time.
It is also worth noting that while other tools let you research ten or more keywords, you can only search five at a time when using SERP Surf.
However, that’s a small price to pay, considering this tool is 100% free to use (there’s no paid version).
7. Zutrix
Zutrix is a free SERP checker tool powered by artificial intelligence.
Thanks to its Google Search Console import function, you can use this tool to check the exact ranking position of multiple keywords.
When you create a free account, you can check the search engine results for ten keywords daily.
Additionally, this free tool shows data for desktop and mobile search results and other information like traffic volume.
You can check the keywords your domain ranks for and stay updated on changes with real-time notifications.
The only features missing on the free version of this tool are the ability to export your search results into a separate document and monitor rank history.
Given how much information you get back, manually transferring it to a Google Sheets document can be time-consuming.
If the free version of this SERP tool impresses you enough to pay for it, you’ll be happy to know Zutrix’s basic plan isn’t expensive.
Better yet, this subscription plan lets you track 250 keywords per day.
8. Ubersuggest
Neil Patel is one of the most renowned names in digital marketing, and his Ubersuggest SERP checker is among the best free SEO tools for keeping track of your content’s ranking position on SERPs.
This beginner-friendly tool enables quick domain lookups, so you can use it to learn what keywords your site ranks for.
In addition, you can use Ubersuggest to monitor your targeted keywords on a historical basis.
This feature is excellent because it means you can analyze your progress over time.
And, unlike other SERP tools, this one can tell you which keywords rank well, which is excellent if you need help choosing keywords.
Other information this excellent tool provides includes keyword search volume, cost-per-click, and Google ranking difficulty.
We’d recommend getting a paid subscription for this tool if it weren’t for how limiting it is for searches.
Unfortunately, you can only perform three searchers per day with the free and paid versions.
Still, Ubersuggest is worth looking into if you’re new to SEO.
9. Thruuu
Don’t let the weird name trick you, Thruuu is an excellent SERP checker tool that you can use for free.
The tool takes a straightforward approach to SEO, showing you the first 100 pages of SERPs and no more.
Where Thruuu differentiates itself from similar tools is in the information you can get.
Unlike other tools, this one shows you data on the results’ page title, heading structure, article length, publication date, number of images, and meta description. And you can see this information whether you search for desktop or mobile.
Also, you can export your research into an excel sheet, making it easier to do an analysis of search results over specific periods.
Despite all the information it provides, Thruuu isn’t as reliable as other SERP tools.
For example, you can’t use it to look up your domain.
It also only lets you search one keyword at a time. Regardless, It’s still an excellent tool and 100% free.
10. SEObility
SEObility rounds out our list of free SERP checker tools that you can use to monitor SEO performance.
This tool can provide information on ten keywords at once when you sign up for an account.
A SEObility account accommodates only one domain.
However, you can compare the said domain to three competitors.
This feature lets you measure how you fare against your competition.
Also, you can learn whether you’re competing on any or all of the keywords inputted.
In addition, you can view your keyword rank history and keyword-specific information like search volume and cost-per-click.
On top of that, the tool shows you how quickly your page loads, frequently-used keywords, and information on errors.
If there’s one area where this tool falls short, it would be in the search department.
The free version limits you to one daily search, and you can only get desktop data.
Therefore, you should consider upgrading to a premium subscription to get more out of it.
Choosing a Free SERP Checker – What to Look For
When choosing a free SERP checker for your SEO campaigns, make sure you consider the following factors.
Domain and Competitor Tracking
Competitor tracking is one of the key features a free SERP checker should provide.
Your chosen tool should let you enter your domain and compare it with your competitors to see how you stack up.
Many free checker tools allow a side-by-side analysis of your domain and up to three competitor domains.
It would help if your tool lets you look up your domain to see how well you rank for keywords.
This data will benefit your keyword research process in the future.
Search Limits
You’ll need to consider a SERP tracker’s search limits if you want to save time and energy.
Ideally, your chosen free tool should let you input at least ten keywords at once.
Using a tool that restricts your searches to a keyword at a time can make the research process slow and tiresome.
Be sure to prioritize a tool that lets you look up unlimited domains, as it’ll allow you to do more reliable research and make informed and potentially profitable decisions. So if it allows you to perform unlimited checks daily, put the tool at the top of your list.
Rank History
A SERP checker that offers rank tracking is excellent—no doubt, but the best checkers let you see how your website has fared over time.
Many free SERP checker tools show you data for the past three months, allowing you to track your progress. If you’re gearing up content for a new marketing campaign, you’ll want this feature, as it’ll tell you what’s working and what requires improvement.
Keyword Information
Some free checker tools go beyond their main function (tracking SERP results) by providing information on keywords. For example, Ubersuggest shows a keyword’s difficulty, cost-per-click, and search volume.
This feature is crucial because it helps you pick the best keywords for subsequent campaigns. Such metrics indicate a keyword’s commercial viability, while keyword difficulty provides information on its competitiveness.
Devices
People don’t only perform searches on desktop computers or laptops. In fact, people are more likely to search from a mobile device due to how convenient and powerful smartphones have become.
Therefore, we recommend you prioritize a free SERP checker tool that shows you data for searches performed on portable devices (mobiles and tablets), not just desktops. Otherwise, you’ll get only half the story when analyzing your content’s performance.
Export Function
Finally, consider a free SERP tracking tool that lets you export data after completing a search. Many free tools have this function and can organize your research into an Excel or Google Sheets file. Meanwhile, tools that don’t have this function leave extra work for you to do.
Are SERP Checkers Worth It?
We believe so. These tools are invaluable for SEO campaigns because they give you information on the top results of search engine pages. In addition, you can use SERP checkers to monitor your competition and compare their content to yours. And the data they provide can help you improve your content strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is Better, Free Versions or Paid SERP Checkers?
It depends on the SERP features you require from a chosen tool.
Most free tools limit the number of searches you can perform daily, though tools like Link Assistant’s Rank Tracker don’t impose such limits.
Meanwhile, an upgrade to a paid subscription unlocks the SERP checker’s full functionality (without daily limits).
What are SERPs?
SERP is an abbreviation for Search Engine Results Page. When people type keywords into Google, the search engine shows SERPs relevant to the searcher’s query.
Therefore, the higher your content ranks on SERPs (e.g., the top ten Google results), the more organic traffic and visitors your site will receive.
Wrap Up
SERP checkers are necessary for your SEO toolbox because you’ll need them to monitor how well your content ranks on search engines.
The best free SERP checkers should let you analyze your competition, look up your website, and view rank history data.
Also, they should show you mobile, tablet, and desktop data and allow you to search for at least ten keywords in one go.
We recommend Ahrefs’ free SERP checker, as its database is top of the pack.
However, if you’re looking for free, feature-packed alternatives, try What’s My SERP or Link Assistant’s Rank Tracker.
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