A rank tracker is software that checks where your pages sit in Google for a fixed list of keywords, on a schedule, so you can see positions move over time instead of searching by hand. Which one you need comes down to how many keywords you track, because that's how every vendor sizes and prices its plans.
Most people looking for a rank tracker are really asking one of three things: is there a free way, which tool should I pay for, and how much will it cost? I've answered all three below with what the vendors' own pages say as of Nov 2026, then listed every rank-tracking guide on this site so you can go straight to the one you need.
Tracker or checker: which one you need
A rank checker is a one-off lookup. You type in a keyword and get a position for today. A rank tracker keeps a list of keywords and records their positions on a schedule, so you build up a history and can see whether a change you made helped or hurt.
If you only want to know where a page ranks right now, you don't need a subscription. Search Console will show you an average position for the queries you already appear for, and I've covered that route in how to check your Google rankings for any keyword, including why a manual search shows you a different position. A tracker earns its place when you've got a list long enough that checking by hand eats your week.
Which kind of rank tracker fits you
| Route | Who it fits | What you give up | Tools people name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free checks | Small sites tracking a handful of keywords | A fixed keyword list with saved history, competitor positions and location settings in one place | Google Search Console, plus the free options in my roundup |
| Dedicated rank tracker | Anyone who mainly wants positions, from one site to many | The research and audit tools a full suite bundles in | Wincher |
| SEO suite with tracking built in | Teams that also want research and audits | A lower bill; tracking is one module among many | Semrush, SE Ranking |
| High-volume tracker | Agencies and big sites with thousands of keywords | A trial, on the pricing page I checked, and prices in your own currency | AccuRanker |
| AI answer tracker | Brands checking whether ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity mention them | It answers a different question from Google positions, so check what each tool covers | See my AI rank tracker roundup |
The free route is covered tool by tool in my free rank tracker comparison. If you've already decided to pay and want the head-to-head, the full ranking lives in the best rank tracking tools for small businesses. I won't repeat it here.
What the vendors say they cost, as of Nov 2026
Here's the part most comparisons get wrong: plan size is counted in tracked keywords, and the entry points vary a lot. Match the tool to your keyword count, not to the brand you've heard of. These are the figures on each vendor's own pricing page when I checked.
| Tool and plan | Price shown, as of Nov 2026 | Keywords | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE Ranking Core | $103.20 a month, struck through from $129.00 (dollars as shown on the page), which looks like the annual-billing price | 2k keywords tracked daily | 14 days free, no credit card |
| SE Ranking Growth | $223.20 a month, struck through from $279.00 (dollars as shown on the page) | 5k keywords | 14 days free, no credit card |
| Semrush SEO plan | $117.33 a month billed annually, instead of $139 monthly (dollars as shown on the page) | 500 tracked keywords daily, with Position Tracking included | Seven days free, plus a free plan at $0 |
| AccuRanker Professional | 224 euros a month | Choose 2,000, 3,000 or 5,000 keywords | The pricing page doesn't mention one |
| AccuRanker Expert | 764 euros a month | 10,000 to 25,000 keywords | The pricing page doesn't mention one |
| Wincher Small teams | No monthly amount showed on the page I checked, so check the vendor page | From 500 keywords, up to 10 websites, 1 user | A 7-day free trial of Pro |
Three catches before you compare these numbers. First, the currency. AccuRanker prices in euros, while SE Ranking and Semrush show a bare dollar sign with no currency code, so don't assume they're like for like. Second, the billing toggle. Semrush and SE Ranking both lead with what looks like the annual-billing price, so the monthly figure you'll pay if you don't commit for a year is higher; check the toggle before you budget. AccuRanker, for example, says annual payment gives ten per cent off. Third, the trial terms differ. SE Ranking's FAQ says its 14-day trial includes up to 10 projects and 750 tracked keywords per day, which is plenty to test a real list.
Wincher sizes its other plans the same way: Growing teams start from 1,000 keywords with unlimited websites and multiple users, and Medium to large agencies from 5,000 keywords. SE Ranking's Core plan also includes its Local and Map Rank Tracker for 1,500 keywords and 6 months of historical data, while Growth keeps all-time history. Mangools SERPWatcher and Ahrefs Rank Tracker come up a lot too, but I couldn't verify their prices from the vendors' own pages, so I've left them out of the table.
The free-tier catch with Ahrefs
Lots of people assume a free Ahrefs account gives them rank tracking. It doesn't. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools is free for any website you verify, and it's generous: Site Explorer shows up to 1,000 backlinks and up to 1,000 keywords at once, and Site Audit gives you 5,000 crawl credits per verified project per month. But the Webmaster Tools page doesn't list rank tracking among the free features. Ahrefs' Rank Tracker is a separate product.
So Webmaster Tools is a good free companion for audits and backlinks, and I'd use it for exactly that. Just don't sign up expecting a daily position report for your keyword list.
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How I'd pick a rank tracker
- Write down the keywords that bring you enquiries or sales. Not every keyword you rank for; the ones that pay.
- Count them. That number decides your plan more than any feature list does.
- Decide whether location matters. If you serve a town or a region, you'll want local and map tracking, which I explain in how to track local rankings.
- Start a trial with your real list loaded on day one, so the trial days aren't wasted on setup.
- Check you can get the data out. If you report to a client or a boss, export matters, and exporting keyword ranking data for reporting covers how.
- Only then compare prices, in the same currency and on the same billing toggle.
My verdict
I'd start with Search Console and a free route until you've got fifty or more keywords that bring you enquiries or sales. Skip paid trackers until your list is long enough to need daily updates; before that, you're paying for a dashboard you'll check once a month. When you do pay, buy on keyword count, check the currency and the billing toggle, and use the trial with your real list. If you're tracking for clients or across lots of sites, that's when a high-volume tool starts to make sense.
Every rank-tracking guide on this site
Choosing a tracker
- What SEO position tracking is: what it measures and why rankings differ by location and device.
- Will keyword tracking improve your SEO?: the simple test I use with clients before anyone pays for a tool.
- How to choose an SEO tool that moves your rankings: start with the job, not the feature list.
Free and manual checks
- Track keyword rankings without expensive software: Search Console, a simple spreadsheet and the occasional incognito search.
- What a rank tracker shows about keyword positions: plus the blind spot most agencies never mention.
Local and AI visibility
- AI rank tracker tools: ten tools that show whether ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity mention your brand.
- AI Overview trackers: ten ways to see which searches trigger Google AI Overviews and whether you're named.
Reviews, alternatives and head-to-heads
- My Wincher review: the free plan limits, what you get before you pay, and who should skip it.
- Wincher alternatives, SE Ranking alternatives, AccuRanker alternatives and Serpstat alternatives: ten tools each, with free plan or trial status.
- Semrush vs SE Ranking: trial length, projects and keywords per plan, AI search tracking and team seats.
Using the data once you have it
- Import and track keywords in rank tracking software: a step-by-step walkthrough.
- How keyword ranking history helps your strategy: reading traffic patterns and algorithm hits without fooling yourself.
- Combine rank tracking data with your content plan: turning the report you glance at into decisions.
- How competitor rank tracking works: what it measures and the bit most guides skip.
For agencies
- Best SEO tools for agencies: rank trackers, crawlers, local SEO and client reporting, with trial status.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What does a rank tracker do?
It checks where your pages rank in Google for a fixed list of keywords on a schedule and keeps the history, so you can see positions rise or fall over time.
Is there a free rank tracker?
Search Console shows average positions for free for queries you already appear in, and several tools have free plans. A free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools account doesn't include rank tracking; Ahrefs' Rank Tracker is a separate product.
How much does a rank tracker cost?
As of Nov 2026, SE Ranking Core showed $103.20 a month for 2k keywords tracked daily, Semrush's SEO plan $117.33 a month billed annually for 500 tracked keywords, and AccuRanker Professional 224 euros a month. Check each page's billing toggle and currency.
Which rank trackers offer a free trial?
As of Nov 2026, SE Ranking offered 14 days with no credit card, Semrush seven days plus a free plan, and Wincher a 7-day trial of Pro. AccuRanker's pricing page didn't mention a trial.
What's the difference between a rank checker and a rank tracker?
A rank checker gives you today's position for a keyword. A rank tracker monitors a list of keywords on a schedule and records the history.
