Want to know where your website shows up on Google without spending money? You have come to the right place.
Whether you are running a small business, blog writer, or just trying to get more eyes on your stuff, checking your Google rankings is a must. Tracking your keyword ranking on Google is highly essential because if no one is seeing your page, there is no point left for publishing any content.
Good news is that you do not have to shell out for fancy tools. There are ways to do this for free. In this guide, we are going to describe simple ways to check your rankings without making it overly techy or confusing.
What Does Google Ranking Mean?
Before we go into the details of checking Google ranking for free, we need to understand what we are talking about.
Google ranking is the position where your web page shows up when a person searches with the keywords related to your website. Like if you Google “best pizza near me” and your website is the second link congratulations, you are ranked #2.
But most people never scroll past the first few results. So being on page two is like being invisible. That is why tracking your spot matters.
Why You Should Care About Your Google Rank?
Imagine opening a store but not putting it on a map. That is what it is like to ignore your Google rank. If people can not find you, they would not buy from you, call you, or even know you exist.
Here is why keeping eye on your rank matters:
- Know what is working: You will see if your content or SEO changes helped or hurt.
- Spot trends: If you are ranking up, it is cool and if ranking down it means it is time to fix stuff.
- Spy on competitors: Are they beating you for the same keyword? Now you know.
Furthermore, tracking your rankings lets you stop guessing and start doing what works.
Do You Need Tools for This?
Technically, no. You could search Google manually, just open an incognito window and type your keyword in. But if we think about it practically, that gets old fast.
Manual searches are slow, inconsistent and time taking. If you want to keep track of multiple keywords or pages, you will want something better.
That is where Google Rank Tracker tools come in.
Free Ways to Check Your Google Rankings
You do not need a huge budget to track your SEO progress. There are free tools out there that get the job done. So let’s have a look at the best free tools to check your Google rankings:
1. Google Search Console (100% Free & From Google)
If you are not using this, start today.
What it does: Shows which keywords you are ranking for, your average position, and how many clicks each page gets.
How to use it:
Here are some simple steps to use Google search console:
- Go to Google Search Console
- Add your website and verify it (takes a few steps)
- Click on Performance
- Your keywords, positions, clicks, and more
Pros:
- Super accurate (it is Google, after all)
- Free forever
- Great for spotting which keywords need your attention or working
Cons:
- Data is sometimes delayed
- Does not show competitors
- Can feel a little clunky at first
If it feels overwhelming, you are not dumb. Everyone is confused at first.
2. Rub Ranking (Free + Super Simple)
Rub Ranking is a newer tool in google keyword rank checking world, but it is clean and easy. If you are tired of complex dashboards, give this one a shot.
It allows you to check your site’s keyword rankings without logging in or creating an account.
How to use it:
- Visit Rub Ranking
- Enter your domain and keyword
- Choose a location (optional)
- Click search and scroll
Why it is good to use:
- No sign-up needed
- Super fast results
- Handy if you are checking just a few keywords
However, keep in mind that the free version offers limited features and it is very basic no deep reports or history tracking is available (coming soon).
It is a reliable tool when you just want a fast answer without any hassle. Must try it once.
3. SERPWatcher by Mangools (Free Trial)
You get a few days to try it out before they ask for money.
- Nice dashboard
- Clean interface
- Shows position history and changes
Just head to serpwatcher.com, plug in your keywords and domain, and you are off.
5. WhatsMySERP
It is a hidden gem with following features:
- 10 free keyword checks per day
- You can track rankings over time
- Clean, basic interface
It is perfect if you do not need flashy charts.
SEO Expert Tips
Here are some additional tips from SEO experts to keep in mind :
1- What to Look For When Checking Rankings?
Ranking is not just about being “number one.” You need to look at several different things which are as follows:
- Keyword: It means you need to find what exact term are people typing? So that you can use them in your content.
- Position: It is highly essential for you to find are you on page one or buried on page three.
- URL: when you are checking the ranking of your website, get some detailed insights to know which page on your site is ranking.
- Clicks: know the number of clicks so that you find out How many people are actually visiting.
- Trends: Look at trends or patterns in the performance of your websites to know if you are climbing or dropping.
You should always keep in mind that rankings go up and down and it is normal. Do not panic over small shifts.
2- How Often Should You Check Ranking?
The answer to this question is not every day. For the majority of people, once a week or maybe every two weeks is the frequency to check ranking. It is because SEO works very slowly, and checking every day could stress out or make you panic.
Choose a day, note it on your calendar, and be firm with the decision. Thus you will not be just looking after the general development of the website but instead tracking every small change that is happening.
3- What to Do If Your Rankings Get Stuck?
We have all been there. You put in hours of work, and your site is still invisible. So what to do now?
Here is a simple checklist:
- Check your keywords: Are you targeting stuff people actually search for?
- Look at your content: Is it helpful? Easy to read? Actually answers the question?
- Speed test: Slow sites sink. Use PageSpeed Insights
- Mobile-friendly? It is better because most traffic comes from phones.
- Get backlinks: More trusted sites linking to you = better rank
You do not have to fix everything at once. Start small and improve a little each week.
Mistakes to Avoid When Checking Rankings
Some people rush through everything and want to get results within a week or month and get stressed by little mistakes or when they are not getting expected results. Here are some mistakes that you should avoid:
- Do not obsess: One drop does not mean disaster or you fell behind.
- Avoid checking logged in: Google will show you results it thinks you want. Use incognito.
- Do not just look at rank: Clicks matter more. A #4 spot getting traffic beats a #1 spot nobody clicks.
- Skipping long-tail keywords: These “longer” search phrases often rank easier and bring better traffic.
For example, instead of just “shoes,” try “best running shoes for flat feet.”
Final Remarks – Check Google Rankings for Free
You do not need a huge budget or a tech degree to track your Google rankings. With tools like Google Search Console and a few free SERP checkers, you can stay on top of things for zero dollars.
Remember, rankings are not the goal. Traffic and results are related. If people are visiting the website and are taking the desired actions, your task is complete, happy even if you are not always number 1.
Keep the regularity in your work. Make sure all your content is SEO optimized and track what you do that brings positive results on a weekly basis.
Read More : What Is a SERP Checker? A Simple Guide
