SerpWatcher Alternatives — Better Rank Tracking

SerpWatcher (by Mangools) is a rank tracking tool that monitors your keyword positions in Google search results over time. It's part of the Mangools suite alongside KWFinder, SERPChecker, and LinkMiner. SerpWatcher works, but it has limitations: it only tracks Google desktop rankings, the data refresh frequency is limited on lower plans, and it lacks the depth that SEO professionals need for competitive analysis.

If you're outgrowing SerpWatcher or looking for something more capable, this guide covers the best alternatives for rank tracking — from affordable tools for individual marketers to enterprise-grade platforms for agencies.

Key Takeaways

• SearchHive SwiftSearch provides real-time SERP data that you can use to build custom rank tracking, with the added benefit of scraping and AI extraction in one platform
• Ahrefs Rank Tracker offers the most comprehensive rank tracking with daily updates and advanced segmentation
• SE Ranking provides the best balance of features and pricing for small to medium teams
• DataForSEO is the cheapest option for building your own rank tracking tool at scale
• Several alternatives offer mobile tracking, which SerpWatcher lacks

Why Replace SerpWatcher?

Common reasons developers and marketers switch from SerpWatcher:

1. No mobile tracking — SerpWatcher only tracks desktop rankings. With mobile-first indexing, this is a significant gap
2. Limited refresh frequency — Lower-tier plans update positions every few days, not daily
3. Limited keywords — Plans cap the number of trackable keywords, and upgrading is expensive
4. No API access for automation — You can't programmatically add keywords or pull data for custom dashboards
5. Shallow competitive data — No SERP feature tracking, no tag-based segmentation, no share-of-voice metrics

1. SearchHive SwiftSearch — Build Custom Rank Tracking

SearchHive's SwiftSearch API isn't a rank tracking tool in the traditional sense — it's a SERP API that returns real-time Google search results. But with programmatic queries, you can build a rank tracking system that's more flexible and cheaper than any dedicated tool.

Pricing: Free tier available. Per-request pricing scales with usage.

Why it works for rank tracking:

• Real-time position data — query Google whenever you want
• Full SERP feature tracking (featured snippets, local packs, PAA)
• Track desktop and mobile with the same API
• No keyword limits — you define what to track
• Build custom dashboards, alerts, and reports
• Combined with ScrapeForge for tracking SERP features on competitor pages
• Python SDK makes automation straightforward

import searchhive

client = searchhive.Client(api_key="your-api-key")

# Track keyword position — run daily for rank history
def track_position(keyword, domain, device="desktop"):
    results = client.swift_search.query(
        query=keyword,
        engine="google",
        device=device,
        num_results=20,
    )
    
    for r in results.organic:
        if domain in r.url:
            return {
                "keyword": keyword,
                "position": r.position,
                "url": r.url,
                "title": r.title,
                "device": device,
                "featured_snippet": hasattr(results, "featured_snippet"),
            }
    return {"keyword": keyword, "position": None, "device": device}

# Track multiple keywords and devices
keywords = ["web scraping api", "search api for ai", "serp api pricing"]
for kw in keywords:
    desktop = track_position(kw, "yourdomain.com", "desktop")
    mobile = track_position(kw, "yourdomain.com", "mobile")
    print(f"{kw}: Desktop #{desktop['position']}, Mobile #{mobile['position']}")

With this approach, you control refresh frequency, keyword count, and data retention. No plan limits, no feature gates.

/blog/google-serp-api-alternatives-cheaper-search-results

2. Ahrefs Rank Tracker — Most Comprehensive

Ahrefs is one of the most respected SEO platforms, and their rank tracker reflects that. It tracks daily positions across desktop and mobile, supports 10+ search engines, and provides deep competitive analysis.

Pricing: Starts at $99/month (Lite plan) with rank tracking for 750 keywords. Higher tiers unlock more keywords and features.

Pros:

• Daily position updates
• Desktop and mobile tracking
• 10+ search engines (Google, Bing, YouTube, Baidu, etc.)
• SERP feature tracking with ownership history
• Share-of-voice metrics
• Excellent data visualization and reporting

Cons:

• Expensive entry point at $99/month
• Keyword limits on all plans
• Overkill if you only need rank tracking (you're paying for the full SEO suite)
• Steep learning curve for the full platform

3. SE Ranking — Best Value for Teams

SE Ranking provides rank tracking, keyword research, backlink analysis, and site audit in a clean, affordable package. Their rank tracker supports daily updates, mobile tracking, and competitor comparison.

Pricing: Plans start at $55/month for tracking 250 keywords with daily updates. Volume discounts available.

Pros:

• Affordable compared to Ahrefs and Semrush
• Daily position updates on all plans
• Desktop and mobile tracking
• Scheduled PDF/CSV reports
• White-label reports for agencies
• Clean, intuitive interface

Cons:

• Smaller keyword database than Ahrefs/Semrush
• Less comprehensive backlink data
• Some advanced features require higher-tier plans
• Limited API access

4. Semrush Position Tracking — Enterprise Standard

Semrush's Position Tracking tool is used by large enterprises and agencies. It provides granular tracking with daily updates, tag-based segmentation, and deep SERP feature analysis.

Pricing: Position Tracking available on Guru plan ($249.95/month) and above.

Pros:

• Most feature-rich rank tracking available
• Tag-based keyword segmentation
• SERP feature ownership tracking
• Device, location, and language targeting
• Comprehensive competitive intelligence
• API access for data export

Cons:

• Very expensive — $250/month minimum for rank tracking
• Complex interface with steep learning curve
• Overkill for small businesses
• Many features you may never use

5. DataForSEO — Cheapest for Custom Build

DataForSEO provides SERP data through an API designed for SEO platforms. If you want to build your own rank tracking tool, DataForSEO has the cheapest per-request pricing at volume.

Pricing: Approximately $0.0005–$0.001 per SERP request at high volume.

Pros:

• Cheapest option at scale (100k+ daily requests)
• Live and organic SERP data
• 100+ location combinations
• Designed for programmatic access
• No keyword limits

Cons:

• You build everything yourself — no UI, no reports, no alerts
• Complex API with a learning curve
• Credit-based pricing is opaque
• No scraping or extraction features
• Requires developer resources to build and maintain

/compare/dataforseo

6. AccuRanker — Fastest Updates

AccuRanker focuses on one thing: rank tracking, done fast. It updates positions multiple times per day and prides itself on accuracy.

Pricing: Plans start at $109/month for 1,000 keywords.

Pros:

• Up to 4 updates per day
• High accuracy with live SERP data
• Clean, focused interface
• Google and Bing support
• Good API for automation

Cons:

• Expensive per-keyword compared to alternatives
• No keyword research or backlink features
• Limited SERP feature tracking
• No mobile tracking on lower plans

7. Whitespark — Best for Local SEO

Whitespark specializes in local SEO rank tracking — tracking your position in Google's local pack/map results for specific geographic areas.

Pricing: Plans start at $38/month for 50 keywords.

Pros:

• Best-in-class local pack tracking
• Grid-based local rank tracking (track positions across a map)
• Google Business Profile management included
• Citation building tools

Cons:

• Focused on local — limited organic tracking
• No keyword research features
• Smaller feature set overall
• Limited API capabilities

8. Nightwatch — Best Interface

Nightwatch offers a clean, visual rank tracking experience with a focus on usability. It supports desktop and mobile tracking with daily updates.

Pricing: Plans start at $39/month for 100 keywords.

Pros:

• Excellent visual interface
• Desktop and mobile tracking
• Competitor tracking included
• Automated scheduled reports
• White-label options

Cons:

• Limited keyword research depth
• Smaller backlink database
• Fewer integrations than major platforms
• Some features limited to higher plans

Comparison Table

Recommendation

For developers building custom tools: SearchHive SwiftSearch gives you real-time SERP data with no keyword limits, no plan tiers, and full API access. Build the rank tracker you actually want instead of adapting to someone else's interface.

For marketing teams wanting a full suite: SE Ranking hits the best price-to-feature ratio. Ahrefs if you need the deepest data and can justify $99+/month.

For agencies: Semrush or SE Ranking, depending on budget. Both offer white-label reports and multi-client management.

For local SEO: Whitespark is the specialist. Nobody tracks local pack positions more precisely.

For building a rank tracking SaaS: DataForSEO provides the cheapest raw data at scale. You'll need developer resources to build the UI and logic, but you control everything.

SearchHive Documentation | Free Tier | SwiftSearch API Reference