title

The search term to analyze on Google.

Enter your website domain (without https:// or www).

Geographical location for SERP results.

Simulate a search from a desktop or mobile device.

About Check Your Google Ranking Instantly

Want to know exactly where your website shows up on Google for a specific query? This SERP Rank Checker simulates a real search using an external API, then parses the response to find your position, matching URL, top organic listings and detected ads. You can target by country (ISO code) and device (desktop or mobile), see whether the response was served from cache or fetched live, and copy a shareable link or text report for stakeholders.

Why Use This SERP Rank Checker?

  • Clean summary of keyword, domain, matched URL and position for the current query
  • Country-level targeting via ISO codes (e.g. us, fr, de, ca) to approximate local intent
  • Device toggle to compare desktop vs mobile visibility and layout differences
  • Parsed top organic results plus detected ads when the provider exposes them
  • Optional SERP screenshot preview (when supported by the underlying provider)
  • Transparent metadata: provider name, processed time, cache status and rate-limit hints
  • One-click copy of a shareable report link or plain-text summary for clients and teammates
  • Fair-use rate limits with explicit error states when you hit the daily cap

🔧 How to Use the SERP Rank Checker for serp-rank-checker

1

1. Enter Your Keyword

Type the search query you want to analyze, including modifiers like "best", "near me" or the year when relevant to intent.

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2. Provide Your Domain

Enter your website's domain without protocol, subpath or tracking parameters (for example: example.com). The backend will match it against the hostnames in the SERP results.

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3. Choose Location & Device

Set a country code (us, fr, de, ca, etc.) and select desktop or mobile. This approximates how a typical user in that context might see the results.

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4. Run the Check & Interpret the Summary

Run the analysis to see your position (if found), matched URL, top organic results, ads and metadata such as provider, cache status and rate-limit information.

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5. Share or Copy the Report

Use the built-in buttons to copy a shareable URL with pre-filled parameters or a plain-text summary that you can paste into tickets, emails or reports.

Technical Specifications

Search Source & Provider

The tool delegates the actual Google-like search to a third-party API such as Serper.dev, configured with parameters for keyword, country and device. The backend then normalizes the response into a consistent JSON format. Provider name, cache status and certain headers (e.g. rate-limit hints) are exposed in the result metadata when available.

AspectBehaviorNotes
Provider fieldmetadata.providerIndicates which underlying search API processed the request.
Cache flagmetadata.cached / metadata.xCacheShows whether the response came from a cache layer and, if so, whether it was a HIT, MISS or BYPASS.
Processed timemetadata.processedAtISO timestamp of when the backend processed the query.

Location Targeting

Location is expressed as a two-letter country ISO code such as us, fr, de or ca. This provides a country-level approximation of the SERP. City-level differences, language preferences and ongoing experiments can still cause variations in live Google results.

Device Simulation

Desktop vs mobile SERPs are approximated using device-specific parameters and user agents on the provider side. This helps surface layout changes, mobile-only cards and ranking shifts between devices, but it cannot fully replicate individual user personalization.

Result Types & Matching Logic

The backend parses organic results and ads from the provider response, then tries to find the first match for the requested domain.

ElementBehaviorNotes
Organic resultsExposed as topResults[] with title + URLUsed to compute the reported position when hostname matches the input domain.
AdsExposed as ads[] with position + title + URL when provided by the APIUseful for understanding paid competition and SERP real estate.
PositionFirst organic match for the domainIf no organic result matches the domain, position is reported as null / Not found.

Volatility & Experimentation

Search results are inherently unstable: rankings can change due to algorithm updates, A/B tests, personalization, language settings and index refreshes. The SERP Rank Checker offers a point-in-time snapshot with reduced personalization, but not an absolute or permanent truth.

Rate Limits & Daily Caps

To keep the tool responsive and protect the underlying API, per-IP rate limits are enforced. When headers such as X-RateLimit-Limit and X-RateLimit-Remaining are available, they are surfaced in metadata and error panels. A small public configuration endpoint may also expose the daily limit used in the UI for transparency.

Command Line Example (Backend Testing)

During development, you can call the local API directly from your terminal:

Universal (Linux/macOS/Windows)

Check SERP rank for a keyword and domain via local API

curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/serp-rank -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"keyword":"base64 encode","domain":"base64encode.org","location":"us","device":"desktop"}'

Returns JSON including code, keyword, domain, position (if found), matched URL, topResults, ads and metadata such as provider and cache key.

High-Impact Use Cases

SEO Testing & Prioritization

  • Validate ranking movement after on-page changes (titles, headings, internal linking).
  • Compare desktop vs mobile visibility for your most valuable queries.
  • Detect keyword cannibalization when multiple URLs from the same domain appear.
// Simple cannibalization detection (pseudo-code)
const own = serp.organic.filter(r => r.url.includes('example.com'));
if (own.length > 1) {
  console.log('Potential cannibalization:', own.map(r => r.url));
}

Client & Stakeholder Reporting

  • Capture point-in-time snapshots for monthly or quarterly SEO reports.
  • Benchmark country-level visibility for international SEO campaigns.
  • Document the impact of technical, content or link initiatives on ranking.

Competitor & SERP Feature Intelligence

  • Identify which competitors consistently rank above you for a target keyword.
  • See which domains dominate paid positions for your core queries.
  • Spot SERP layouts where featured snippets or heavy ads suppress organic CTR.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

❓Why does the reported position differ from what I see in my browser?

Google personalizes results based on history, location, language, device and ongoing experiments. The SERP Rank Checker uses a search API with country and device parameters to reduce personalization, but timing, language settings and logged-in state can still cause differences between this snapshot and what you see in your browser.

🌍Can I check city-level rankings?

This tool focuses on country-level targeting via ISO codes such as us or fr. For hyper-local SEO (city or neighborhood), complement these checks with on-device tests in the target area or with specialized local rank tracking tools.

📱How different are mobile vs desktop SERPs?

Mobile SERPs often use different layouts, card formats and feature prominence. Featured snippets, carousels, local packs and ads can take more space. It is normal for positions and user behaviour to differ between desktop and mobile for the same keyword.

🧪How often should I check rankings?

Weekly checks are usually enough to capture meaningful trends without overreacting to day-to-day fluctuations. Daily checks can make sense during migrations, major redesigns or experiments, but be mindful of rate limits and natural SERP volatility.

🔒Do you store my queries?

Queries are used to perform the lookup and to enforce fair-use limits. Personal data is not used for profiling. Minimal technical logs may be kept briefly for debugging and abuse prevention, but this tool is designed for ephemeral analysis rather than long-term tracking.

⚠️Are there usage limits?

Yes. Fair-use rate limits and daily caps keep the service stable for everyone and protect the upstream API. When a rate limit is hit, the API and UI return an explicit error, often including the remaining quota or public daily limit when available.

Pro Tips

Best Practice

Match the intent of the SERP: if the top results are long-form guides, comparisons or checklists, a thin product page is unlikely to win that query.

Best Practice

Test close keyword variants (singular vs plural, with or without "best", adding the year). Small changes can drastically alter intent and the entire layout of the SERP.

Best Practice

Compare desktop vs mobile rankings and prioritize the weaker context first. Mobile improvements often translate into faster overall visibility gains.

Best Practice

If a featured snippet or large SERP feature dominates above you, structure your content with clear headings, lists and concise definitions to compete for that block.

Best Practice

When multiple URLs from your site appear for the same keyword, consider consolidating overlapping pages or clarifying their topics to reduce cannibalization.

Additional Resources

Google Search Essentials (Documentation)
Documentation
Google SEO Starter Guide
Reference
Serper.dev API Docs
Documentation

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