Quick Start
This guide covers every Ranktracker feature:
- Getting Started — Create account and basic setup
- How to Use Rank Tracker — Monitor your keyword positions across search engines daily
- How to Use Keyword Finder — Discover high-value keywords your competitors rank for
- How to Use SERP Checker — Analyze the top 10 results for any keyword instantly
- How to Use Website Audit — Find and fix technical SEO issues on your site
- How to Use Backlink Checker — Explore your backlink profile and spot link-building gaps
- How to Use SERP Simulator — Preview how your page looks in Google results before publishing
- How to Use AI Article Writer — Generate SEO-optimized content drafts in minutes
- How to Use Backlink Monitor — Track new, lost, and broken backlinks automatically
- How to Use SEO Checklist — Follow a step-by-step action plan to improve rankings
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives
Why Trust This Guide
I’ve used Ranktracker for months and tested every feature covered here.
This how to use Ranktracker tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.
Ranktracker is one of the most powerful all-in-one SEO platforms available today.
But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.
This guide shows you how to use every major feature.
Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.
Ranktracker Tutorial
This complete Ranktracker tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.
Ranktracker
Ranktracker is an all-in-one SEO platform that tracks keyword rankings, audits your site, and monitors backlinks. It covers every angle of SEO — from keyword research to competitor analysis — in one dashboard. Plans start at just $14/month.
Getting Started with Ranktracker
Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.
It takes about 3 minutes.
Watch this quick overview first:
Now let’s walk through each step.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to ranktracker.com and click “Start Free Trial.”
Enter your email address and create a password.
You can also sign up using your Google account.
✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email and verify your address.
Step 2: Create Your First Project
After logging in, click “Create Project” from the dashboard.
Enter your website domain and give the project a name.
Connect your Google Search Console account for richer data.
Here’s what the project setup screen looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see your new project listed on the dashboard.
Step 3: Set Your Target Location and Search Engine
Choose the country, region, or city you want to track rankings for.
Select your target search engine — Google, Bing, or Yahoo.
You can also specify desktop vs. mobile tracking here.
✅ Done: You’re ready to use any Ranktracker feature below.
How to Use Ranktracker Rank Tracker
Rank Tracker lets you monitor your keyword positions across multiple search engines and locations every day.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Rank Tracker in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Add Your Target Keywords
Inside your project, click “Add Keywords.”
Type or paste in the keywords you want to track.
You can add them individually or import a list in bulk.
Step 2: Configure Location and Device Settings
Set the specific country or city for each keyword.
Choose whether to track desktop, mobile, or both.
✓ Checkpoint: Your keywords appear in the tracker with a “Pending” status while data loads.
Step 3: Read and Act on Your Ranking Data
Within a few hours, position data populates for all keywords.
Use the visibility graph to spot upward or downward ranking trends.
Filter by keyword group, device, or location to focus on the data that matters.
✅ Result: You have a live dashboard showing where every keyword ranks right now.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the Tags feature to group keywords by topic, funnel stage, or product — it makes spotting patterns much faster.
How to Use Ranktracker Keyword Finder
Keyword Finder lets you discover high-value, low-competition keywords your target audience is actually searching for.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Keyword Finder in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter a Seed Keyword
Click “Keyword Finder” in the left sidebar.
Type in a broad topic or seed keyword relevant to your niche.
Select your target country and click “Search.”
Step 2: Filter Results by Search Volume and Difficulty
Ranktracker returns hundreds of related keyword ideas instantly.
Use the filters to narrow by monthly search volume and keyword difficulty score.
Here’s what the Keyword Finder results look like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see a filtered list of keywords with volume, difficulty, CPC, and trend data.
Step 3: Add Keywords to Your Tracker
Select the keywords you want to target by checking the boxes.
Click “Add to Rank Tracker” to start monitoring them immediately.
✅ Result: Your chosen keywords move directly into the Rank Tracker and begin collecting position data.
💡 Pro Tip: Run a gap analysis by entering a competitor’s domain — you’ll see keywords they rank for that you’re missing.
How to Use Ranktracker SERP Checker
SERP Checker lets you analyze the top 10 Google results for any keyword — so you know exactly what you’re up against.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch SERP Checker in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter a Target Keyword
Navigate to “SERP Checker” from the sidebar.
Type in the keyword you want to analyze and pick your location.
Hit “Check SERP” to load the live results.
Step 2: Review the Top 10 Competitors
Ranktracker shows each ranking URL with its domain authority, backlinks, and page metrics.
Look for patterns in the content type — are these blog posts, product pages, or landing pages?
✓ Checkpoint: You can see domain authority, backlinks, and estimated traffic for each result on page one.
Step 3: Identify Your Content Gap and Plan Your Attack
Compare the weakest pages in the top 10 against your own content quality.
If low-authority pages rank, it signals an opportunity for you to outrank them.
Note what SERP features appear — snippets, local packs, or “People Also Ask” boxes.
✅ Result: You have a clear picture of ranking difficulty and exactly what content you need to beat the competition.
💡 Pro Tip: Focus on keywords where the top 10 has average domain authority below 40 — those are your fastest wins.
How to Use Ranktracker Website Audit
Website Audit lets you find and fix technical SEO issues that may be hurting your rankings.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Website Audit in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Run a Full Site Crawl
Click “Website Audit” in the sidebar and enter your domain.
Click “Start Audit” and wait for the crawl to complete.
For large sites, this may take a few minutes.
Step 2: Review Your Audit Score and Issues
Ranktracker grades your site with an overall SEO health score.
Issues are grouped by severity — critical, warnings, and notices.
✓ Checkpoint: You should see a full list of issues sorted by priority with fix recommendations.
Step 3: Fix Issues and Re-Audit
Start with critical issues first — broken links, missing meta tags, and slow page speed.
Fix each issue on your website, then run a fresh audit to confirm the fix.
Schedule regular audits to catch new issues before they affect rankings.
✅ Result: Your site’s technical health score improves and search engines can crawl your pages without obstacles.
💡 Pro Tip: Run a fresh audit after every major site update or content publish — even small changes can introduce new technical errors.
How to Use Ranktracker Backlink Checker
Backlink Checker lets you explore any domain’s full backlink profile and uncover link-building opportunities.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Backlink Checker in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter a Domain to Analyze
Go to “Backlink Checker” in the sidebar.
Enter your own domain or a competitor’s domain and hit “Check.”
Ranktracker will pull the full backlink database for that domain.
Step 2: Analyze Referring Domains and Link Quality
Review the list of referring domains sorted by authority.
Check anchor text distribution to spot over-optimization risks.
✓ Checkpoint: You can see total backlinks, unique referring domains, and the authority of each linking site.
Step 3: Export and Build Your Link Prospect List
Filter for high-authority sites that link to competitors but not to you.
Export the list as a CSV to use as outreach targets.
These are warm prospects already interested in your topic.
✅ Result: You have a ready-made list of link-building prospects based on real competitor backlink data.
💡 Pro Tip: Check backlinks for your top 3 competing pages — not just domains — to find the exact links helping those pages outrank you.
How to Use Ranktracker SERP Simulator
SERP Simulator lets you preview exactly how your page title and meta description appear in Google search results before you publish.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch SERP Simulator in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Open the SERP Simulator Tool
Click “SERP Simulator” from the Ranktracker sidebar.
The tool opens with a live preview panel on the right side.
Step 2: Enter Your Title Tag and Meta Description
Type your proposed page title into the title field.
Add your meta description in the second field below.
✓ Checkpoint: The right panel updates in real time, showing a Google-style snippet with character count indicators.
Step 3: Refine Until the Snippet Is Perfect
Adjust your title until it stays within the 60-character limit without truncation.
Keep your meta description under 160 characters and include your target keyword.
Copy the final versions into your CMS or SEO plugin.
✅ Result: Your page displays a clean, fully visible snippet in Google that drives more clicks.
💡 Pro Tip: Include a number or year in your title tag — these consistently boost click-through rates in competitive SERPs.
How to Use Ranktracker AI Article Writer
AI Article Writer lets you generate SEO-optimized content drafts in minutes using data pulled directly from Ranktracker’s SERP analysis.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch AI Article Writer in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter Your Target Keyword and Topic
Click “AI Article Writer” in the sidebar.
Enter your main keyword and add any secondary keywords you want to target.
Select your target location and language.
Step 2: Customize Your Article Brief
Ranktracker suggests a title, outline, and word count based on top-ranking content.
Edit the outline to match your content strategy before generating.
✓ Checkpoint: Your outline matches the structure of top-ranking pages for that keyword.
Step 3: Generate and Edit Your Article
Click “Generate Article” and wait about 30–60 seconds.
Review the draft and add your personal insights, examples, and brand voice.
Export to your CMS or copy directly into your WordPress editor.
✅ Result: You have a structured, keyword-optimized draft ready to edit and publish.
💡 Pro Tip: Always add first-hand experience, stats, and original examples to AI-generated content — it’s the difference between content that ranks and content that doesn’t.
How to Use Ranktracker Backlink Monitor
Backlink Monitor lets you automatically track new, lost, and broken backlinks to your site over time.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Backlink Monitor in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Add Your Domain to the Monitor
Click “Backlink Monitor” in the sidebar.
Enter your website domain and click “Add Domain.”
Ranktracker begins checking your backlink profile on a regular schedule.
Step 2: Review the New vs. Lost Backlink Feed
The monitor dashboard shows a color-coded feed of link activity.
Green entries are new backlinks; red entries are lost or broken ones.
✓ Checkpoint: You can see each link’s status, anchor text, referring page, and domain authority in one row.
Step 3: Set Up Alerts and Recover Lost Links
Configure email notifications for significant link losses or gains.
When a valuable link is lost, reach out to the site owner to request reinstatement.
For broken links pointing to 404 pages, set up a redirect to recover the link equity.
✅ Result: You catch link losses the moment they happen — instead of weeks or months later.
💡 Pro Tip: Prioritize recovering lost links from high-authority domains — a single DR 70+ link is worth more than dozens of low-quality ones.
How to Use Ranktracker SEO Checklist
SEO Checklist lets you follow a structured, step-by-step action plan to improve your site’s rankings without missing anything important.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch SEO Checklist in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Open the SEO Checklist
Click “SEO Checklist” from the main sidebar.
The checklist is pre-built with tasks covering on-page, technical, and off-page SEO.
Step 2: Work Through Each Category
The checklist is divided into sections: on-page SEO, technical SEO, and link building.
Check off each task as you complete it on your website.
✓ Checkpoint: Each completed task is marked with a green checkmark, showing your overall SEO progress.
Step 3: Use It as an Ongoing Reference
Revisit the checklist whenever you publish new content or update old pages.
Share the checklist with team members or clients to align on SEO priorities.
Reset individual tasks to re-check your work after making changes.
✅ Result: Every page you publish follows SEO best practices from day one.
💡 Pro Tip: Complete the technical SEO checklist items before focusing on content — a crawlable, fast site amplifies every other SEO effort.
Ranktracker Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After testing Ranktracker for months, here are my best tips.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open search / quick navigation | Ctrl + K (Cmd + K on Mac) |
| Refresh keyword data | F5 or Ctrl + R |
| Export current view to CSV | Ctrl + Shift + E |
| Switch between projects | Click project dropdown at top left |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Keyword Tags: Go to Rank Tracker → select keywords → click “Tags” to categorize by funnel stage, product, or intent for faster filtering and reporting.
- Competitor Benchmarking: Add up to 10 competitor domains inside your project settings to track their rankings alongside yours in the same dashboard.
- Scheduled Reports: Go to Settings → Reports to set up automated PDF or CSV reports sent to your email weekly — great for client reporting.
Ranktracker Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Tracking Too Many Irrelevant Keywords
❌ Wrong: Adding hundreds of broad keywords you don’t realistically target — it wastes keyword credits and clutters your reports.
✅ Right: Focus on 30–50 high-intent keywords per project that directly match your content and business goals.
Mistake #2: Ignoring the Website Audit Results
❌ Wrong: Running an audit, seeing critical errors, and never acting on them because you’re focused on content instead.
✅ Right: Fix critical issues first — broken links, missing tags, and crawl errors cost you rankings every day they go unaddressed.
Mistake #3: Reacting to Daily Ranking Fluctuations
❌ Wrong: Panicking every time a keyword drops one or two positions and making constant content changes in response.
✅ Right: Focus on 30-day and 90-day trends in the visibility graph — short-term fluctuations are normal and rarely signal a real problem.
Ranktracker Troubleshooting
Problem: Keywords Show “N/A” or No Ranking Data
Cause: The keyword was just added and data hasn’t populated yet, or the keyword has very low search volume.
Fix: Wait 2–4 hours after adding new keywords for initial data to appear. If it persists after 24 hours, check that the keyword and location settings are saved correctly.
Problem: Ranking Data Doesn’t Match Google Search Console
Cause: Ranktracker checks rankings from a fixed location, while Search Console averages data across all user locations and devices.
Fix: Ensure your tracked location matches your primary audience. Both tools measure differently — use Ranktracker for position tracking and Search Console for impressions and click data.
Problem: Website Audit Shows Too Many Issues to Tackle
Cause: Large or older sites naturally accumulate many technical issues over time.
Fix: Filter by “Critical” severity only and address those first. Ignore “Notice” level items until critical and warning issues are resolved.
📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Ranktracker support via the live chat inside the dashboard.
What is Ranktracker?
Ranktracker is an all-in-one SEO platform that tracks keyword rankings, audits websites, analyzes backlinks, and helps you research and target the right keywords.
Think of it like a GPS for your SEO strategy — it tells you exactly where you stand, where your competitors are, and the fastest route to the top of Google.
Watch this quick overview:
It includes these key features:
- Rank Tracker: Monitor daily keyword positions across Google, Bing, and Yahoo for any location or device.
- Keyword Finder: Discover new keyword opportunities with search volume, difficulty, and CPC data.
- SERP Checker: Analyze the full top 10 for any keyword to gauge ranking difficulty.
- Website Audit: Crawl your site to find and fix technical SEO errors affecting rankings.
- Backlink Checker: Explore any domain’s backlink profile and find link-building opportunities.
- SERP Simulator: Preview your title tag and meta description before publishing a page.
- AI Article Writer: Generate SEO-optimized content drafts based on top-ranking competitor analysis.
- Backlink Monitor: Automatically track new and lost backlinks with real-time alerts.
- SEO Checklist: Follow a structured action plan covering every aspect of on-page and technical SEO.
For a full review, see our Ranktracker review.
Ranktracker Pricing
Here’s what Ranktracker costs in 2026:
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $14/month | Bloggers and solo site owners just getting started with SEO |
| Double Data | $34.41/month | Growing sites and freelancers managing a few client projects |
| Quad Data | $63.58/month | Small agencies and in-house SEO teams tracking large keyword sets |
| Hex Data | $121.91/month | Agencies and enterprises managing multiple high-traffic sites |
Free trial: Yes — Ranktracker offers a free plan with limited keyword lookups so you can test the tool before committing.
Money-back guarantee: Check the Ranktracker website for current refund policy details.
💰 Best Value: Double Data plan — it gives you enough keyword credits for a serious content site or small client roster at a very reasonable monthly cost.
Ranktracker vs Alternatives
How does Ranktracker compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:
| Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranktracker | All-in-one SEO at an affordable price | $14/mo | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Semrush | Enterprise SEO and PPC research | $117/mo | ⭐ 4.0 |
| Surfer SEO | On-page content optimization | $79/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Content Raptor | Budget-friendly content SEO | Free / $47/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Moz | Domain authority and link research | $39/mo | ⭐ 3.5 |
| SE Ranking | Agencies needing white-label reports | $52/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| Ubersuggest | Beginners on a tight budget | $120/yr | ⭐ 3.2 |
| Mangools | Simple rank tracking with clean UI | $18.85/mo | ⭐ 4.1 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Ranktracker — the widest feature set at the lowest starting price point in this category.
- Best budget: Mangools — clean rank tracking and KWFinder at under $20/month.
- Best for beginners: Ubersuggest — simple interface with a low cost lifetime option for new SEOs.
- Best for enterprise: Semrush — the deepest data set and most integrations for large teams and agencies.
🎯 Ranktracker Alternatives
Looking for Ranktracker alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🏢 Semrush: The most powerful SEO suite on the market — ideal for agencies and enterprise teams that need deep keyword, backlink, and PPC data in one place.
- 🎨 Surfer SEO: The top choice for content teams — combines on-page SEO scoring with a built-in content editor that guides you to higher-ranking articles.
- 💰 Content Raptor: A budget-friendly content SEO tool with a free tier — great for small sites that want keyword optimization without a big monthly bill.
- 🔧 Moz: A trusted name in SEO with strong domain authority metrics, a reliable rank tracker, and a well-established link research database.
- 📊 SE Ranking: A flexible, agency-focused platform with white-label reporting, accurate rank tracking, and competitive pricing for client work.
- 👶 Ubersuggest: Neil Patel’s beginner-friendly SEO tool with keyword research, site audit, and rank tracking at one of the lowest price points available.
- ⭐ Mangools: A clean, easy-to-use suite covering rank tracking, keyword research, SERP analysis, and backlinks — perfect for solo SEOs who dislike cluttered dashboards.
For the full list, see our Ranktracker alternatives guide.
⚔️ Ranktracker Compared
Here’s how Ranktracker stacks up against each competitor:
- Ranktracker vs Semrush: Semrush has deeper data and more integrations, but Ranktracker wins on price — it’s 8x cheaper for comparable rank tracking at the entry level.
- Ranktracker vs Surfer SEO: Surfer is better for on-page content scoring, but Ranktracker covers more ground with rank tracking, audits, and backlinks in one tool.
- Ranktracker vs Content Raptor: Content Raptor has a free plan for content-focused SEO, but Ranktracker offers a more complete all-in-one platform including rank tracking.
- Ranktracker vs Moz: Moz has stronger domain authority metrics and a longer track record, but Ranktracker’s interface is more modern and its starter plan is cheaper.
- Ranktracker vs SE Ranking: SE Ranking edges out Ranktracker for white-label agency reporting, but Ranktracker’s SERP Checker and AI Writer give it more utility per dollar.
- Ranktracker vs Ubersuggest: Ranktracker has far more accurate data and a more complete toolset — Ubersuggest suits total beginners, while Ranktracker is built for serious SEOs.
- Ranktracker vs Mangools: Both are affordable and well-designed, but Ranktracker includes more tools (AI Writer, SEO Checklist, Backlink Monitor) that Mangools doesn’t offer.
Start Using Ranktracker Now
You learned how to use every major Ranktracker feature:
- ✅ Rank Tracker
- ✅ Keyword Finder
- ✅ SERP Checker
- ✅ Website Audit
- ✅ Backlink Checker
- ✅ SERP Simulator
- ✅ AI Article Writer
- ✅ Backlink Monitor
- ✅ SEO Checklist
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with Rank Tracker.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ranktracker legit?
Yes, Ranktracker is a legitimate SEO platform used by thousands of bloggers, agencies, and in-house SEO teams worldwide. It was founded in 2020 and has grown into a well-regarded all-in-one SEO tool. The data is accurate and the platform is actively maintained with regular updates.
Is Ranktracker free?
Ranktracker offers a free plan that gives you a limited number of keyword lookups, SERP checks, and backlink searches per day. It’s enough to test the platform but not enough for a full SEO campaign. Paid plans start at $14/month for the Starter tier.
What is a rank tracker?
A rank tracker is a tool that monitors where your website appears in search engine results pages (SERPs) for specific keywords. It checks your position daily and shows whether your rankings are improving or declining over time. Rank trackers help you measure the impact of your SEO work and spot problems early.
How do I check my keyword ranking?
To check your keyword rankings in Ranktracker, create a project for your domain, add your target keywords, and set your location and search engine. Within a few hours, Ranktracker populates your current ranking position for each keyword and updates it daily. You can view trends, filter by location, and export reports at any time.
How do I do keyword research in Ranktracker?
Use the Keyword Finder tool — enter a seed keyword, select your target country, and Ranktracker returns hundreds of related keyword ideas with search volume, difficulty, CPC, and trend data. Filter the results to find low-competition keywords with decent search volume. You can add promising keywords directly to your Rank Tracker with one click.
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