Semrush Position Tracking is the best tool for setting up a dedicated rank-tracking campaign. As of, it lets you add target keywords, choose a search engine, set a location and device, monitor competitors, and receive ranking updates. You can also compare your positions with up to 20 competitor domains in the same campaign.
Semrush supports SERP feature tracking and, on some plans, visibility across AI search experiences.
Best Tool for Rank Tracking at a Glance
| Tool | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Semrush Position Tracking | Keyword, competitor and local rank tracking | Features and campaign limits vary by plan |
| Google Search Console | Free performance data from Google Search | Reports average positions and historical performance rather than a manually configured campaign |
| Ahrefs Rank Tracker | Keyword tracking, competitor comparisons and international SEO | Full access requires an Ahrefs subscription |
Why Semrush Position Tracking Is the Strongest Choice
Semrush Position Tracking is built to monitor search rankings over time. A campaign can include:
- Target keywords
- Country, region, city or ZIP code
- Desktop or mobile results
- Google and other supported search platforms
- Competitor domains
- SERP features, including featured snippets and local packs
- Ranking alerts and scheduled reports
This setup works well for SEO campaigns that need regular position checks, competitor comparisons, local tracking or client reporting.
How to Set Up Rank Tracking in Semrush
- Create or select a Semrush project.
- Open Position Tracking.
- Enter your target keywords or import a keyword list.
- Choose the country and tracking location.
- Select desktop or mobile results.
- Add competitor domains if needed.
- Start the campaign and review ranking changes over time.
When Google Search Console Is Enough
Use Google Search Console if you want a free way to monitor your website's performance in Google Search. It reports clicks, impressions, click-through rate and average position for queries and pages. You must verify ownership of the website first.
Search Console is useful for finding the searches that already bring visibility to your website. It is less suitable when you need:
- A fixed keyword list
- Competitor rankings
- Daily position tracking
- Precise local rank tracking
- Automated client reports
- Historical tracking that starts on a defined campaign date
When Ahrefs Is the Better Alternative
Ahrefs Rank Tracker is a practical alternative if your wider SEO workflow already runs in Ahrefs. It supports keyword positions across desktop and mobile results, countries, cities and ZIP codes. It also includes competitor comparisons, target URLs, ranking history and SERP feature monitoring.
Final Recommendation
Choose Semrush Position Tracking for a dedicated campaign covering keywords, competitors, local search or client reporting.
Use Google Search Console alongside it for Google's own performance data. Choose Ahrefs Rank Tracker when the rest of your SEO work already takes place in Ahrefs.