SerpBear

SerpBear is free, open-source software for tracking Google keyword positions. It supports unlimited domains and keywords, with configurable Basic, Custom, or Smart scraping strategies. Users can schedule email alerts about position changes daily, weekly, or monthly. Its Google Search Console integration shows visits, impressions, average position, ranking keywords, and recent statistics for top keywords, countries, and pages. Users can export keyword data as CSV files. The built-in API can retrieve keyword and domain data, refresh positions, run scrapes, and send notification emails using a user-set API key. Scraping backends include services such as ScrapingRobot, Serply, SerpApi, SearchApi, ValueSerp, Serper, ScrapingAnt, and CrazySerp, as well as user-provided proxy IPs. The software is free, but external scraping providers may impose limits or charges; its documentation lists 5,000 free searches per month for ScrapingRobot. SerpBear can be run locally, deployed with Node.js or Docker on a server, or set up using hosted deployment guides. It can also be added to a mobile device as a PWA. Google Ads keyword research requires Basic Access or higher for the developer token; Test Account Access and Explorer Access cannot use the required planning features.

SerpBear provides keyword tracking, alerts, Search Console data, exports, and an API at no software cost. Account for the setup choices and possible external scraping charges when considering it.

SerpBear suits people who want to monitor Google keyword positions across multiple domains and use scraping strategies they can configure. It may also suit users comfortable with local or server deployment and external scraping services.

Overview

SerpBear is open-source software for tracking Google keyword rankings. It is best suited to technically comfortable users who want to host their own SEO monitor and manage its scraping setup. Its uncapped keyword and domain tracking is compelling, but deployment and potential provider fees make it less convenient than a managed service.

Key features

SerpBear tracks positions across unlimited domains and keywords, with Basic, Custom, or Smart scraping strategies. That flexibility is useful for portfolios that would outgrow a fixed keyword allowance, but unlimited tracking in the app does not mean unlimited searches: the scraping service or proxy you connect may set the practical quota and cost. Supported providers include ScrapingRobot, Serply, SerpApi, SearchApi, ValueSerp, Serper, ScrapingAnt, and CrazySerp; users can also supply proxy IPs. ScrapingRobot includes 5,000 free searches per month, while other external scraping services may charge for use.

Email alerts report keyword position changes on daily, weekly, or monthly schedules. This gives users a choice between frequent updates and less frequent reporting. Google Search Console integration adds visits, impressions, average position, ranking keywords, and recent statistics for top keywords, countries, and pages, giving rank data useful traffic context.

The built-in API can retrieve keyword and domain data, refresh positions, run scrapes, and send notification emails with a user-set API key. CSV export lets users take domain keywords and their data into other workflows. The app can be added to a mobile device as a PWA, though that mobile option does not remove the work of hosting and configuring the service.

Deployment guides cover Node.js and Docker on a server, local use, and hosted deployment. Setup includes environment variables for a username, password, secret, API key, and session duration, with SSL documented through a reverse proxy. Those controls suit users prepared to manage credentials and deployment; they are a substantial setup burden for someone seeking a ready-to-use hosted dashboard. Google Ads keyword research also requires Basic Access or higher for the Google Ads developer token; Test Account Access and Explorer Access cannot use the required keyword planning features. The project is under the MIT license.

Pricing

The SerpBear plan costs nothing and provides the software without a subscription. There are no app-level keyword or domain caps, but scraping is an external operating cost to consider: providers can impose usage limits or charges. This plan fits users who can host SerpBear and choose a scraping arrangement; it is not a bundled, managed service with scraping included.

Platforms

SerpBear supports web, self-hosted deployment, and API access, and can be added to Android and iOS devices as a PWA. Its deployment options suit users who want local or server-based control, while the PWA offers mobile access without changing the self-hosting requirements.

Who it's for

Choose SerpBear if you need to track many domains or keywords, value an API and CSV exports, and are comfortable arranging deployment and scraping. It is a poor fit if you want a turnkey service with a defined all-in price for rank checks, or if you cannot manage a server or hosted deployment. Google Ads keyword research users should also confirm they can obtain the required developer-token access.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Unlimited domains and keywords avoid an in-app tracking cap, making the software suitable for broad portfolios.
• Pro: Search Console integration, scheduled email alerts, API access, and CSV export support monitoring and downstream workflows without a software subscription.
• Pro: Node.js, Docker, local, and hosted deployment guides offer choices for users able to manage their own setup.
• Con: Deployment requires configuration of credentials and security settings, so it takes more effort than a ready-to-use hosted rank tracker.
• Con: Scraping services can add quotas or fees, meaning the free software does not guarantee free or unlimited rank checks.
• Con: Google Ads keyword planning needs Basic Access or higher for the developer token; lower access levels cannot use those features.

Alternatives

For a hosted option with explicit small-plan limits, Positionly has a free plan covering 5 keywords and 1 website, and a Basic plan at $15 a month when billed 12 months (20% off), covering 100 keywords and 10 websites. Choose it if those caps suit your needs and you prefer a freemium service over configuring SerpBear.

Rankinity offers a free version with 300 checks per month and a Full Version with unlimited checks at custom pricing. It is a sensible alternative if you want a stated monthly check allowance on the free tier or want unlimited checks without self-hosting SerpBear.

Check Position charges €15 a month for its 300-keyword plan, with prices excluding VAT and priority refresh of 300 keywords per day. Consider it when a defined paid keyword allowance and priority refresh better suit your tracking needs.

Local Viking is a paid alternative with per-location GeoBooster pricing and separate keyword and GeoGrid credits. Choose it when those location-based plans and credits fit your needs better than SerpBear's self-hosted setup.

Seodity is a paid alternative with a Basic plan at $41 a month, billed $490 annually, including 350 daily tracked keywords alongside technical audits and other listed capabilities. It may suit buyers who want a paid SEO suite rather than a self-hosted rank tracker.

CanIRank offers a free web plan with 1 website and limited SEO, keyword, and link-opportunity reports. It is an alternative for web users who prefer a report-based free plan to SerpBear's self-hosted keyword monitoring.

Geogrid has a free plan with 200 credits and one weekly scheduled rescan, and a Starter plan at $29 a month billed annually. Choose it when those credit and rescan terms fit better than SerpBear's scraping-provider arrangement.

Grid My Business is another alternative to consider.

For more options, browse Rank Tracking Software or SEO tools.

Verdict

SerpBear is a strong choice for technically capable users who want broad Google rank tracking without paying for the software itself. Its API, Search Console integration, alerts, and exports make the free app more than a bare position checker. Choose another service if you want a managed experience: hosting work and possible scraping charges are the clearest reasons to look elsewhere.