A SERP analysis tool shows who ranks for a keyword, what the results page looks like and why those pages win.
The hard part is choosing one. Plans count SERP checks, searches, queries or credits, and few say which country they read.
We read 10 vendors' own pricing pages on 11 November 2026. We compared prices, allowances, locations and history. We didn't score accuracy.
One free check, right now? Semrush's and Ahrefs' free SERP checkers show the top 10 for a keyword with no sign-up.
Local SERPs on a budget? Mangools SERPChecker lists 65,000+ locations. Basic is $61 a month ($37.70/mo billed yearly) with 100 SERP analyses a day.
Pay per SERP? thruuu Starter is $19 a month ($13/mo billed yearly) for up to 75 SERP analyses in 196 countries.
Need old SERPs? SpyFu Basic ($39 a month) lists 10+ years of history. Ahrefs adds SERP history from Lite ($129).
- Decide on four things: location, intent signals, freshness and evidence you can save.
- The cheapest plan that includes each tool's SERP analysis runs from $19 to $359 a month on monthly billing. Surfer's SERP Analyzer is only on its top plan.
- The unit differs: SERP analyses, searches a day, keyword queries, credits or reports. Compare the allowance, not just the price.
- Historical data often sits on higher tiers: Ahrefs Lite (SERP history), Semrush Pro+, SE Ranking Growth.
- No third-party tool sees Google's ranking data. Treat every report as a sample of one place and time.
SERP analysis tools at a glance
| Tool | Entry plan, price a month* | SERP allowance on that plan | Locations | SERP history | Free check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| seotools.pro SERP Analyzer | Free; Lite $24 ($20 yearly) | Free account: 2 runs a day | Country (30) and device menu; US and UK checks returned the same results | Not offered | Yes; guest rows blurred until sign-up |
| Semrush | SEO $139 ($117.33 yearly) | SEO plan: not listed; Free plan: 10 reports a day | Free checker: "any location" | "Historical SEO data" from Pro+ ($299) | Yes, top 10, no sign-up |
| Ahrefs | Starter $29 (SERP features not listed); Lite $129 | Lite: 1,000 credits per user (shared across reports) | Free checker: "hundreds of locations" | Lite: SERP history; Standard ($249): SERP comparison | Yes, top 10, no sign-up |
| SE Ranking | Core $129 ($103.20 yearly) | 50 SERP analyzer checks | Free checker: "any location" | Historical data: Core "6/mo"; Growth ($279) all time | Yes, top 3 or top 5 |
| Mangools SERPChecker | Basic $61 ($37.70 yearly) | 100 SERP analyses a day | 65,000+ locations, desktop or mobile | Not listed | Free tool page; limit not listed |
| Moz Pro | Entry plan $49; Standard $99 ($79 yearly) | Standard: 150 keyword queries a month | 170 Google search engines | Not listed | Not listed |
| Serpstat | Team $129 ($100 yearly) | 500 searches a day (sites, keywords, links) | Not checked | Top 100 for tracked keywords | Free trial |
| SpyFu | Basic $39 (25% off yearly) | 10k-row search results | Not listed | "10+ years historical data" | Free SERP analysis page; limit not listed |
| thruuu | Starter $19 ($13 yearly) | Up to 75 SERP analyses a month | 196 countries, 151 languages | 12-month data archive | 10 one-time credits (US only) |
| Surfer | Discovery $59 ($49 yearly); SERP Analyzer from Peace of Mind $359 ($299 yearly) | Not on Discovery; no count listed | Not checked | Not listed | Not listed |
*USD, before tax, monthly billing; yearly price per month in brackets where listed. Vendor pricing and product pages checked 11 November 2026. "Not listed" means the pricing page doesn't say.
What to look for
Every tool here pulls the results for a keyword. The buying decision comes down to four questions.
- Localization: can you pick the country, city and device, and does the data change when you do?
- Intent signals: does it show page types and SERP features, so you know if Google wants a guide, a list or a tool?
- Freshness: is the SERP pulled live, and can you see older SERPs to judge how stable it is?
- Evidence: can you save, export or share the check with its date and location?
Location matters more than most buyers expect. Google explains it plainly:
"We use information such as your location, past Search history, and Search settings to determine what is most relevant for you in the moment."
Google, How Search works: ranking results (checked 11 November 2026)Google's own example: a search for “football” in Chicago and in London can return different sports.
So a SERP check is a sample: one keyword, one place, one device, one moment. Keep the date and location with every screenshot.
And keep the metrics in their place. Google's own guidance on SEO tools says:
"Third-party tools don't have access to our internal ranking data. They can't guarantee performance."
Google Search Central, Google Search's guidance on using third-party SEO tools, services, and advice (updated 5 June 2026)How we compared
- In: tools that show the ranking results for a keyword you enter, with data per result, and publish a price.
- Out: pure rank trackers, enterprise SERP platforms (such as STAT), SERP snippet simulators and Google Search Console, which shows only your own site.
- Prices, plans and limits come from each vendor's pricing or product page, checked on 11 November 2026. Some pages load prices with JavaScript, so we read them in a browser.
- Prices are for the cheapest plan that includes SERP analysis. Where that isn't the entry plan (Surfer), we say so.
- We didn't test accuracy or rank the tools by score. "Best for" is a buyer fit, not a verdict on data quality.
- We ran 2 guest checks in the seotools.pro SERP Analyzer only. No other tool was run.
- Disclosure: seotools.pro publishes this article and makes the first tool listed. We don't use affiliate links here.
The 10 tools
1. seotools.pro SERP Analyzer: free, then $24 a month ($20/mo billed yearly)
Type a keyword and it lists the ranking pages. It shows a SERP features panel and, per result, a domain score (Domain InLink Rank), word count and the features it wins.
- Free: a guest check shows the features panel and 5 result rows, blurred until you sign up. A free account gives 2 SERP analysis runs a day.
- Localization: the form has a Country menu (30 countries) and a Device menu. In our two guest checks (US vs UK, 11 November 2026) the results returned were the same, so check your target market in the results.
- Limits: it doesn't pull People Also Ask questions or keep old SERPs.
Choose it if you want a quick free look at page types before you write a brief. Open the SERP Analyzer.
2. Semrush
Semrush's free SERP Checker shows the top 10 and SERP features "for any keyword in any location", with no sign-up. It's powered by Keyword Overview.
- Paid: the SEO plan costs $139 a month, or $117.33 billed yearly, with 500 keywords to track daily.
- History: "Historical SEO data" and "Multi-location/device tracking" appear from Pro+ ($299, or $248.17/mo billed yearly).
- Free plan: "10 reports per day across all vital tools".
Choose it if SERP analysis is one part of a full SEO suite you'll use daily.
3. Ahrefs
The free Ahrefs SERP Checker analyzes the top 10 "across hundreds of locations worldwide". Ahrefs says its SERP Checker includes "SERP position history" for the current top 5 pages.
Paid plans start at Starter ($29 a month), which doesn't list SERP features. SERP history is listed from Lite ($129, 6 months of historical data, 1,000 credits per user).
Standard ($249) adds SERP comparison and SERP updates, with 2 years of history. Annual billing saves "up to 17%".
Choose it if you want to see how a SERP moved, not just where it stands today.
4. SE Ranking
Core costs $129 a month, or $103.20 billed yearly. It includes 50 "On page checker & SERP analyzer" checks and 2,000 keywords tracked daily.
- Growth: $279 ($223.20/mo billed yearly) raises that to 1,000 checks and keeps historical data "across project lifetime".
- Free: the SERP checker page runs a top-3 or top-5 check for any location.
- Trial: 14 days, no card.
Choose it if you want rank tracking and SERP checks in one mid-priced suite.
5. Mangools SERPChecker
SERPChecker lists local SERPs for "more than 65,000 locations", including cities, on desktop or mobile, with SERP feature detection.
Basic costs $61 a month, or $37.70 billed yearly ($452.40 a year). It allows 100 SERP analyses per 24 hours.
Choose it if you check city-level SERPs often and want a low price per check.
6. Moz Pro
Moz's Keyword Explorer lets you "analyze SERPs" and covers 170 Google search engines.
Standard costs $99 a month ($79/mo billed yearly) with 150 keyword queries a month. An entry plan for one website costs $49 a month; its limits aren't listed on the page.
Choose it if you already use Moz metrics and run a modest number of queries.
7. Serpstat
Serpstat's cheapest plan on its current pricing page is Team: $129 a month, or $100/mo billed yearly ($1,200 upfront). It includes 500 searches a day for sites, keywords and links.
Its Rank Tracker keeps a SERP history: "the complete Top 100 search results for any tracked keyword on any monitoring date".
Choose it if you want SERP snapshots for the keywords you already track.
8. SpyFu
Basic costs $39 a month, with "10+ years historical data" and 10k-row search results. Annual billing saves 25%.
Its SERP analysis lists the ranking URLs with domain strength and estimated clicks. A separate Ranking History tool plots rankings "against Google's algorithm updates".
Choose it if you study how a SERP changed over years, especially in competitive niches.
9. thruuu
thruuu sells SERP analysis by credit: 1 credit per SERP. Starter costs $19 a month ($13/mo billed yearly) for 75 credits, so up to 75 SERP analyses. Credits are shared with briefs and clustering.
- Depth: 100 results per report, any Google domain, 196 countries and 151 languages.
- Archive: 12 months of data on Starter.
- Free: 10 one-time credits, US only, 10 results per report.
That's $0.25 per SERP analysis on monthly billing, by thruuu's own table.
Choose it if you analyze SERPs in batches for briefs and don't need a full suite.
10. Surfer
Surfer lists its SERP Analyzer only on Peace of Mind: $359 a month, or $299 billed yearly. Discovery ($59, or $49/mo billed yearly) doesn't include it.
Surfer is built around content optimization, so the SERP view supports writing. The pricing page doesn't list a separate SERP allowance. Peace of Mind also lists "Advanced SERP Analysis".
Choose it if you already write in Surfer on the top plan and want SERP context in the same place.
Where seotools.pro fits
Our SERP Analyzer is a quick, free first look. It isn't a local SERP lab or a SERP archive. Here is how it fits a free workflow:
- Pick the keyword: Keyword Research labels intent and shows volume, a 0–100 difficulty score and a 12-month trend.
- Read the SERP: the SERP Analyzer shows the ranking pages, SERP features and word counts.
- Check a position by country: the free Rank Checker reads Google's top 10 in 24 countries, on desktop or mobile.
- Plan the page: the Content Brief Generator turns the SERP into intent, headings and questions.
- Compare rivals: Competitor Analysis compares visibility, keywords, pages and backlinks.
Paid plans: Lite $24 a month ($20/mo billed yearly), Pro $49 ($41/mo billed yearly), Business $99 ($83/mo billed yearly). See pricing.
Previewing your own title and description instead? That's a different job. Read our SERP simulator comparison.
Set your buyer segment, inclusion rules and weights before any trial, then log the evidence behind each score.
- Fill-in scoring sheet with weights and score anchors
- Evidence column for dated captures and test results
- Editable Word doc, free, no signup
Which one to pick
No budget? Semrush or Ahrefs free checkers for a top 10, or seotools.pro with a free account. Score them with the free software scoring rubric.
Local or city SERPs? Mangools SERPChecker (65,000+ locations) or thruuu (196 countries).
SERP history? SpyFu (10+ years on Basic), Ahrefs Lite or Serpstat for tracked keywords.
One suite for everything? Semrush, Ahrefs or SE Ranking. Check which tier holds history first.
Rather have the research done for you? Our SEO & GEO services team can analyze your SERPs and plan the pages. Book a free consultation with Anatolii Ulitovskyi.
FAQ
What is the best free SERP analysis tool?
For a one-off top 10 with no sign-up, Semrush's and Ahrefs' free SERP checkers. seotools.pro gives 2 runs a day with a free account; thruuu gives 10 one-time credits.
How do I check SERPs for another country or city?
Use a tool with a location setting, such as Mangools (65,000+ locations) or thruuu (196 countries). Save the date, location and device with each check.
Can I see what a SERP looked like in the past?
Yes, on some plans. SpyFu lists 10+ years of data, Ahrefs adds SERP history from Lite, and Serpstat keeps the top 100 for tracked keywords.
Is a SERP analyzer the same as a SERP simulator?
No. An analyzer reads the real ranking results. A simulator previews your own title and description. See our SERP simulator comparison.
Will a SERP tool show exactly what I see in Google?
Not always. Google uses location, search history and settings, so your browser may differ. Third-party tools also don't see Google's ranking data.
Sources
seotools.pro (checked 11 November 2026): SERP Analyzer, Keyword Research, Rank Checker, Content Brief Generator, Competitor Analysis, pricing, software scoring rubric template.
SEO suites (checked 11 November 2026): Semrush pricing and SERP Checker; Ahrefs pricing and SERP Checker; SE Ranking pricing and SERP checker.
More SEO suites (checked 11 November 2026): Moz Pro pricing and Keyword Explorer; Serpstat pricing and SERP history; SpyFu pricing, SERP analysis and Ranking History.
SERP and content tools (checked 11 November 2026): Mangools pricing and SERPChecker; thruuu pricing; Surfer pricing.
Google (checked 11 November 2026): How Search works: ranking results, Google Search's guidance on using third-party SEO tools, services, and advice.