How to Track Your Google Rankings for Free
You don't need a paid rank tracker to know where you rank. Here's how to track positions with Search Console, what 'average position' really means, and how to check manually.
Key takeaways
- Search Console shows the average position for every query and page, free and from Google's own data.
- Average position is an average across impressions, so it changes with location, device and SERP features.
- Filter by country and device to see the rankings that matter to your business.
- Paid trackers help when you need daily tracking of specific keywords or competitor comparison.
Rankings aren’t one fixed number. They vary by location, device, search history and the features Google shows. The best free source of ranking data is Google Search Console.
Tracking in Search Console
- Open Performance → Search results
- Enable Average position (and Clicks, Impressions, CTR)
- Use the Queries tab to see each search term and its average position
- Use Pages to see which pages rank, then click one and switch to Queries to see what that page ranks for
- Add filters: – Country: for example Pakistan, if that’s your market – Device: mobile vs desktop – Date: compare periods (e.g. last 28 days vs previous) – Search appearance where relevant
What “average position” means
It’s the average topmost position your site appeared in for that query, across all impressions. A query showing 8.4 might mean you ranked 3rd for some users and 12th for others. Rankings in AI Overviews, image packs and other features also count, which can make numbers look odd.
Use it to track trends rather than exact positions.
Make it easier
- Regex filters: filter queries containing several terms (
audit|checklist) - Exports: export monthly to Google Sheets to build a history (Search Console keeps 16 months)
- Looker Studio: free dashboards connected to Search Console
- Track page groups: compare blog vs service pages
Manual checks
For a quick spot check, search in a private/incognito window, set the location if needed, and remember results are still personalised by location. Don’t make decisions based on one manual search.
When a paid rank tracker is worth it
- You need daily positions for a fixed keyword list
- You want to track competitors’ positions
- You need city-level local rankings (e.g. Lahore vs Karachi)
- You’re reporting to clients on specific target keywords
What to track alongside rankings
Rankings are a means, not the goal. Also track clicks, conversions from organic traffic (in GA4) and visibility in AI search. To find pages losing ground, see how to find pages losing traffic.