Decodo Rank Tracker

Decodo Rank Tracker is free, MIT-licensed software for tracking Google rankings from a self-hosted setup. It suits SEO practitioners comfortable with command-line tools and Decodo API credentials. Its broad view of Google results is useful, but the API call requirements shape how often and how widely you can track.

Overview

The tracker monitors organic rankings, AI Overview citations, featured snippets, and People Also Ask presence. You can organize checks by keyword, location, and device, with historical data to follow changes over time. Its focus is Google alone, so it will not serve teams that need visibility across multiple search engines.

Results are stored in SQLite and can be reviewed through terminal trend reports, competitor comparisons, and shareable HTML reports. Self-hosting gives you control over where the software runs and data is stored, but it also puts installation and ongoing operation in your hands.

Key features

Configurable checks and scheduling

Keywords and target domains are set in a CSV file. Optional fields cover location, locale, device, activity, and frequency, while checks can run from the command line or through cron, launchd, or systemd. This is a flexible arrangement for people already comfortable managing scripts and scheduled jobs, rather than a point-and-click workflow.

Each keyword, location, device, and locale combination consumes a Decodo SERP Scraping API call. Daily, weekly, and monthly frequency settings can reduce that usage, but broad tracking or frequent checks can quickly draw on the API allowance.

Reports and alerts

Trend reports in the terminal and shareable HTML reports offer different ways to inspect results; competitor comparisons help put a site's movements in context. Alerts can be sent through Slack, Discord, or SMTP email for new rankings, improvements, drops, and lost rankings. Microsoft Teams requires a separate Power Automate setup, so it is less direct for teams that rely on that channel.

The software uses SQLite with write-ahead logging, migrations, UTC timestamps, and thread-safe per-call connections. Those implementation choices support reliable local data handling, but do not remove the need to operate the self-hosted environment.

Pricing

Rank Tracker: free. The tracker itself is free and MIT-licensed, with no paid software tier described. It requires Decodo SERP Scraping API credentials, and API usage is separate from the software: Decodo's API free plan allows up to 5K crawls or 10K pages scraped per month. That gives a no-cost starting point, but the tracker consumes calls per configured check, so users with many keyword-location-device-locale combinations should account for that quota.

Setup instructions target a Linux or macOS shell and provide Windows equivalents for virtual-environment activation and file copying. The project supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted use.

Platforms

The command-line-oriented setup makes this a natural fit for Linux and macOS users, while Windows equivalents are provided for key setup steps. Self-hosting suits people who want to run the tracker in an environment they control; it is less suitable for readers looking for a managed web dashboard.

Who it's for

Choose Decodo Rank Tracker if you want Google rank history plus visibility into AI Overviews, snippets, and People Also Ask, and are prepared to configure a CSV, manage scheduled jobs, and supply API credentials. It is less suitable if you need multiple search engines, a turnkey hosted service, or broad tracking without monitoring API consumption.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Tracks organic positions and three additional Google result signals, giving SEO work a wider view than rankings alone.
• Pros: Historical data, competitor comparisons, and shareable reports support ongoing analysis without a paid tracker license.
• Pros: MIT licensing and self-hosting give technically capable users control over the software and its data location.
• Cons: Decodo API credentials are required, and every check combination uses an API call, making usage planning important for large or frequent campaigns.
• Cons: CSV configuration and external scheduling put setup and maintenance on the user.
• Cons: Tracking is limited to Google, and Microsoft Teams alerts need a separate Power Automate setup.

Alternatives

Rank Tracking Software is the category directory for comparing more options. Consider Positionly if you want a freemium service with mobile and web platforms: its free plan covers 5 keywords and 1 website, while Basic is $15 a month billed 12 months (20% off) for 100 keywords and 10 websites.

Rank Tracker is another free Linux, macOS, and Windows option, with scheduled SEO tasks, reports, and captcha-free checks in its free plan. Choose Rankinity if a freemium web or mobile service with a 300-check monthly free version better fits your workflow; its Full Version has unlimited checks at custom pricing.

GBP Rank Tracker is a free, MIT-licensed alternative with unlimited scans and a 13×13+ grid. SerpBear is another free option, with external scraping services potentially bringing usage limits or costs. Choose Serpfox if its web-based service suits you: the free plan has 10 keywords, 3 AI prompts, and weekly checks, while Starter 100 is $12 a month, billed monthly, for 100 keywords and 10 AI prompts.

CanIRank is a web-based alternative with a free plan limited to 1 website, 5 keyword reports, 5 SEO reports, and 20 link opportunities; DIY Individual is $49 a month. Geogrid offers a web and API option whose free plan includes 200 credits and one weekly scheduled rescan, with no card required; Starter is $29 a month, billed annually, for 1,500 credits per month. These alternatives are worth considering if their service model or stated free-plan limits match your needs better.

Verdict

Decodo Rank Tracker is a strong fit for technically confident SEO practitioners who want free, self-hosted Google monitoring across traditional rankings and newer result features. Its combination of history, comparisons, reports, and alerts is compelling, but API credentials and per-check usage are real constraints. Look elsewhere if you want a managed interface, multiple search engines, or less responsibility for operating the tracking setup.