A local rank checker is a free online tool that shows where your Google Business Profile ranks for target keywords across a geographic grid. This one maps up to 5 keywords by 5 locations into a color heatmap, in automated mode using your own Google Cloud API key, or in manual mode with no key at all.
See where your business ranks, grid point by grid point
Set up to 5 keywords × 5 locations, then check where your Google Business Profile lands in each cell. Automated mode queries Google's Places API (New) directly with your own API key - your key is stored in this browser only and sent only to googleapis.com. Manual mode builds geo-targeted Google Maps links for each cell; you open them, observe, and log the position. Both modes produce the same heatmap report with CSV export.
Honest note: positions are an approximate local-pack position via Google's Places API. Results may differ from what you see in Google Maps - this tool never claims exact parity with live Maps rankings.
Step 1 - Your setup
Locations (max 5)
Step 2 - Connect your Google Cloud API key
No key saved yet.
How to get a free API key (takes ~5 minutes)
- Go to the Google Cloud Console (console.cloud.google.com) and sign in.
- Create a new project (any name, e.g. "rank-checker").
- Open APIs & Services → Library, search for "Places API (New)" and click Enable.
- Go to APIs & Services → Credentials → Create Credentials → API key.
- Recommended: click the key, choose Restrict key → API restrictions → Places API (New) so it can't be used elsewhere.
Cost: Google gives $200 of free credit every month for the Maps Platform - that covers thousands of rank checks, so normal use of this tool stays free. We never see your key: it's stored in your browser's localStorage and sent only to googleapis.com.
Step 3 - Run the automated check
Each cell runs searchByText from the Places API (New) with a location-bias circle, then scans the top 20 results for your business name (case-insensitive). Cells run one at a time to stay within rate limits.
Step 2 - Check each cell manually
Click a cell's "Open in Google Maps" link - it runs the keyword search centered on that location (the @lat,lng,15z part geo-targets it). Look at the business results, find your business, then log its position (1–20) or Not found in the cell. Everything is saved in this browser (localStorage), so you can do cells over several sessions.
Honest notes
- We never fake ranking data. If the API returns no results for a cell, we say so instead of inventing a position.
- Approximate, not exact. The Places API and live Google Maps can disagree; this is a directional tracker for SEO work, not a guarantee.
- Your API key is yours. It's stored in your browser's localStorage, sent only to googleapis.com, and we have no way to see it. Clearing browser data removes it.
- Quota: Google's $200/month free credit covers thousands of checks, but if you run hundreds of cells daily you may eventually exhaust it - check usage in the Cloud Console.
How to use the Local Rank Checker in 5 steps
- Enter your business name exactly as it appears on Google.
- Add up to 5 keywords, one per line.
- Add up to 5 locations (tip: right-click any spot in Google Maps to copy its coordinates).
- Run the automated check with your API key, or switch to manual mode and log positions yourself.
- Read the heatmap, spot weak cells, and download the CSV.
How do I check my Google Business Profile ranking by location?
Enter your business name, add up to 5 keywords and up to 5 locations, then run the check. In automated mode the tool queries Google’s Places API for each keyword-location cell and records your approximate local-pack position; in manual mode it builds geo-targeted Google Maps links so you can observe and log each position yourself.
Automated mode queries Google’s Places API (New) with a location-bias circle for each cell and scans the top 20 results for your business name. Manual mode needs no API key: it opens geo-targeted Google Maps searches you check yourself.
Is a free local rank checker accurate?
It is directionally accurate but not exact. Positions come from Google’s Places API, which can differ from what you see in live Google Maps because rankings shift by device, time, personalization and exact map center. Use the heatmap to spot trends and weak areas across your service area, and sanity-check important keywords in Maps yourself.
That honesty is the point: unlike tools that invent rankings, this one labels every position approximate and shows its work, so agencies and local SEOs can trust the trend lines.
Frequently asked questions
Is this rank checker really free?
Yes. The tool itself is free and unlimited. Automated mode uses your own Google Cloud API key - Google includes $200/month of free Maps Platform credit, which covers thousands of checks. Manual mode needs no key at all and is always free.
Will my position here match what I see in Google Maps?
Not always. The API returns an approximate local-pack position; live Maps rankings vary by device, time of day, personalization, and exact map center. Use this as a directional tracker, and always sanity-check important keywords in Maps yourself.
Is my API key safe here?
Your key is saved only in your browser's localStorage on this device and is sent only to googleapis.com when you run a check. It never touches our servers (there are none - this is a static page). Restrict the key to "Places API (New)" in the Cloud Console for extra safety.
What does "not in top 20" mean?
We scan the first 20 Places API results for your business name. If it's not there, you rank outside the visible local results for that keyword at that location - a strong signal to work on your Google Business Profile.
How many checks can I run?
Unlimited within reason. The grid is 5 keywords × 5 locations (25 cells max per run). The Maps JS API loads on demand; each cell is one Places search request against your key's quota.
How does manual mode geo-target the search?
Each "Open in Google Maps" link includes your location's coordinates (@lat,lng,15z), which centers the Maps search on that spot - the same trick SEOs use for spot-checking. You observe and log the position yourself.