# DataForSEO SERP Tracker (`alizarin_refrigerator-owner/dataforseo-serp`) Actor

Track keyword rankings, analyze SERPs & perform keyword research using DataForSEO API. Get organic results, featured snippets, people also ask & more for any keyword. Live SERP Analysis, Keyword Research, Ranked Keywords, Competitor Analysis, Multi-Device, BYOK: Bring your own DataForSEO API creds

- **URL**: https://apify.com/alizarin_refrigerator-owner/dataforseo-serp.md
- **Developed by:** [The Howlers](https://apify.com/alizarin_refrigerator-owner) (community)
- **Categories:** SEO tools, Developer tools, Other
- **Stats:** 289 total users, 238 monthly users, 99.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.01 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## DataForSEO SERP Tracker

Track keyword rankings, analyze SERPs, and perform keyword research using the DataForSEO API. Get organic results, featured snippets, people also ask, and more for any keyword.

**BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)** -- you provide your own API credentials.

***

### Before You Start

This actor requires your own API credentials to fetch real data.

**Where to get your key:** Your DataForSEO API login (email)

***

### Quick Start

#### Run with real data

```json
{
  "task": "serp_live",
  "domain": [
    "competitor1.com",
    "competitor2.com"
  ],
  "location": "United States",
  "languageCode": "en",
  "searchEngine": "google",
  "device": "desktop",
  "depth": 100,
  "dataForSeoLogin": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE",
  "dataForSeoPassword": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
}
```

***

### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Default | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|---------|----------|-------------|
| `task` | string | `"serp_live"` | No | The task to perform |
| `keyword` | string | - | No | The keyword to search for (for SERP tasks) |
| `keywords` | array | - | No | Multiple keywords for batch operations |
| `domain` | string | - | No | Target domain for ranked keywords or competitor analysis |
| `location` | string | `"United States"` | No | Location for search results (e.g., 'United States', 'New York,New York,United States') |
| `locationCode` | integer | - | No | DataForSEO location code (alternative to location name) |
| `languageCode` | string | `"en"` | No | Language code (e.g., 'en', 'es', 'fr') |
| `searchEngine` | string | `"google"` | No | Search engine to use |
| `device` | string | `"desktop"` | No | Device type for search |
| `depth` | integer | `100` | No | Number of results to fetch (10-700) |
| `taskId` | string | - | No | Task ID for retrieving async results |
| `dataForSeoLogin` | string | - | Yes\* | Your DataForSEO API login (email) |
| `dataForSeoPassword` | string | - | Yes\* | Your DataForSEO API password |
| `webhookUrl` | string | - | No | URL to receive results when the run completes (for Zapier, Make, n8n integrations) |

***

### Pricing

This actor uses **pay-per-event** billing:

| Event | Description | Price |
|-------|-------------|-------|
| SERP Query | Each SERP or keyword research query processed | $0.02 |

***

### Troubleshooting

#### "API key is required"

- Add your API key in the input

#### "API error 403" or "Unauthorized"

Your API key is invalid, expired, or doesn't have access to this specific API endpoint. Double-check your key and account permissions.

#### "API error 429" or "Rate limit"

Too many requests. Wait a minute and try again, or reduce the number of items per run.

#### No results or empty dataset

Check the run log for error messages. Common causes:

- Invalid input format (check the examples above)
- API key without proper permissions
- The target data doesn't exist or is too small to track

#### How do I test without an API key?

***

**Built by John Rippy | [Actor Arsenal](https://actorarsenal.com)**

# Actor input Schema

## `task` (type: `string`):

The task to perform

## `keyword` (type: `string`):

The keyword to search for (for SERP tasks)

## `keywords` (type: `array`):

Multiple keywords for batch operations

## `domain` (type: `string`):

Target domain for ranked keywords or competitor analysis

## `location` (type: `string`):

Location for search results (e.g., 'United States', 'New York,New York,United States')

## `locationCode` (type: `integer`):

DataForSEO location code (alternative to location name)

## `languageCode` (type: `string`):

Language code (e.g., 'en', 'es', 'fr')

## `searchEngine` (type: `string`):

Search engine to use

## `device` (type: `string`):

Device type for search

## `depth` (type: `integer`):

Number of results to fetch (10-700)

## `taskId` (type: `string`):

Task ID for retrieving async results

## `dataForSeoLogin` (type: `string`):

Optional. Your own DataForSEO API login (email). Leave empty to use the actor's built-in access, billed per event.

## `dataForSeoPassword` (type: `string`):

Optional. Your own DataForSEO API password. Leave empty to use the actor's built-in access, billed per event.

## `webhookUrl` (type: `string`):

URL to receive results when the run completes (for Zapier, Make, n8n integrations)

## `demoMode` (type: `boolean`):

Run in demo mode with sample data (no API calls)

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "task": "serp_live",
  "keyword": "coffee shop",
  "location": "United States",
  "languageCode": "en",
  "searchEngine": "google",
  "device": "desktop",
  "depth": 10,
  "demoMode": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Search engine results data from DataForSEO API including organic results, featured snippets, and related searches.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "keyword": "coffee shop",
    "depth": 10,
    "demoMode": false
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("alizarin_refrigerator-owner/dataforseo-serp").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "keyword": "coffee shop",
    "depth": 10,
    "demoMode": False,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("alizarin_refrigerator-owner/dataforseo-serp").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "keyword": "coffee shop",
  "depth": 10,
  "demoMode": false
}' |
apify call alizarin_refrigerator-owner/dataforseo-serp --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,alizarin_refrigerator-owner/dataforseo-serp"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/Dv0hzMApdWPFVT3Xm/builds/aa0rG1DSf0lazVpva/openapi.json