SERPApi Real-Time SERP Snapshots - Google, Bing, Yahoo & DuckDuckGo Results

Real-time search engine results from Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo using SERPApi. Get organic results, featured snippets, knowledge panels, local packs, People Also Ask, images, news, and all SERP features. Location targeting for any city or country with desktop and mobile device options. Perfect for rank tracking, competitive analysis, and SERP feature monitoring.

Features

• Real-Time Results - Current SERP state instantly, no caching
• 4 Search Engines - Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo
• Rich SERP Features - Featured snippets, knowledge panels, local packs, PAA
• Location Targeting - Results for any city, state, or country
• Device Selection - Desktop or mobile SERPs
• Multiple Result Types - Search, Images, News, Maps, Shopping
• Related Searches - Discover related queries and PAA questions
• Sitelinks Extraction - Full sitelinks for top results
• Webhook Support - Async delivery for automation pipelines
• Demo Mode - Test with sample data before going live

Who Should Use This Actor?

SEO Agencies

Monitor client rankings and SERP features across locations. Track featured snippet opportunities, local pack presence, and People Also Ask inclusions.

Rank Tracking Tools

Build rank tracking dashboards with real-time SERP data. Get accurate position data with local results for any target market.

Content Marketing Teams

Research SERP features for content strategy. Identify PAA questions to target, featured snippet opportunities, and knowledge panel gaps.

PPC & SEM Teams

Monitor paid search landscapes. See competitor ads, ad extensions, and Shopping results across different locations.

Competitive Intelligence Analysts

Track competitor SERP presence and feature ownership. Monitor changes in search visibility and SERP feature dominance.

Market Researchers

Analyze search landscapes across regions. Understand how search results differ by location and device.

Quick Start

Demo Mode (Free Test)

{
  "demoMode": true
}

Basic Google Search

{
  "serpApiKey": "your-serpapi-key",
  "query": "best marketing agency",
  "location": "New York, NY",
  "engine": "google",
  "device": "desktop",
  "demoMode": false
}

Mobile SERP Check

{
  "serpApiKey": "your-serpapi-key",
  "query": "restaurants near me",
  "location": "San Francisco, CA",
  "engine": "google",
  "device": "mobile",
  "num": 20,
  "demoMode": false
}

Multi-Engine Comparison

{
  "serpApiKey": "your-serpapi-key",
  "query": "project management software",
  "location": "United States",
  "engine": "google",
  "resultType": "search",
  "num": 50,
  "demoMode": false
}

Image Search Results

{
  "serpApiKey": "your-serpapi-key",
  "query": "modern office design",
  "engine": "google",
  "resultType": "images",
  "num": 100,
  "demoMode": false
}

Input Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
query	string	-	Search query (required unless demoMode)
location	string	-	Geographic location (e.g., "Saint Louis, MO", "United Kingdom")
engine	string	"google"	Search engine: google, bing, yahoo, duckduckgo
device	string	"desktop"	Device type: desktop or mobile
resultType	string	"search"	Result type: search, images, news, maps, shopping
num	number	10	Number of results (max 100)
serpApiKey	string	-	Your SERPApi key (BYOK)
demoMode	boolean	true	Return sample data for testing
webhookUrl	string	-	Webhook URL for results delivery

Get Your SERPApi Key

1. Sign up at serpapi.com (free tier: 100 searches/month)
2. Go to Dashboard → API Key
3. Copy your API key

Output Format

{
  "success": true,
  "query": "best marketing agency",
  "location": "New York, NY",
  "engine": "google",
  "device": "desktop",
  "searchInformation": {
    "totalResults": "1,450,000,000",
    "timeTaken": 0.42
  },
  "featuredSnippet": {
    "title": "Top Marketing Agencies in NYC",
    "content": "The best marketing agencies in New York include...",
    "source": "forbes.com",
    "link": "https://forbes.com/best-marketing-agencies"
  },
  "localPack": [
    {
      "position": 1,
      "name": "ABC Marketing Agency",
      "rating": 4.8,
      "reviews": 156,
      "address": "123 Madison Ave, New York, NY",
      "phone": "(212) 555-0100",
      "category": "Marketing Agency"
    }
  ],
  "organicResults": [
    {
      "position": 1,
      "title": "10 Best Marketing Agencies in NYC - 2026 Rankings",
      "link": "https://example.com/best-agencies",
      "displayedLink": "example.com › best-agencies",
      "snippet": "Our comprehensive guide to the top marketing agencies...",
      "sitelinks": [
        {"title": "Digital Marketing", "link": "https://..."},
        {"title": "SEO Services", "link": "https://..."}
      ]
    }
  ],
  "peopleAlsoAsk": [
    {
      "question": "How much does a marketing agency cost?",
      "snippet": "Marketing agencies typically charge $5,000-$50,000/month...",
      "link": "https://..."
    }
  ],
  "relatedSearches": [
    "marketing agencies near me",
    "digital marketing services",
    "best advertising agencies NYC"
  ],
  "timestamp": "2026-01-28T10:30:00.000Z"
}

Pricing (Pay-Per-Event)

Event	Description	Price
serp_snapshot	Per SERP snapshot captured	$0.02

Example costs:

• 10 keyword checks: 10 x $0.02 = $0.20
• 100 daily rank checks: 100 x $0.02 = $2.00
• 500 competitive analyses: 500 x $0.02 = $10.00
• Demo mode: $0.00

Note: SERPApi usage is billed separately through your SERPApi account (BYOK). Free tier includes 100 searches/month.

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Daily Rank Tracking

{
  "serpApiKey": "your-key",
  "query": "project management software",
  "location": "United States",
  "engine": "google",
  "device": "desktop",
  "num": 100,
  "webhookUrl": "https://hooks.zapier.com/...",
  "demoMode": false
}

Schedule daily to track keyword rankings and SERP feature changes.

Scenario 2: Local SEO Monitoring

{
  "serpApiKey": "your-key",
  "query": "plumber near me",
  "location": "Chicago, IL",
  "engine": "google",
  "device": "mobile",
  "num": 20,
  "demoMode": false
}

Monitor local pack rankings for service-area businesses.

Scenario 3: Featured Snippet Research

{
  "serpApiKey": "your-key",
  "query": "how to write a business plan",
  "location": "United States",
  "engine": "google",
  "device": "desktop",
  "demoMode": false
}

Research featured snippet content and structure for content optimization.

Webhook & Automation Integration

Zapier / Make.com / n8n

1. Create a webhook trigger in your automation platform
2. Copy the webhook URL to webhookUrl
3. Route SERP data to dashboards and databases

Popular automations:

• Ranking data -> Google Sheets (rank tracker)
• Featured snippet changes -> Slack (alert notifications)
• Local pack results -> Airtable (local SEO tracking)
• PAA questions -> Notion (content ideas database)

Apify Scheduled Runs

Schedule daily or weekly SERP snapshots for ongoing monitoring.

FAQ

Q: How accurate is the location targeting?

A: SERPApi uses Google's geolocation system. You can target by city, state, country, or even specific coordinates for maximum precision.

Q: What's the difference between desktop and mobile SERPs?

A: Mobile SERPs often show different results, more local pack results, and different SERP features. For local businesses, mobile results are critical.

Q: How many results can I get per search?

A: Up to 100 organic results per search. Use num: 100 to get deeper ranking data.

Q: Does this work for all countries?

A: Yes. SERPApi supports location targeting for all countries where Google operates. Specify the location in local format.

Q: How often does Google change SERPs?

A: SERPs can change multiple times per day. For critical keywords, daily monitoring is recommended.

Common Problems & Solutions

"Invalid API key" error

• Get your API key from serpapi.com dashboard
• Copy it exactly without extra spaces

"Rate limit exceeded" error

• Check your SERPApi plan limits
• Upgrade plan or reduce concurrent requests

Different results than manual search

• SERP personalization affects manual results
• SERPApi returns non-personalized, neutral results
• This is actually more accurate for tracking

"Demo data showing"

• Set demoMode: false and provide your serpApiKey

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📞 Support

• Actor Arsenal: Full Actor Catalog
• Developer: John Rippy

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Built by John Rippy | Actor Arsenal