# Google Maps Ranking & Rank Grid Tracker: Local Rank Grid Map (`moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker`) Actor Check where a business ranks on Google Maps for a keyword across a city grid, e.g. a plumber in Denver, a dentist in Austin or a pizza place in Chicago. $0.01 per grid point; a 5x5 geo grid costs $0.25. Each point: rank 1-20, top 3 competitors. Summary: average rank, top-3 share, heatmap. No login. - **URL**: https://apify.com/moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker.md - **Developed by:** [mogged](https://apify.com/moggedhq) (community) - **Categories:** SEO tools - **Stats:** 3 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $8.00 / 1,000 grid points This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. 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 ## Google Maps Ranking & Rank Grid Tracker: Local Rank Grid Map **Check where a business ranks on Google Maps for a keyword across a city grid: for example a plumber in Denver, a dentist in Austin or a pizza place in Chicago.** For local SEO agencies, consultants and business owners who need to see where a business ranks on Google Maps across its whole area, not from one spot. Type a business name, a keyword and a city; get its Google Maps rank at every point of a grid, the top 3 competitors at each point, a summary and a heatmap. No login, no subscription, no API key. **Price: $0.01 per grid point.** A 5x5 scan (25 points) for one keyword costs $0.25. Points that fail are free. ![Google Maps rank tracker report: rank at each point of a 5x5 geo grid on a map, with average rank and share in the top 3](https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/9dhOpKtnKqVagYgla/records/readme-hero.png) ### What you get One row per grid point: | Field | What it is | |---|---| | `keyword` | The search checked at this point, for example "plumber" | | `point` | Grid position: rows A, B, C... run north to south, columns 1, 2, 3... west to east. The centre is the business | | `latitude`, `longitude` | Where the search was made | | `distanceKm`, `direction` | Distance and direction from the business | | `rank` | The business's position in the Google Maps results at this point (1 to 20), or empty when it is not in the top 20 | | `rankLabel` | The same as text: "1" to "20", or "20+" | | `inTop3` | True when the business is in the top 3 (the map pack) here | | `top3Competitors` | The 3 best-ranked other businesses at this point, with rank, rating, review count, category and Google place ID | | `status` | "ok", or "failed" for a point that could not be checked (not charged) | One summary row per keyword: | Field | What it is | |---|---| | `summary` | One plain sentence: top-3 share, average rank, strongest and weakest area, top competitor | | `averageRank` | Average rank over the points where the business is in the top 20 | | `averageRankAllPoints` | Average rank over all points, with "not in the top 20" counted as 21 | | `top3SharePercent` | Share of points where the business is in the top 3 (often called share of local voice) | | `pointsFound`, `pointsInTop3`, `pointsInTop10` | Counts of points | | `bestArea`, `worstArea` | The compass area (north, south-west, centre...) with the best and worst average rank | | `topCompetitors` | The 5 competitors that are in the top 3 at the most points, with their average rank | | `rankGrid`, `rankGridText` | The whole grid of ranks, north at the top, ready for your own charts | | `heatmapImageUrl` | A PNG heatmap of the grid, ready for a client report | | `business`, `businessAddress`, `businessPlaceId` | The Google Maps listing that was tracked, so you can check it is the right one | Every keyword also gets a PNG heatmap, ready to drop into a client report. This one is from a real scan of an HVAC company in Dallas for "hvac contractor": first or second around its office, outside the top 20 to the north-east and south. ![Real geo grid heatmap PNG: Google Maps rank for hvac contractor at 25 points around a Dallas HVAC company, green near the business and red to the north-east and south](https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/gsiO0QFIivl0QTUgA/records/google-maps-rank-tracker-heatmap-v2.png) The summary row for the same scan, with the areas and the competitors that beat it: ![Google Maps rank tracker summary row: average rank 7.05, top 3 at 36% of points, found at 19 of 25, average rank by compass area and the top 5 competitors with rating and reviews](https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/gsiO0QFIivl0QTUgA/records/google-maps-rank-tracker-summary-v2.png) Each run also saves `report.html`: every keyword on an interactive map with the rank at each point, the top competitors and the summary. The link is in the run's Output tab and in the `OUTPUT` record. ### Pricing You pay only for grid points that Google Maps answered: **$0.01 per point per keyword**, less with Apify's Bronze (5% off), Silver (10% off) and Gold (20% off) plans. Finding the business, summaries, heatmaps and the report are free. Points that fail, and points where Google Maps shows no places at all, are free. | Scan | Points | Price | |---|---|---| | 3x3 grid, 1 keyword | 9 | $0.09 | | 5x5 grid, 1 keyword | 25 | $0.25 | | 7x7 grid, 3 keywords | 147 | $1.47 | | 9x9 grid, 5 keywords | 405 | $4.05 | A weekly 5x5 scan of 3 keywords for one client is $0.75 a week. The run stops before going over your maximum charge per run and only scans keywords that fit in it. ### How to use it 1. **Open the Actor and fill in the form.** Click **Try for free** on this page (or open the Actor in Apify Console). Enter the **business name** as it appears on Google Maps, one or more **keywords** your customers search for, and the **location** (city or address, used to find the right listing). Choose the **grid size** (3 to 9 points per side) and the **radius** in km or miles. 2. **Press Start.** A 5x5 grid takes about 15 to 30 seconds. 3. **Download the results.** When the run finishes, open the **Output** tab and click **Export** to download **Excel** or **CSV** (JSON, XML and Google Sheets work too). The **Summary** view has one row per keyword; the run's **report.html** shows every keyword on a map. #### Input example ```json { "businessName": "Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical", "keywords": ["plumber", "emergency plumber", "water heater repair"], "location": "Austin, TX", "gridSize": 5, "radiusKm": 3 } ``` For a chain with several branches nearby, paste the branch's Google Maps link in `googleMapsUrl` to track exactly that listing. Coordinates work as a location too (`"30.2580, -97.7598"`). #### Output example (one grid point) ```json { "type": "grid-point", "keyword": "plumber", "business": "Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical", "point": "A1", "latitude": 30.285154, "longitude": -97.79107, "distanceKm": 4.24, "direction": "north-west", "rank": 1, "rankLabel": "1", "inTop3": true, "top3Competitors": [ { "rank": 2, "name": "Plumbing Outfitters", "rating": 4.9, "reviews": 123, "category": "Plumber" }, { "rank": 3, "name": "Austin Plumbery", "rating": 4.8, "reviews": 228, "category": "Plumber" }, { "rank": 4, "name": "SALT Plumbing Air & Electric", "rating": 4.9, "reviews": 1661, "category": "Plumber" } ], "status": "ok" } ``` ### Schedule it 1. Save your input as a **task** (one task per client works well). 2. Open **Schedules**, click **Create new**, choose weekly (for example Monday at 08:00) and add your task. 3. Optional: on the task's **Integrations** tab, send each finished run to Google Sheets, Slack, email or a webhook. Keep the grid size, radius and zoom the same between scans so the weeks compare like with like. ### Use it from code (API) Every example below starts a run, waits for it to finish and reads the results. Replace `YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN` with your token from Apify Console (**Settings**, **API & Integrations**). Grid-point rows have `type: "grid-point"`; the summary row per keyword has `type: "summary"`. **Python** (`pip install apify-client`, version 3 or later) ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN") run = client.actor("moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker").call(run_input={ "businessName": "Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical", "keywords": ["plumber"], "location": "Austin, TX", "gridSize": 3, "radiusKm": 3, }) for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items(): if item["type"] == "summary": print(item["summary"]) ``` **JavaScript / Node.js** (`npm install apify-client`, save as `main.mjs`) ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN' }); const run = await client.actor('moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker').call({ businessName: 'Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical', keywords: ['plumber'], location: 'Austin, TX', gridSize: 3, radiusKm: 3, }); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.filter((i) => i.type === 'summary').forEach((s) => console.log(s.summary)); ``` **cURL** (waits for the run and saves the results as a CSV file; use `format=json` or `format=xlsx` for other formats) ```bash curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/moggedhq~google-maps-rank-tracker/run-sync-get-dataset-items?format=csv" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"businessName": "Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical", "keywords": ["plumber"], "location": "Austin, TX", "gridSize": 3, "radiusKm": 3}' \ -o results.csv ``` #### No-code: n8n, Make and Zapier - **n8n:** add the Apify node, choose the **Run Actor** operation and pick `moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker`, or call the cURL address above from an **HTTP Request** node. - **Make:** use the Apify app's **Run an Actor** module, then **Get Dataset Items** to pass each row to Google Sheets, a CRM or email. - **Zapier:** use the Apify app's **Run Actor** action, or the **Finished Actor Run** trigger to send every new result set to Sheets, Slack or your CRM. ### Use with AI agents (MCP) The Apify MCP server (`https://mcp.apify.com`) lets Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code and other MCP clients call this Actor as a tool, fill in the input from a plain request, and read the rows back. An agent can call this Actor with plain inputs (`businessName`, `keywords`, `location`, `gridSize`, `radiusKm`). **Claude Code:** ```bash claude mcp add apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker" -t http ``` **Cursor, VS Code and other clients that take a server URL** (`mcp.json`): ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker" } } } ``` **Clients that only run local servers:** ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@apify/actors-mcp-server", "--tools", "moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker"], "env": { "APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN" } } } } ``` Example prompt: > Check where Abacus Plumbing in Austin ranks on Google Maps for "plumber" across a 5x5 grid. Tell me which areas are weak and which competitors beat it there. The agent reads the answer from the summary row: the `summary` sentence, `averageRank`, `top3SharePercent`, `bestArea`, `worstArea`, `topCompetitors` and `rankGridText`, plus `heatmapImageUrl` for a picture it can share. ### How it works ![How the Google Maps Rank Tracker works: you enter a business, keywords and a grid, it searches Google Maps at every grid point and returns ranks, competitors, a summary and a heatmap](https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/gsiO0QFIivl0QTUgA/records/google-maps-rank-tracker-how-it-works-v2.png) At each grid point the Actor runs the same public Google Maps search a person would see with the map centred on that spot, and reads the first 20 places in Google's order. The business is matched by its Google listing ID, so a competitor with a similar name is never counted by mistake. Searches use a neighbourhood-level map view (zoom 14) by default. Slow or failed requests are retried through other IPs, and a point is only marked failed (and not charged) when every retry fails. In 41 test runs (US, Canada, UK, Germany and Australia) 1,754 of 1,754 grid points were answered. ### Limits - Ranks are the first 20 Google Maps results. Positions past 20 show as "20+". - Google Maps results change with time of day (opening hours count), personal history and the device. Scan at the same time each week to compare like with like. - Points much farther from the business than about 3 km are outside the zoom-14 map view, so the business usually drops out there. For a metro-wide scan, set `zoom` to 13; keep the zoom the same between scans you compare. - Sponsored (ad) places are not counted. - For a service-area business with no public address, Google's pin may not be where it works. Use `gridCenter` to centre the grid on the area it serves. - Up to 20 keywords and 81 points (9x9) per keyword in one run. ### FAQ **Do I need coordinates or a Google account?** No. The business name and city are enough. No login, cookies or API key. **How is this different from a single rank check?** A single check gives one number from one place. A business can be first next to its office and missing two kilometres away. The grid shows where it wins and where competitors take over. **Is it the same as Local Falcon or other geo grid tools?** It does the same kind of geo grid scan and charges per point instead of a monthly plan. It is not affiliated with Local Falcon or BrightLocal. **Can I track the same business every week?** Yes. Save your input as a task and add a weekly schedule in Apify. Keep the grid size, radius and zoom the same so the scans compare. **What if the wrong branch is picked?** The summary shows the listing name and address. If it is the wrong one, paste the right branch's Google Maps link in `googleMapsUrl`. **What does "share in the top 3" mean?** The percentage of grid points where the business shows in the top 3, which is what most people see first in the map pack. **Is it legal to scrape Google Maps?** This Actor collects only public information that anyone can see on Google Maps without logging in: business names, categories, ratings, review counts, addresses and map positions, in the order Google shows them. It does not log in, use cookies or solve CAPTCHAs, and it sends searches at a modest rate. It does not collect reviews, reviewer names or any private user data. Some results can still count as personal data, for example a sole trader listed under their own name, which laws such as the GDPR protect. Use the results only for a legitimate purpose, and ask a lawyer if you are unsure. **Is this an official Google product?** No. This Actor is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Google. Google Maps is a trademark of Google LLC and is named here only to describe what the Actor checks. ### More tools from mogged - [Recently Funded Startups](https://apify.com/moggedhq/recently-funded-startups): startups that just raised a round, with founders and contacts - [Hiring Leads](https://apify.com/moggedhq/hiring-leads): companies hiring now, with open roles and the people to contact - [Google Ads Keyword Planner Scraper](https://apify.com/moggedhq/keyword-search-volume): Google search volume, CPC and keyword difficulty for any keyword list - [Technical SEO Audit Tool](https://apify.com/moggedhq/seo-audit-tool): a full website SEO audit with a score and a fix list # Actor input Schema ## `businessName` (type: `string`): The business to track, as its name appears on Google Maps. Example: Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical ## `keywords` (type: `array`): What customers type into Google Maps, one per line (up to 20), for example plumber, emergency plumber or dentist near me. Every keyword is checked at every grid point. ## `location` (type: `string`): City, address or coordinates of the business. Used to find the right listing, for example the right branch of a chain. Example: Austin, TX ## `gridSize` (type: `integer`): Points per side, centred on the business: 3 = 3x3 (9 points), 5 = 5x5 (25), 7 = 7x7 (49), 9 = 9x9 (81). You pay per point per keyword. ## `radiusKm` (type: `number`): Distance from the business to the edge of the grid, in kilometres. 3 km suits a town or part of a city; use 8 to 15 km for a whole metro area. ## `radiusMiles` (type: `number`): Optional. The same distance in miles. If set, it is used instead of the radius in km. ## `googleMapsUrl` (type: `string`): Paste the business's Google Maps link to pick an exact listing, for example when a chain has several branches nearby. Short links (maps.app.goo.gl) work too. ## `gridCenter` (type: `string`): Centre the grid somewhere other than the business, as "latitude, longitude". Example: 30.2672, -97.7431 ## `zoom` (type: `integer`): Google Maps zoom used for each search. 14 (default) is a neighbourhood view; 13 is a city view, 15 a street view. Keep it the same between scans you compare. ## `language` (type: `string`): Google Maps language code for business names and categories, such as en, es, de or fr. ## Actor input object example ```json { "businessName": "Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical", "keywords": [ "plumber" ], "location": "Austin, TX", "gridSize": 5, "radiusKm": 3, "zoom": 14, "language": "en" } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `summary` (type: `string`): No description ## `points` (type: `string`): No description ## `report` (type: `string`): No description ## `output` (type: `string`): No description # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "businessName": "Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical", "keywords": [ "plumber" ], "location": "Austin, TX", "gridSize": 5, "radiusKm": 3 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker").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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "businessName": "Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical", "keywords": ["plumber"], "location": "Austin, TX", "gridSize": 5, "radiusKm": 3, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker").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 '{ "businessName": "Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical", "keywords": [ "plumber" ], "location": "Austin, TX", "gridSize": 5, "radiusKm": 3 }' | apify call moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,moggedhq/google-maps-rank-tracker" } } } ``` 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 ` 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/7CNbPS87lRxkzKbYd/builds/juK76Vi86EEKcxZHW/openapi.json