What it is
Keyword.com simulates real human Google searches to collect ranking data that reflects how results actually appear in Google for a specific setup.
Each keyword is tracked based on:
Location (country, city, or more precise local targeting)
Device (desktop or mobile)
Language
Google search engine variant (e.g. google.com, google.co.uk)
The more precise your location and device settings are, the closer the tracked results will match what real users see in that context.
SERP context
Keyword.com does not only record a numeric rank. We also capture SERP context, including:
SERP features
AI Overviews
Ads
This helps you interpret ranking performance within the real search environment.
Verification
Every tracked keyword can be verified using the Spyglass verification tool, which shows a saved snapshot of the Google SERP as it appeared at the time of tracking.
Verification is covered in detail in a separate article.
How automatic keyword updates work
Scheduled updates
Keywords are automatically refreshed based on your plan:
Daily
Weekly
Hourly (legacy plans only)
All automatic updates are queued starting at 00:00 UTC.
Update timing and queues
Keywords are processed in batches
Large accounts may take time to fully complete updates
Mondays may take longer due to deeper Top 100 scans
The “Last updated” timestamp shown in your project reflects the most recently updated keyword in that project, not necessarily every keyword.
On-demand updates (Overview)
On-demand updates (manual refreshes) allow you to update selected keywords instantly, outside of the normal schedule.
Results typically return within a few seconds (depending on how many you update)
Manual refreshes consume allocated refresh credits
A manual refresh overrides the automatic update for those keywords
A detailed explanation is available in the article On-Demand Keyword Updates.
Hybrid tracking explained (Overview)
Keyword.com uses a Hybrid Tracking model:
Top 20 results are updated more frequently
Top 100 results are collected less frequently
This reflects where most SEO impact occurs while still providing deeper context over time.
Impact on reporting
Because not all depths are refreshed every day, reporting behaviour depends on the Maintain Continuous Rank (MCR) setting, which controls how missing days are handled in tables and charts.
💡 Full SERP 100 tracking
If you require Top 100 results on every update, this is available as an upgrade. Contact support for pricing and availability.
Find out more about Hybrid Tracking in SERP Keyword Hybrid Tracking Explained and how this impacts reports in Maintain Continuous Rank (MCR)