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
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 is being retired and replaced by Consistent Tracking and Enhanced Tracking. Existing Hybrid Tracking projects will continue to function during the migration period, but all projects will be migrated in the coming months.
How deep we track
Keyword.com offers two tracking depth options depending on your project settings.
1. Consistent Tracking
Consistent Tracking collects the Top 50 Google results on every update.
This means:
The same tracking depth is used every time a keyword is refreshed
Ranking data remains consistent across updates
Rankings outside the Top 50 appear as >50
For most users, Consistent Tracking provides the right balance between ranking visibility and tracking efficiency.
2. Enhanced Tracking
Enhanced Tracking collects the Top 100 Google results on every update.
This means:
Full Top 100 visibility on every refresh
Greater insight into keywords that rank beyond the first few pages
More complete competitor and SERP analysis
Rankings outside the Top 100 appear as >100
Enhanced Tracking is recommended for highly competitive industries, large keyword portfolios, and teams that need complete SERP visibility.
Why this matters
The tracking depth determines how far into Google's search results we look when collecting rankings.
For example:
A keyword ranking #42 will be found in both Consistent and Enhanced Tracking
A keyword ranking #87 will only be found in Enhanced Tracking
A keyword ranking outside the tracked depth will be shown as not found within that range
Because the same depth is collected on every update, rankings and movement metrics remain consistent over time.