Does Ahrefs pull rankings with a location? What it tracks and what it misses

You track your keywords in Ahrefs. The numbers look great. Yet customers across town say they can't find you on Google Maps. So you wonder: does Ahrefs pull rankings with a location, and if it does, why don't its numbers match what customers see?

This guide explains how location-based rank tracking works in Ahrefs, why one tracking point can't capture local rankings, and what to add if Google Maps is where your customers find you.

The short answer

Ahrefs is one of the best-known SEO tools for keyword research, backlinks and organic rank tracking. Its Rank Tracker supports location targeting, so you can track a keyword in a specific city or postal code instead of a whole country. Ahrefs also reports SERP features, such as when a local pack appears for your keyword.

Features and limits change. Check Ahrefs' current documentation and plan details before you decide, as we describe the tool at the time of writing.

The catch is not whether Ahrefs supports a location. It's that local rankings change from street to street, and one location can't show that.

How location-based rank tracking works

Most rank trackers, Ahrefs included, work in a similar way:

1. You add a keyword, such as "emergency plumber".
2. You choose a location, such as "Leeds" or a postal code.
3. The tool runs the search as if from that location, on a schedule.
4. It records where your website appears.

This works well for organic results, the blue links. Organic rankings change less with location than map rankings do. A city-level check gives a fair picture of how your website performs in that city.

The single-point problem for local SEO

Google's local results depend heavily on distance between the searcher and the business. Google names distance as one of its three main local ranking factors, alongside relevance and prominence.

So the same search gives different map results in different parts of a city. For example:

• Near your office, you might be #1 in the map pack.
• Two kilometers north, you might be #6.
• Across the river, you might not be in the top 20 at all.

A tracker that checks "Leeds" returns one of those numbers, usually from a point near the city center. If your office is in the suburbs, that number may not match any real customer's view.

Organic rankings vs Google Maps rankings

Both matter for local businesses. But for searches like "dentist near me", most clicks go to the map pack, so tracking only the organic side leaves a big blind spot.

What a rank grid adds

A rank grid runs the same Google Maps search from many points around your business, for example 49 points in a 7 × 7 grid. Each point is colored by your position:

• Green: top 3, the map pack.
• Amber: positions 4–10.
• Red: positions 11–20.
• Grey: not in the top 20.

Instead of one number, you see your real visibility across your service area. You also see which competitor holds the top 3 where you're weak. That tells you who to study and what to fix.

Read more in why your Google Maps rank is a map, not a number, or try the free Google Maps rank checker.

How to use Ahrefs and a rank grid together

You don't have to choose. Many local SEOs use both, for different jobs:

1. Keyword research: use Ahrefs or a local keyword research tool to find terms with demand. Our local keyword research guide walks through it.
2. Website rankings: track your service and location pages in Ahrefs' Rank Tracker by city.
3. Map rankings: run a monthly rank grid for your top three keywords.
4. Links: use Ahrefs to find local sites linking to competitors, then pursue similar links.
5. Reporting: show clients both views. The grid is the easiest one for owners to understand.

Which tracking do you need?

A keyword rank tracker is enough if…

• You sell online or nationwide, and location barely changes your results.
• Your customers mostly click organic results, not the map.

You need a rank grid if…

• You serve customers in a specific area: a storefront or a service-area business.
• The map pack appears for your main keywords.
• You want to know where in your area you win and lose.
• You report local SEO results to clients.

Common rank tracking mistakes in local SEO

• Checking from your own office. Google personalizes results, and your office is the one place you're likely to rank well.
• Tracking only the city center. It may be far from where your best customers live.
• Judging by one day. Rankings move. Compare monthly trends, not single checks.
• Ignoring the map pack. A top organic position can still sit below three map results.
• Tracking too many keywords. Three to five money keywords tell you more than fifty vanity ones.

Example: same keyword, two very different pictures

Imagine a physiotherapy clinic in the north of a city. Its agency tracks "physiotherapist" in a rank tracker set to the city. The report shows #3. Everyone is happy.

Then the owner runs a 7 × 7 rank grid around the clinic. The result:

• Top 3 in the six points closest to the clinic.
• Positions 4–10 in a ring around that.
• Not in the top 20 in the whole southern half of the grid, where a large competitor sits.

Both numbers are "true". But only the grid shows that half of the nearby searches go to someone else. The fix, more reviews and a stronger services list, became obvious once the owner could see the gap.

How to set up local rank tracking the right way

Whatever tools you use, a few settings decide whether your numbers mean anything.

Pick the right keywords

Track the searches that bring paying customers: your main service, your main service plus "near me", and one or two high-value services. Skip your brand name; you'll rank for it anyway.

Pick the right locations

For organic tracking, use the city or postal codes where most of your customers live, not only the city center. For map tracking, center the grid on your business and size it to your real service area. A café might use points 500 meters apart. A roofer serving a whole region might use 3 to 5 kilometers.

Use mobile results

Most local searches happen on phones. If your tool lets you choose, track mobile results for local keywords.

Keep the setup fixed

Use the same keywords, grid size and spacing every month. Changing the setup makes comparisons meaningless.

Record what you changed

Keep a simple log: "Changed primary category, 3 March" or "Added 12 reviews in April". When the grid improves, you'll know why.

Summary and next step

Ahrefs does pull rankings with a location, and it's a strong tool for keywords, links and organic tracking. For Google Maps, though, one location can't show how your rank changes across your area. Pair it with a rank grid to see what customers actually see.

See your own map. Start a free Local Rank Grid trial and run a rank grid for your top keyword in two minutes. No card needed.

FAQ

Does Ahrefs track local rankings?

Ahrefs Rank Tracker lets you track keywords for a specific location, such as a city or postal code, and shows when a local pack appears. It checks from one location per setting.

Can Ahrefs track Google Maps rankings?

Ahrefs focuses on Google's web results and SERP features. To see your Google Maps position across a service area, use a grid-based local rank tracker.

Why do my Ahrefs rankings differ from what customers see?

Local results change with the searcher's exact location. A single tracking point can't match what customers see in other parts of your area.

What is the best way to track local SEO rankings?

Track your website's organic rankings by city, and your Google Maps rankings with a rank grid of many points around your business, monthly.

Do I need Ahrefs for local SEO?

Not necessarily. It's useful for keywords and links. Many small businesses do well with a local rank tracker, a profile audit and a review system.

How often should I check local rankings?

Monthly is enough for most small businesses. Rankings move day to day, so compare the same setup month to month and look at the trend, not single results. Agencies often add a check after big changes, like a new category or a burst of reviews.