Debug: upstream API calls (click to expand)
How it works
Keyword Gap Analysis fetches the full list of ranking keywords for your site and for each competitor. The lists come from our Keywords Everywhere ranking index. Then it compares them. The output is every keyword competitors rank for that you do not, sorted by how many competitors share the gap.
Two modes. Compare Websites takes domains and finds gaps across your whole site. Compare Webpages takes specific URLs, your page against each competitor's page, for a head-to-head comparison on one topic.
The comparison. A keyword joins the gap list if at least one competitor ranks for it within the per-target depth cap and you do not. Each row carries a "Found on" count: how many of your competitors share that gap. A higher count is a stronger sign that the topic matters to your audience.
Optional volume data. Finding the gaps is free. Search volume, CPC, competition and the 12-month trend per keyword are an extra step: the Add Volume Data button in the results header. That step is paid with credits from your own Keywords Everywhere account. Free and anonymous visitors still see the gap list. Only the volume step needs a paid plan.
Plan caps. Your current plan allows up to 2 competitors and 500 keywords per site. Your daily quota of 50 ranking-keyword lookups is shared with the Website Ranking Checker.
Known limitations.
- Per-target depth. If a competitor ranks for more keywords than your plan lets us fetch, gaps beyond that cap will not show for that competitor. Higher plans see deeper.
- Index lag. Rankings a competitor earned in the last few days may not be in our index yet.
- Webpage mode is strict. If your URL or a competitor URL does not exactly match an indexed page, that target may return no keywords.
What the columns mean
- Keyword
- A search query that at least one competitor ranks for in Google and you do not.
- Found on
- How many of the competitors you submitted rank for this keyword. This is the default sort. A keyword many competitors rank for is a stronger opportunity than one only a single competitor has.
- Best Position
- The highest position any of your competitors holds for this keyword. A gap where a competitor ranks number 2 is more contested than one where the best competitor ranks number 28.
- Competitor positions
- One column per competitor showing its position for the keyword, or empty if it does not rank. You can see exactly who is winning each gap and whether one competitor or several share it.
- Search Volume (after adding volume data)
- Google's average monthly searches for the keyword in the country selected on the form. Empty until you click Add Volume Data.
- CPC (after adding volume data)
- The cost per click in Google Ads. A sign of buying intent.
- Competition (after adding volume data)
- Google's 0 to 1 score for advertising competition. Higher means more advertisers bidding.
- 12-Month Trend (after adding volume data)
- A small chart of monthly search volume over the past 12 months. Useful for spotting seasonal keywords or topics in decline.
Frequently asked questions
What is a keyword gap analysis?
A list of the keywords your competitors rank for in Google but you do not. The idea is simple. If several competitors in your niche rank for a keyword and you do not, that keyword is an opportunity. The topic clearly matters to your audience. And the bar is one you can clear, since others already have. This tool produces exactly that list, sorted by how many competitors share each keyword.
How do I do a keyword gap analysis?
Enter your own domain, or your own URL in Webpage mode. Then paste up to 10 competitor domains, one per line, and click Find Gaps. We pull every keyword each competitor ranks for, remove the keywords you already rank for, and return the rest. The list is sorted by the "Found on" count: the number of competitors that rank for the keyword while you do not. Topics that show up across many competitors are the strongest opportunities.
What's the difference between Compare Websites and Compare Webpages mode?
Compare Websites takes domains, such as example.com, and finds keywords that competitors rank for and no page on your site does. Compare Webpages takes specific URLs, such as https://example.com/best-running-shoes, and compares one page against competitor pages on the same topic. Webpage mode is the sharper tool when you have one page to improve.
How do I find competitor keywords?
You do not need to know their keywords up front. You only need to know who your competitors are. This tool fetches each competitor's ranking keywords from our Keywords Everywhere ranking index and compares them with yours. If you do not know who your SEO competitors are, our Competitors Finder can find them from your own domain.
How many competitors can I compare?
Your current plan allows up to 2 competitors per submission. Platinum allows the maximum of 10. Each competitor adds one call to the ranking index, so the cap keeps the load per submission in check. To analyse a longer list, run several submissions and combine the gap lists in a spreadsheet.
What are the 4 steps of a gap analysis?
With this tool: (1) Pick your own site or page as the baseline. (2) Choose a relevant set of competitors, usually 3 to 10. (3) Run the analysis to find keywords competitors rank for but you do not, sorted by how many share the gap. (4) Filter the results by search volume and position, then pick the topics with the best traffic for the effort. On a paid plan, the Add Volume Data button adds volume, CPC, competition and trend per keyword.
Can I use AI for keyword research instead?
AI keyword ideas are a useful starting point for brainstorming. But they cannot tell you what real searchers in your market type into Google, or what your specific competitors already rank for. This tool is the opposite. Every keyword in the gap list comes from real Google ranking data for real competitors. Use AI for ideas and a gap analysis to decide what to do first.
Why don't I see search volume on every row?
Because those columns cost credits. Finding the gap keywords is free. Search volume, CPC, competition and the 12-month trend per keyword come from an upstream that charges per keyword, so those four columns start empty. Paid plans can click Add Volume Data in the results header. We quote the credit cost in a confirm box first, and the credits come from your own Keywords Everywhere account.