SE Ranking
Track an owned keyword set and combine it with user-supplied audit and backlink files
A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For SE Ranking, track an owned keyword set and combine it with user-supplied audit and backlink files. The hard boundary is large ranking data operation, competitive research, white-label reporting, and integrations, plus proprietary web index and data acquisition.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- large ranking data operation, competitive research, white-label reporting, and integrations
- planet-scale crawl index
- backlink graph
- clickstream estimates
- high-volume location-specific SERPs
Why people still pay
People still pay for SE Ranking because customers pay for a continuously refreshed web-scale dataset whose collection cost dwarfs the dashboard around it. The recurring cost buys proxy and API costs, crawl freshness, geolocation, anti-bot rules, keyword normalization, storage, and data QA, not just the visible interface.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- self-hosted server
- PostgreSQL
- approved search-data API or manual imports
- scheduled worker
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Project rule, data: Model sites, crawl pages, keyword snapshots, audit findings, and report dates; keep stable source IDs and timestamps.
Project rule, behavior: Create projects with domains, keywords, target country, language, device, and tags.
Project rule, recovery: Add scheduled runs, failure alerts, CSV export, retention settings, and database backups.
Implementation plan
Phase 1, architecture and data
Use Python 3.12, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Playwright, and a small React frontend. Model sites, crawl pages, keyword snapshots, audit findings, and report dates; keep stable source IDs and timestamps.
Phase 2, implement
Create projects with domains, keywords, target country, language, device, and tags.
Phase 3, implement
Fetch rankings only through the configured compliant API and enforce a daily budget.
Phase 4, review and output
Store raw result snapshots and normalized positions so every chart is auditable. Add scheduled runs, failure alerts, CSV export, retention settings, and database backups.
Phase 5, recovery and acceptance
Add scheduled runs, failure alerts, CSV export, retention settings, and database backups. Verify this invariant with a saved fixture: A failed crawl retains its last dated snapshot; a report must not imply backlink or keyword coverage the input lacks. State the practical limit: large ranking data operation, competitive research, white-label reporting, and integrations.
Build me a focused keyword research, backlinks and rank tracking workflow for the personal core of SE Ranking. Requirements: - Use Python 3.12, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Playwright, and a small React frontend. Model sites, crawl pages, keyword snapshots, audit findings, and report dates; keep stable source IDs and timestamps. - Paid product context: Track an owned keyword set and combine it with user-supplied audit and backlink files. Build only this DIY scope: Track a user-supplied keyword set, collect permitted search-result snapshots at low volume, combine them with user-supplied audit and backlink files, and show trends without recreating a commercial web index. - Create projects with domains, keywords, target country, language, device, and tags. - Fetch rankings only through the configured compliant API and enforce a daily budget. - Store raw result snapshots and normalized positions so every chart is auditable. Import backlink and keyword files from third-party tools without claiming independent coverage. Add scheduled runs, failure alerts, CSV export, retention settings, and database backups. - Use a local web page with input, progress, review, and export views. Required input or access: self-hosted server; approved search-data API or manual imports. - Recovery: Add scheduled runs, failure alerts, CSV export, retention settings, and database backups. - Acceptance: with one labelled sample, show the input, saved intermediate state, and exported result; verify this invariant: A failed crawl retains its last dated snapshot; a report must not imply backlink or keyword coverage the input lacks. - Out of scope: large ranking data operation, competitive research, white-label reporting, and integrations; planet-scale crawl index. Keep this a personal, inspectable workflow. - Include a README with setup, a sample input, required keys or permissions, data location, and the supported scope.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy AGENTS.md · generated from this app's build plan
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Alternatives to building your own
all 3 free alternatives to SE Ranking →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
SE Ranking pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| core | $129/workspace | $103.20/workspace | 10 projects; 1 manager seat; 2,000 daily tracked keywords; 100 daily AI prompts; 5 GEO domains; 250,000 audit pages/month; 25,000 API credits; 10 reports; 25 articles. |
| growth | $279/workspace | $223.20/workspace | 30 projects; 3 manager seats; 5,000 daily tracked keywords; 250 daily AI prompts; 15 GEO domains; 2,000,000 audit pages/month; 100,000 API credits; 30 reports; 50 articles. |
| enterprise | — | — | Custom projects, seats, keywords, AI prompts, GEO domains, crawl pages, API credits, reports, and articles.Contact sales. |
free tierno free tier (14-day no-card trial only)
billingmonthly + annual (20% lower on annual billing)
hidden costsAdd-ons start at $16/month for seats, $22.40/month for extra Core keyword capacity, $32/month for Growth keyword capacity, $39.20/month for article capacity, and $18.40/month for extra locations.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-14 · pricing source ↗
Questions about SE Ranking
Can you build your own SE Ranking with AI?
A full replacement is not the recommended project. A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For SE Ranking, track an owned keyword set and combine it with user-supplied audit and backlink files. The hard boundary is large ranking data operation, competitive research, white-label reporting, and integrations, plus proprietary web index and data acquisition.
What does the SE Ranking build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Track a user-supplied keyword set, collect permitted search-result snapshots at low volume, combine them with user-supplied audit and backlink files, and show trends without recreating a commercial web index. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: large ranking data operation, competitive research, white-label reporting, and integrations; planet-scale crawl index; backlink graph. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the SE Ranking prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this SE Ranking project take?
The catalogue estimate is closest consolation build: one sitting for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing SE Ranking?
large ranking data operation, competitive research, white-label reporting, and integrations; planet-scale crawl index; backlink graph; clickstream estimates; high-volume location-specific SERPs. People still pay for SE Ranking because customers pay for a continuously refreshed web-scale dataset whose collection cost dwarfs the dashboard around it. The recurring cost buys proxy and API costs, crawl freshness, geolocation, anti-bot rules, keyword normalization, storage, and data QA, not just the visible interface.
What price is this guide comparing against?
The recorded Core plan is $129/mo (monthly), checked 2026-08-14. Check the linked pricing source before buying. Building your own also has hosting, API and maintenance costs; the recorded amount is not a guaranteed saving.
What can I use instead of building SE Ranking?
OpenSEO: Rank tracking, audits, competitor rows and backlinks in one container; the backlink API is where free becomes philosophical. CrawlSEO: Owned-site crawls, rank snapshots, optional backlink data and alerts; capable software, decidedly non-trivial setup. SEO Panel: Rankings, audits, backlinks and reports in one venerable PHP dashboard; modernity was not part of the bargain. Compare all listed options at https://howtovibecodeit.dev/se-ranking/alternatives. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.