🔍 The Short Answer
Keyword Lists and Rank Tracker do different jobs. If you want to save and organize keywords, use a Keyword List. If you want to monitor where your site ranks for those keywords over time, use Rank Tracker.
For a list of your top keywords, most customers start with a Keyword List and then add the most important ones to Rank Tracker.
📋 What Is a Keyword List?
A Keyword List is a saved collection of keywords. Think of it as a folder or spreadsheet for your research. It helps you stay organized while you plan content and strategy.
- Best for: collecting ideas, grouping keywords by topic, and planning content.
- Typical data: search volume, difficulty, and other research metrics.
- Does it track rankings? No. A Keyword List stores keywords but does not monitor your position in Google over time.
📈 What Is Rank Tracker?
Rank Tracker monitors the position of your website in search results for the keywords you choose. It shows whether you are moving up or down, so you can see the impact of your SEO work.
- Best for: measuring progress, reporting results, and spotting ranking drops.
- Typical data: your current position, position changes, and ranking history.
- Does it need a website? Yes. Rank Tracker measures rankings for a specific site or page, so it is tied to a project or domain.
⚖️ Which One Should I Use?
Use this quick guide to decide:
- I am still researching keywords: use a Keyword List.
- I want to group keywords by topic or campaign: use a Keyword List.
- I want to know where my site ranks today: use Rank Tracker.
- I want to see ranking changes over weeks or months: use Rank Tracker.
- I have a list of top keywords I care about most: keep them in a Keyword List for organization, and add them to Rank Tracker to monitor performance.
You do not have to pick only one. Many customers use both: a Keyword List for planning and Rank Tracker for measuring.
🚀 Recommended Workflow for Your Top Keywords
- Research keywords and save the best ones to a Keyword List.
- Review the list and remove anything that does not fit your goals.
- Choose your highest-priority keywords, such as the ones tied to your main products, services, or pages.
- Add those keywords to Rank Tracker for your website.
- Check Rank Tracker regularly to see how your positions change.
Tip: Start with a focused set of keywords in Rank Tracker rather than everything from your research. A smaller set is easier to read and highlights the terms that matter most.
🧭 Where Do I Find Rank Tracker?
Rank Tracker is available as its own tool in the platform. To find it:
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Open the main navigation menu on the left side of the screen.
- Look for Rank Tracker. Depending on your layout, it may be listed on its own or inside a group of tools, so expand any menu sections if you do not see it right away.
- Select it to open the tool, then choose the project or website you want to track.
Keyword Lists are found in the keyword research area of the platform, where you save keywords while researching.
🛠️ Troubleshooting
- I cannot see Rank Tracker in the menu: expand the menu sections, refresh the page, and confirm you are logged in to the right account. Availability can also depend on your plan.
- My keywords are not showing rankings: make sure they were added to Rank Tracker for your website, not only saved to a Keyword List. New keywords may need some time before data appears.
- I saved keywords but cannot find them: check the Keyword List area rather than Rank Tracker, since saved research keywords live in lists.
- I added the wrong keywords: you can edit or remove keywords from your list, or remove them from Rank Tracker, and add the right ones.
💬 Need More Help?
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be instantly connected with a member of our team.