Seven options. Clear prices. A closer look at what each tool does—and who’s going to do the work.
Explore the comparisonReviewed October 3, 2026 · 7 tools compared
From free Google tools to specialist reporting and supported delivery. Compare the scope as carefully as the price.
Published by Aaptly, which sells one of these options. Based on vendor documentation, not independent performance testing. USD prices checked October 3, 2026.
| Tool / useful for | What you get | Price and billing |
|---|---|---|
Google Business ProfileFree profile management | Edit business information, publish updates, and respond to Google reviews.Scope & limitationsCovers your Google profile; it does not replace website search reports or a neighborhood rank grid. | FreeNo subscriptionBilling detailsFree |
Google Search ConsoleFree website search reporting | Inspect website queries, impressions, clicks, and indexing information.Scope & limitationsReports website search performance, not a Google Maps grid. A technical specialist handles indexing diagnosis and repairs. | FreeNo subscriptionBilling detailsFree |
BrightLocalAgency audits and local reporting | Local rank tracking, grid reports, profile audits, and citation checks; higher plans add listing and review management.Scope & limitationsCompare location allowances and plan features. Citation campaigns and managed SEO are separate offers. | $41/ month · 1 locationBilling detailsTrack: $41/month for 1 location, or $369/year. Manage: $54/month; Grow: $65/month. |
Whitespark Local Rank TrackerFocused local rank monitoring | Tracks local and organic search positions with competitor comparisons across locations.Scope & limitationsA keyword tracked in two locations uses two location keywords. Local Ranking Grids and citation services are separate products; price those separately. | $17/ month · weekly trackingBilling detailsSmall Business weekly tracking: $17/month or $168/year for 100 location keywords. Daily tracking: $25/month. |
Semrush LocalGoogle profile automation and Maps tracking | Local Base includes profile post/reply automation and Map Rank Tracker. Local Pro adds listing and review management.Scope & limitationsBase includes 375 map credits; Pro includes 1,225. Check directory coverage by country and whether other Semrush toolkits are needed. | $30/ month · per locationBilling detailsLocal Base: $30/month per location. Local Pro: $60/month per location. |
YextListing distribution across many locations | Distributes business facts to its publisher network, with workflows and access controls for location teams.Scope & limitationsConfirm the exact publishers, countries, and products in the proposal. Listings, reviews, and website work should have explicit scopes. | CustomRequest a quoteBilling detailsRequest pricing for your locations and required products. |
AaptlyOwners who want local SEO work handled | Profile work, Google posts, review replies, listing checks and supported fixes, rank tracking, and website monitoring.Scope & limitationsAaptly handles technical setup. Work depends on granted access and agreed scope; website creation and lead-response features are not automatically included in Essentials. | $99/ month · EssentialsBilling detailsFree audit and Free plan. Essentials: $99/month. |
Decide who will handle updates and follow-through. A free report or low-cost subscription can be useful when you have an SEO specialist. If you want delivery included, ask for the exact work, access requirements, and reporting cadence. With Aaptly, technical work stays with Aaptly; owners supply facts, grant access, and approve business decisions.
Compare costs at your actual location and keyword count. Ask to see a client report, historical data, exports, permissions, and any white-label options. Check whether Maps grids, citation projects, review requests, and website audits need separate subscriptions or credits.
Make a list of the directories and countries your business needs. Compare BrightLocal Manage, Semrush Local Pro, and Yext against that list. Confirm how each handles duplicates, owner verification, and corrections after cancellation. Directory coverage matters more than a headline listing count.
Request an example with the query, search location, device, date, and collection method. Keep Google Maps grids separate from organic website results. Before-and-after reports should use comparable samples and show missing data or coverage changes, not hide them in an average.
For free website search reporting, Google Search Console is a useful starting point. For an initial business visibility check, use the free Aaptly audit. Neither is a substitute for ongoing delivery.
Our July 31, 2026 study of 98,642 operational profiles across 2,574 cities helps explain what to look for in a local SEO tool.
Read the full visibility study →An observational sample concentrated in beauty, wellness, and selected home services. These findings are not Aaptly customer results or ranking targets. A missing profile URL does not prove a business has no website.
| Category | Profiles | Median reviews | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salons | 16,890 | 57 | 130 |
| HVAC | 550 | 246 | 761 |
| Plumbing | 452 | 254 | 930.8 |
| Pest control | 293 | 351 | 1,379 |
Choose by the job and who will do it. Google Business Profile and Search Console cover free profile and website reporting basics. BrightLocal and Whitespark offer specialist reporting tools; Semrush Local includes profile automation and Maps tracking. Aaptly is an option when you want technical setup and agreed local SEO work handled for you.
Google Business Profile and Google Search Console are free. Aaptly also offers a free Local Growth Audit and Free plan. A free audit is a snapshot; it is not the same as ongoing rank tracking, citation work, or paid execution. A product trial is time-limited and should not be treated as a free plan.
For a narrow tracking job, Whitespark’s Small Business Local Rank Tracker is $17 per month with weekly tracking for 100 location keywords; daily tracking is $25 per month. Semrush Local Base is $30 per location per month for profile automation and Maps tracking. Compare the work and limits included, not just the headline price. Prices were reviewed October 3, 2026.
Compare BrightLocal for audits and recurring local reports, Whitespark for focused local rank tracking, Semrush Local for connected profile and Maps work, and Yext for listing distribution across locations. Check client permissions, exports, location limits, reporting frequency, and any white-label or API requirements in the exact plan.
If you are replacing listing management, compare BrightLocal Manage, Semrush Local Pro, and Yext against your required directories and locations. If you need rank measurement, consider a specialist tracker such as Whitespark. If you need delivery as well as software, review Aaptly’s scope. Confirm listing ownership, access, and what happens to listings when a subscription ends before switching.
No. Listing distribution can help keep business facts consistent, but a directory submission is not a ranking guarantee. Ask which directories accept updates, how duplicates are handled, and what evidence confirms a correction. Report Maps rankings separately from website search performance.
Start with a free audit of your local visibility, reviews, and competitors. Then choose the tools or delivery scope that fits the gaps.