When Google removed the &num=100 search parameter — the method rank trackers used to pull the first 100 results in one go — it forced nearly every tool in the industry to rethink how deep they track and how often they refresh rankings.
If you’re not familiar with what “num=100” actually means or why it matters, check out our explainer here: What Is num=100?
Instead of adapting with more efficient data providers or smarter APIs, most trackers quietly reduced depth and update frequency to control costs. Here’s what that looks like today:
| Rank Tracker | Depth & Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AccuRanker |
Top 30 results daily Top 100 results twice per month |
Reduced full-depth updates to lower data usage and API cost. |
| SE Ranking | 6 pages deep | Limits depth to balance speed and cost. |
| Authority Labs | 5 pages deep | Reduced depth after Google’s num=100 change. |
| Nightwatch | 5 pages deep | Similar cost-control limits on maximum SERP coverage. |
Why Are They Doing This?
In short: to control costs. When Google removed native support for pulling 100 results in one request, most rank trackers faced a 10× increase in data costs. Each page of Google now requires a separate query, so checking ten pages means ten times the workload and API expense.
Rather than let users decide how deep to track, many platforms simply reduced their maximum depth, updated less often, or charged extra for “deep tracking.” The result? You get less visibility while paying the same or more.
Where DataForSEO Changed the Game
DataForSEO — the provider powering SEO Maven’s Rank Tracker — solved the problem differently. Their latest API can now deliver the first 100 results in just two requests (page 1 + next 90 results) at a flat rate of $0.00105 per keyword.
That means full 10-page visibility for nearly the same cost as tracking one page — making deep data practical again.
Our Take: Let the User Control Depth
At SEO Maven, we believe control should be in the user’s hands. Whether you care about page 1 or full top 100 coverage, you choose your tracking depth — 10, 50, or 100 results — no extra charges, no limitations.
Every keyword. Every position. Every page. Powered by the same DataForSEO data trusted by leading SEO tools — but offered at a fraction of the cost.