If your business is running locally, you need strong local SEO to stay competitive online. One of the great ways to begin a local SEO is through a free local SEO audit tool. These tools analyze your online presence, check where you’re weak and give you clear steps that will help get you ranked higher in local search results. I will explain how these tools work, list the best free choices and explain how to get the most out of them.
Key Aspects of Local SEO Audit
A local seo audit is an in depth analysis of your business’s online exposure in local searches. It finds out how your website is ranking and how your Google Business Profile (GBP) is behaving in the market.
Key aspects include:
Google Business Profile Optimization
NAP (Name, Address, Phone) Consistency
Local Keywords Usage
Citations and Backlinks
Online Reviews and Ratings
Page Speed and Mobile Friendliness
Free Tools to Audit Your Local SEO
1. BrightLocals’s Local Search Results Checker
Features: It can be used to view search results from any location, local rankings, and keyword performance.
Best For: From the perspective of local SEO, small businesses.
How to Use: By entering your location and keyword, you will receive local search results.
2. Google Business Profile Audit by GMB Everywhere
Features: This tool audits your Google Business Profile for missing or incorrect information.
Best For: Those businesses that depend heavily on GBP.
How to Use: Login to Google account and explore your profile setting.
3. Whitespark’s Citation Finder
Features: It keeps track of your citations, and suggests new opportunities.
Best For: This is improving local directory listings.
How to Use: Simply enter your business details then find citation opportunities.
4. SEMrush Listing Management Tool
Features: The citation accuracy check and GBP Audit are available in the free version.
Best For: For businesses that only require a mix of free and premium features.
How to Use: Log in and input your business details.
5. Moz Local Check
Features: NAP consistency across local directories scans.
Best For: Making sure all the same business details are correct everywhere online.
How to Use: You can run a scan by entering your business name and location.
6. Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker
Features: Check backlinks to your website.
Best For: Understanding your link-building strengths.
How to Use: Just enter your URL to check your backlink profile.
7. SEO Minion
Features: An on page SEO and local listing audit chrome extension.
Best For: Quick, on-the-go audits.
How to Use: Install the extension and visit your website.
8. LocalFalcon
Features: Tracks Google Business Profile rankings in a specific area.
Best For: Looking for a way to visualize local keyword rankings on map.
How to Use: Track GBP performance for free for 14 days.
9. Yext Listings Checker
Features: You can scan your business’s online listings for accuracy.
Best For: Companies with multiple locations.
How to Use: Put in your business name, your location, and the report will generate!
10. GeoRanker Local SEO Tool
Features: Sees your website local ranking as well as how your site is performing relative to competitors.
Best For: Targeted at businesses which focus on particular cities or neighborhoods.
How to Use: You can set up the free version to track limited queries.
11. Screaming Frog SEO Spider (Free Version)
Features: It crawls your site for technical problems on your website and local seo gaps.
Best For: Detailed on-page SEO audits.
How to Use: The free tool can be downloaded from their website and it allows you to crawl up to 500 URLs for free.
12. Local SEO Checklist by Synup
Features: It provides a checklist to help you get through local SEO best practices.
Best For: Local SEO Auditing: A DIY Approach.
How to Use: Follow the steps of the free checklist.
13. ReviewTrackers Free Review Audit
Features: It works as a tracking statement and review audit for your online reviews across several platforms.
Best For: Businesses focused on managing reputation.
How to Use: Review your reviews for free with a 30 day free trial.
Features Comparison
Tool Name
Key Features
Best For
Free Limitations
Google Business Profile Insights
Provides performance metrics like views, clicks, and calls.
Tracking GBP performance.
Limited to GBP metrics.
BrightLocal Free Tools
Audits local citations and GBP rankings.
Analyzing local visibility.
Some tools require paid subscription.
LocalFalcon
Tracks GBP rankings across locations on a map.
Visualizing local keyword rankings.
Free trial available.
Yext Listings Checker
Checks online listings for accuracy.
Managing multi-location listings.
Free for basic audit.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider (Free)
Crawls websites for on-page SEO issues.
Technical SEO audits.
Crawls up to 500 URLs for free.
ReviewTrackers Free Review Audit
Tracks online reviews across multiple platforms.
Reputation management.
Free trial available.
GeoRanker Local SEO Tool
Tracks rankings for specific cities or neighborhoods.
Comparing competitor rankings locally.
Limited keyword tracking for free.
Local SEO Checklist by Synup
Offers a checklist for improving local SEO.
DIY local SEO approach.
Checklist only; no automated audits.
How to Audit Local SEO with These Tools
Step 1: Audit Your Website
To check your title tags, meta descriptions, and local keyword usage, use SEO Minion.
Make sure your site has got a good load time and it’s mobile friendly.
Make sure your website uses canonical tags.
All images should have proper alt text.
You should use H1, H2 tags in content.
All website links are working and no 404 pages.
Step 2: Check Your Google Business Profile
Make sure everything is complete 100% using the Google Business Profile.
Add your high quality images, business hours and services.
Your business name, phone and address should be correct.
Make sure your business has an optimized description.
Step 3: Analyze Your Local Citations
Review NAP consistency with Moz Local Check, Yext or with Whitespark Citation Finder.
The main aim of the script is to ensure that incorrect information addressed across directories is rectified.
Step 4: Track Local Rankings
Monitor your keyword rankings in your area with the use of BrightLocal’s Local Search Results Checker or a reliable free rank tracker for local SEO 2025.
Concentrate on Rank improvement for low performing keywords.
Step 5: Evaluate Backlinks
Either use Ahrefs Free Backlink Finder and have a look at who’s linking to your website.
Let’s look up local blogs or directories for link building opportunities.
How to Optimize Local SEO
Target Local Keywords: Phrase things like ‘near me,’ or city names, etc.
Encourage Reviews: Positive reviews; Google and Yelp in particular breed trust.
Leverage Social Media: As a content publisher, sharing on a regular basis is essential for engaging local audiences.
Build Local Backlinks: Get partnering with local businesses or sponsors.
Post Updates on GBP: Share offers, announcements and events to keep yourself active.
Local SEO audit tools are free and are worth applying to your business. Whether you’re using Moz Local Check to fix citation errors, BrightLocal to analyze rankings, or GMB Everywhere to optimize your Google Business Profile, these tools keep you competitive in local search.
Take action today! These are great tools to audit with, make changes, and drive more customers to your local business.
Muhammad Naveed is the Co-Founder of Search Engine State and an SEO Expert, specializing in boosting online visibility and driving organic traffic for businesses. With a passion for digital marketing, Muhammad Naveed stays on top of SEO trends to help clients succeed in the ever-evolving online landscape.
