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Use case · real run Oct 27, 2026
Keyword gap analysis
Find the keywords your competitors rank for and you don't, then check which of those gaps still exist on today's Google.
What a keyword gap analysis answers
Which searches bring customers to your competitors but not to you, and which of those you can realistically win. A useful gap list removes the competitors' brand and login searches, merges duplicates across competitors, and tells you whether each gap still exists on today's Google, because ranking databases are weeks or months old.
A real example
Help Scout against Zendesk, Freshworks and Intercom (United States, run on Oct 27, 2026): 235 gap keywords after filters in 29 seconds. Five of the top 20:
| Keyword | Volume / mo | KD | Competitor in database | Live Google check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ticketing system | 1,900 | 15 | zendesk.com #1 | open gap: zendesk.com #8 |
| customer service training | 8,100 | 18 | zendesk.com #4 | open gap: zendesk.com #2 |
| ai powered customer platform | 1,300 | 33 | freshworks.com #1 | open gap: intercom.com #4 |
| customer service desk | 480 | 8 | freshworks.com #1 | open gap: freshworks.com #1 |
| email thread | 6,600 | 3 | intercom.com #4 | competitors not in top 10 now |
Of the 20 keywords re-checked live, 8 were open gaps and 12 had a competitor that was no longer in the top 10. Without the live check, more than half of the "top opportunities" would have been out of date.
How to run one
- Pick search competitors. The domains that outrank you for your topics, not only business rivals. One to three is enough.
- Pull what they rank for and drop every keyword where you already rank in the top 100.
- Filter noise: competitor brand terms, login and support-site searches, jobs, very low volume.
- Score what's left on demand, difficulty, intent, fit with your site and how many competitors rank.
- Re-check the best ones on live Google before you brief writers.
You can do steps 2 to 4 yourself with Competitor Keywords and a spreadsheet. The Keyword Gap Report does all five in one run and writes an HTML report you can send to a client.
Price
$9 per completed report: up to 3 competitors, up to 300 gap keywords, 20 live Google checks and the HTML report. Not charged if a competitor's data request fails or nothing matches your filters. On Apify's free plan you get up to 3 free previews a week (1 competitor, 25 candidates, 5 live checks).
From code or an agent
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/wrenfield-data~keyword-gap-report/run-sync-get-dataset-items?maxTotalChargeUsd=10" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"clientDomain": "yourdomain.com", "competitors": ["competitor1.com", "competitor2.com"]}'MCP: https://mcp.apify.com?tools=wrenfield-data/keyword-gap-report. More endpoints on the API page.
FAQ
What is a keyword gap?
A search term at least one competitor ranks for on Google and your domain does not rank for in the top 100.
How is this different from Semrush or Ahrefs keyword gap?
Those tools compare their own ranking databases inside a subscription. This report adds a live Google top-10 check for the top 20 picks, explains each pick in plain language and is billed per report with no subscription.
Which countries are supported?
Every country the keyword database covers (90+), in the local language.
Example data: our own run on Oct 27, 2026 using public Google rankings. Not affiliated with Help Scout, Zendesk, Freshworks, Intercom, Semrush or Ahrefs.