On-Page Keyword Checker
See how well a page is optimised for any keyword. Enter a URL and your target keyword and RankNibbler scores the page out of 100 — checking where the keyword appears across your title, H1, meta description, URL, headings, first paragraph and image alt text, plus its density — and hands you a clear pass/fail checklist of exactly what to fix. Free, and you can score several keywords for the same page at once.
What an on-page keyword checker does
This is an on-page optimisation check, not a rank check. It answers a different question to "where do I rank?": it tells you how well your page is set up to rank for a keyword in the first place. It reads the page, finds your keyword across the elements that matter, weighs each placement by importance, and returns a 0–100 keyword score with a checklist — so you can see at a glance whether a page is genuinely optimised for the term you care about, or only half there.
Where your keyword should appear
The checker grades the keyword's presence across every on-page element a search engine reads. These are the placements it scores — and roughly the order of impact:
- Title tag — the single most important place; aim for the keyword near the front.
- H1 — the page's main heading should clearly reflect the keyword's topic.
- Meta description — not a direct ranking factor, but Google bolds the keyword and it lifts click-through.
- URL / slug — a clean, readable slug that includes the keyword.
- First paragraph — establish the topic in the opening ~100 words.
- Subheadings (H2–H6) — the keyword or close variations in a few headings, naturally.
- Image alt text — at least one relevant image describing the keyword.
- Body content — used throughout the copy at a sensible frequency.
Each check is weighted, grouped into meta, HTML and other categories, and rolled into the overall score — so the title and H1 count for far more than, say, an alt tag.
Keyword density — a guideline, not a trick
The checker shows your keyword's density (how often it appears as a share of the text), but here's the honest truth: density is not a magic ranking number. Google has never confirmed a target, and large studies have found no consistent link between density and rankings. Treat roughly 1–2% as a loose sanity check — enough that the page is clearly about the topic — and otherwise just write naturally. The tool flags density that looks too high precisely so you avoid keyword stuffing, which reads badly and can do more harm than good.
How to optimise a page for a keyword
Three steps:
1. Enter the URL and keyword
Paste the page URL and the keyword you want it to rank for. Add more than one keyword to score them together and compare.
2. Read the score and checklist
You get a 0–100 keyword score and a pass/fail checklist showing where the keyword appears and where it's missing, plus the page's own top keywords and heading outline.
3. Fix the gaps
Work the failed checks — add the keyword naturally to the placements you're missing, starting with the highest-value ones (title, H1, first paragraph) — then re-run to confirm the score climbed.
Keyword optimisation vs keyword rank checking
These two get confused, so to be clear:
- An on-page keyword checker (this tool) measures how well your page is optimised for a keyword — the action you take to earn a ranking.
- A keyword rank checker measures where you currently sit in Google's results for that keyword — the outcome.
You want both: optimise the page here, then track its position over time. To see where you rank, use the keyword rank checker.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if my page is optimised for a keyword?
Enter the page URL and your target keyword. The checker scores where the keyword appears across the title, H1, meta description, URL, headings, first paragraph and alt text, then flags what's missing.
Where should I put my keyword on a page?
In the title tag, H1, meta description, URL slug, the first 100 words, a couple of subheadings, and at least one image's alt text — used naturally, not crammed everywhere.
What is a good keyword density?
Roughly 1–2% as a loose guideline (about 10–20 uses per 1,000 words), but treat it as a sanity check, not a target to hit.
Is keyword density still a ranking factor?
Not a direct one. Google has never confirmed it and large studies show no consistent correlation, so write naturally and avoid stuffing — density is a content-quality signal, not a formula.
What's the difference between checking keyword rank and keyword optimisation?
A rank checker tells you where you currently sit in Google for a keyword; an on-page keyword checker tells you how well your page is optimised so it can rank — the measurement versus the action.
What does the keyword score (0–100) mean?
A weighted measure of how many high-value placements your keyword hits across the page. Higher means better on-page coverage, and the checklist shows exactly what to fix.
Can I check more than one keyword at once?
Yes — score several target keywords for the same page in one go and compare their coverage.
What is keyword stuffing and how do I avoid it?
Cramming a keyword in unnaturally to manipulate rankings. The checker warns when density or repetition looks excessive, so you keep the page readable.
Check your first page
It's free, and it sits alongside the rest of your SEO tools.