whitespark vs grid-my-business
Whitespark vs Grid My Business — features, pricing, and which to choose for your local SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
This comparison pits an established local SEO suite against a focused free tool. Whitespark has been the go-to platform for citation building and comprehensive local SEO management since 2005, while Grid My Business emerged in 2020 as a free alternative to expensive geogrid rank tracking tools like Local Falcon.
The choice comes down to scope versus simplicity. If you need a complete local SEO toolkit with citation management, reputation monitoring, and detailed reporting, Whitespark justifies its $33/month starting price. If you just want to track local rankings across geographic areas without the overhead, Grid My Business delivers that specific functionality at no cost.
Feature Comparison
Whitespark offers a full local SEO suite including citation finder and builder, local rank tracking, reputation management, and comprehensive reporting. Their citation tools scan 60+ data sources to find existing citations and identify opportunities. The rank tracking covers both organic and local pack positions with competitor analysis and white-label reporting for agencies. Grid My Business focuses exclusively on geogrid rank tracking. It shows your Google Maps rankings across a grid of geographic coordinates around your target location, similar to Local Falcon's approach. You can track multiple keywords and locations, export data, and see ranking fluctuations over time. However, it lacks citation management, reputation monitoring, or any other local SEO features. The feature gap is substantial. Whitespark provides citation audits, local listing management, review monitoring, and agency-level reporting tools that Grid My Business simply doesn't offer. For pure rank tracking visualization, Grid My Business matches Whitespark's capabilities while being completely free.
Pricing Comparison
Grid My Business wins on pricing by being entirely free with no usage limits on rank tracking. You can monitor unlimited keywords and locations without paying anything, making it attractive for small businesses or agencies testing local SEO strategies. Whitespark starts at $33/month for their basic plan, which includes citation finder, rank tracking for 250 keywords, and basic reporting. Their higher tiers add more keyword tracking, advanced features, and white-label options for agencies. While significantly more expensive, you're paying for a complete local SEO workflow rather than just rank tracking.
Best For
Whitespark is better when you need comprehensive local SEO management. Multi-location businesses, agencies managing multiple clients, and companies serious about citation building and reputation management benefit from its full-featured approach. The monthly cost pays for itself if you're actively managing local listings and need detailed client reporting. Grid My Business is better for simple rank tracking needs. Small businesses monitoring a few locations, agencies supplementing other tools, or anyone who just wants geogrid visualization without monthly fees should choose this option. It's perfect when budget is tight or you only need basic ranking insights.
The Verdict
Choose Grid My Business if rank tracking is your only need and budget matters. For everything else local SEO-related, Whitespark remains the better investment despite the monthly cost. The feature difference is too significant to ignore unless you're specifically looking for free geogrid tracking.