Local scans and API scans

Every GeckoGrid scan runs through one of two engines. Both produce the same heatmaps, the same top 20 tracking per grid point, and the same competitor data, so you can mix them freely across projects and schedules.

Local scanning

Local scanning runs on your machine through your own Chrome browser. GeckoGrid searches Google Maps from each grid point, one scan at a time, with 1 to 3 browser tabs and deliberate pacing between requests.

• Free and unlimited on every plan, Solo included.
• No account needed beyond Chrome itself.
• A 7x7 grid often takes around 10 minutes; smaller grids finish faster.
• Best for small rosters, everyday check-ins, and anyone who prefers zero variable costs.

Because searches come from your own IP, GeckoGrid paces them and shows a daily advisory counter, described in how scans run. A steady schedule beats large bursts.

API scanning

API scanning pulls results through DataForSEO using your own pay-as-you-go key. It is included on the Agency and Lifetime plans, and you bring the key, so billing runs at DataForSEO’s rate with no markup. A 7x7 grid costs roughly $0.03 to $0.10 depending on the delivery mode you pick:

• Standard: the cheapest mode. Results often arrive in 5 to 45 minutes, sometimes longer for big grids.
• Priority: results in about a minute.
• Live: the whole grid in around 10 seconds.

API scans run from DataForSEO’s infrastructure, so they never touch your IP, ignore local pacing, and are built for bulk: every client, every keyword, hands-off agent workflows. Spend is tracked to the cent, and an optional monthly cap in Settings sets the only hard spending limit.

Which one to use

Use local scans for a handful of businesses and routine weekly checks. Switch to API scans when volume or speed matters: many locations, large grids on a deadline, or agent-driven batch runs.

If an API scan cannot run, for example when credentials are missing or the tier is locked, GeckoGrid falls back to a local scan with a notice, so a scheduled run never silently dies. Enable and configure API scanning in Settings > DataForSEO.