How to Scrape Google Search Results Without Code in 2025

Last Updated on July 15, 2025

I’ll be honest: the first time I tried to collect Google search results for a competitor analysis project, I thought, “How hard can this be?” Fast-forward a few hours, and I was deep in a rabbit hole of Python scripts, proxy errors, and Google’s infamous “Unusual traffic detected” warnings. My coffee was cold, my patience was gone, and I still didn’t have my data in a spreadsheet.

If you’ve ever tried to get structured data out of Google Search—whether for SEO, sales prospecting, or just to satisfy your inner data nerd—you know the pain. Google processes , holding a near . That’s a goldmine of real-time market intelligence—if you can actually access it. But for most people, traditional scraping methods are a maze of code, maintenance, and anti-bot roadblocks. The good news? In 2025, no-code, AI-powered tools like are making Google search scraping accessible to everyone, not just developers.

Let’s dive into how you can scrape Google search results—no code, no headaches, and no more cold coffee.

What is Web Scraping Google Search Results?

Let’s break it down: web scraping Google search results means extracting structured data—like titles, URLs, and snippets—from Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs). Think of it as automating the process of copying and pasting those blue links and descriptions into a spreadsheet, but at warp speed.

What makes scraping Google different from scraping, say, a product catalog or a news site? Google’s SERPs are dynamic and packed with all sorts of features:

  • Organic results (the classic blue links with snippets)
  • Paid ads (labeled “Ad”)
  • People Also Ask boxes
  • Featured snippets
  • Maps, images, videos, shopping results

Each of these elements can be scraped for valuable data—if your tool is smart enough to spot them. The challenge? Google’s results can change by the minute, and two people searching the same thing might see different results depending on their location or search history (). So, scraping Google isn’t just about grabbing some HTML—it’s about turning a constantly shifting, unstructured page into a clean, structured dataset.

Why Scraping Google Search Results Matters for Business

Why go through the trouble of scraping Google at all? Because Google’s SERPs are a real-time mirror of what the world cares about—what’s trending, who’s winning in SEO, what your competitors are up to, and where your next customers might be hiding.

Here are the top business use cases I see every week:

Infographic titled "Smart SERP Insights" illustrating features of a search engine results analysis tool, including tracking rankings, finding leads, spying on competitors, generating content ideas, and tracking category/product performance.

  • SEO Monitoring & Keyword Tracking: Track your rankings, see who’s outranking you, and spot new content opportunities by analyzing the top results and SERP features ().
  • Competitor Analysis: See which competitors dominate your keywords, how they craft their titles and descriptions, and what ad copy they’re running.
  • Lead Generation: Find lists of prospects by scraping targeted queries—like “marketing agencies in Austin”—and then extracting contact info from those results ().
  • Content Strategy: Uncover trending topics and common questions by scraping “People Also Ask” boxes and top headlines ().
  • Market Research: Detect shifts in consumer interest by monitoring which themes, features, or products are rising in the SERPs ().

Here’s a quick table to sum up who uses Google scraping and what they get out of it:

Use CasePrimary UsersValue Gained
SEO Performance TrackingSEO teams, marketersMonitor keyword rankings, identify top competitors, improve site content, target featured snippets and PAA questions
Competitor ResearchMarketing, strategyAnalyze competitor presence, messaging, and ad strategies
Lead GenerationSales, business developmentBuild prospect lists, extract emails/phones from SERP snippets and linked pages
Content StrategyContent marketers, editorsResearch trending topics, popular questions, and top-performing content
Market & Trend AnalysisProduct managers, analystsTrack search trends, spot emerging themes, guide product development and positioning
Ad MonitoringPPC marketing teamsCollect competitor ads, optimize bidding and ad copy, track ad visibility

And let’s not forget: operations, PR, and even customer support teams can use SERP data to audit listings, monitor brand reputation, or keep tabs on industry chatter. The bottom line? If you’re not using Google search data, you’re probably missing out on insights your competitors already have.

Comparing Methods: No-Code vs. Coding vs. API for Google Scraping

So, how do you actually get Google’s data out of the browser and into your workflow? There are three main approaches:

  1. No-Code Tools (like Thunderbit): Point-and-click, AI-powered, built for non-technical users.
  2. Custom Coding (Python, BeautifulSoup, Selenium): Full control, but high setup and maintenance.
  3. SERP APIs (Google’s or third-party): Reliable at scale, but requires some technical chops and can get pricey.

Here’s how they stack up:

MethodEase of UseSetup & MaintenanceCostFlexibility & Scale
No-Code Tools (Thunderbit)EasiestMinimal, auto-updatesFree tier; credits for more rowsGreat for standard use, moderate scale
Custom CodingSteep learningHigh, breaks oftenFree libraries, but dev time costlyUltimate flexibility, can scale if you build infra
SERP APIsModerateLow, provider handlesPaid per request, can add upHigh scale, but limited to API’s data fields

For most business users, the no-code route is the fastest way to value. Coding is for the tinkerers (or those with a dev team on speed dial), and APIs are best if you’re running a full-on SEO platform or need to automate thousands of queries a day.

Thunderbit: The No-Code, AI-Powered Google Scraping Solution

Let’s talk about Thunderbit, because this is where the magic (okay, not “magic”—just really good AI) happens. Thunderbit is a that puts an AI web scraper right in your browser. Here’s what sets it apart:

  • AI Suggest Fields: Thunderbit’s AI reads the Google results page and automatically suggests which fields to scrape—like Title, URL, Snippet, Ads, or People Also Ask questions. No fiddling with CSS selectors or XPath.
  • Subpage Scraping: Want to go deeper? Thunderbit can visit each result’s URL and extract more data—like emails or product details—without you lifting a finger.
  • Pagination Automation: Scrape multiple pages of results by letting Thunderbit click “Next” for you. No more copy-pasting page by page.
  • Instant Export: Send your data directly to Excel, Google Sheets, Notion, or Airtable. No CSV wrangling required.
  • Multi-language Support: Thunderbit works in 34 languages, so you can scrape SERPs from any market.
  • Cloud or Browser Mode: Choose cloud scraping for speed (up to 50 pages at a time) or browser mode for logged-in or localized results.

What I love most? You can go from “I need this data” to “I have this data” in about two minutes. No code, no config files, no “why did my script break again?”

Traditional Coding Methods: Python Scripts and Custom Parsers

Now, if you’re a developer (or just like living dangerously), you might reach for Python and libraries like BeautifulSoup or Selenium. Here’s the reality:

  • Setup is a pain: You need to write code to fetch Google’s HTML, parse the results, handle pagination, and store the data.
  • Maintenance is constant: Google’s HTML changes all the time. Your script will break—maybe tomorrow, maybe next week. Get ready to debug.
  • Anti-bot measures: Google is really good at spotting bots. You’ll hit CAPTCHAs, IP blocks, and “unusual traffic” errors. Now you need proxies, delays, maybe even CAPTCHA solvers.
  • Flexibility: You can scrape anything you want, but you’ll spend more time maintaining your scraper than actually using the data.

Unless scraping is your day job, this approach is best left to the pros or those who really need custom logic ().

Using Google SERP APIs: Pros, Cons, and Costs

If you want to scale up, APIs can be a lifesaver. Google offers a , and there are plenty of third-party options. Here’s the rundown:

  • Pros: APIs handle all the messy stuff—CAPTCHAs, IP rotation, parsing. You just send a query and get back structured data.
  • Cons: APIs usually cost money. For example, SerpAPI charges around $75/month for 5,000 searches (), and Zenserp is about $29 for 5,000 searches (). If you need thousands of queries, costs add up fast.
  • Technical skills required: You’ll still need to write scripts to call the API and process the data.
  • Limits: APIs may not return every SERP feature, and you’re limited to the data fields the API supports.

APIs are great for enterprise-scale projects, but for most people, a no-code tool is faster and cheaper—especially for ad-hoc or moderate-scale scraping.

Step-by-Step Guide: Scraping Google Search Results with Thunderbit

Ready to see how easy this can be? Here’s how I scrape Google search results with Thunderbit—no code, no drama.

Step 1: Install and Set Up Thunderbit

First, . It’s free to add, and setup takes about 30 seconds. Log in with Google or email, and you’re good to go. Thunderbit supports 34 languages, so you can scrape SERPs in any market.

Step 2: Open Google Search and Enter Your Query

Head to google.com in Chrome. Enter your search term—say, “best CRM software 2025”—and hit Enter. Make sure the results page loads fully. If you want results from a specific country or language, tweak Google’s settings or use a VPN.

Step 3: Use AI Suggest Fields to Detect SERP Data

Click the Thunderbit icon in your browser. In the Thunderbit panel, hit AI Suggest Fields. Thunderbit’s AI will scan the page and suggest fields like Title, URL, and Snippet. You can rename, delete, or add fields as needed. Want to grab “People Also Ask” questions or ad headlines? Just add those fields.

Thunderbit even lets you add custom AI instructions for each field if you want to get fancy—but for most Google searches, the default suggestions work great.

Step 4: Scrape and Preview Google Search Results

Click Scrape. Thunderbit will extract the data from the current page and show it in a table. Each result is a row, with columns for Title, URL, Snippet, and any other fields you defined. Scroll through to make sure everything looks right. If you missed something, tweak your fields and run it again.

Step 5: Export Data to Excel, Google Sheets, Notion, or Airtable

Here’s the fun part: click Export and choose your format. You can download as Excel/CSV, copy to clipboard, or send the data straight to , Notion, or Airtable. No extra fees, no limits on exporting—even on the free plan.

Now you’ve got your SERP data in a spreadsheet, ready for analysis, charting, or sharing with your team.

Step 6: Advanced Tips – Pagination, Subpages, and Scheduling

Want more than just the first page of results? Enable Pagination in Thunderbit’s settings, and it’ll click “Next” to scrape multiple pages—just tell it how many to grab. Need to extract info from each result’s website? Use Subpage Scraping to visit each URL and pull out emails, prices, or whatever you need.

And if you want to monitor a SERP over time—say, track your rankings daily—use Thunderbit’s Scheduling feature. Describe your schedule in plain English (“every day at 9am”), and Thunderbit will run the scrape automatically, even if your browser is closed.

Key Considerations and Best Practices for Google Scraping

A few words of wisdom from someone who’s scraped more SERPs than I care to admit:

  • Respect Google’s terms: Google’s terms of service prohibit automated scraping. For small-scale, internal research, you’re usually fine—but don’t go wild or try to resell scraped data. Use official APIs for large-scale needs ().
  • Don’t overload Google: Scrape at a human-like pace. If you’re grabbing dozens of pages, use Thunderbit’s cloud mode to spread out requests. If you hit a CAPTCHA, solve it manually or slow down.
  • Check your context: Google personalizes results by location and search history. For consistent data, scrape in incognito mode or specify location/language in your query.
  • Clean your data: After scraping, remove duplicates, fix formatting, and add timestamps. This makes analysis much easier.
  • Be ethical: If you’re collecting emails or personal data, follow privacy laws like GDPR. Use the data to inform strategy, not to spam or copy content.

For more on best practices, check out .

When to Use Thunderbit vs. Other Google Scraping Methods

How do you know which approach is right for you? Here’s my rule of thumb:

  • Thunderbit (No-Code AI): Perfect for quick, easy scraping—especially for non-technical users, ad-hoc projects, or moderate-scale tasks. If you want to go from idea to data in minutes, this is your tool.
  • Custom Coding: Best if you need custom logic, deep integration, or are scraping something very unusual. Be ready to invest time in maintenance.
  • SERP APIs: Ideal for large-scale, automated data feeds—like tracking thousands of keywords daily for an SEO platform. Requires some scripting and a budget for API calls.

Often, teams start with Thunderbit for fast insights, then move to APIs or custom code if they outgrow what no-code tools can do. There’s no one-size-fits-all—pick the tool that matches your needs, skills, and budget.

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

Illustration showing how to unlock insights from Google search results using Thunderbit and API tools, with emphasis on fast, ethical scraping and data extraction.

Scraping Google search results used to be a technical slog. In 2025, it’s a two-minute task—even if you’ve never written a line of code. With , you can turn Google’s SERPs into actionable data for SEO, sales, marketing, and beyond.

Here’s what I hope you’ll remember:

  • Google SERP data is a goldmine for business intelligence. If you’re not using it, you’re missing out.
  • No-code AI tools like Thunderbit make scraping accessible to everyone—fast, accurate, and with zero coding required.
  • Traditional coding and APIs still have their place for power users, but for most business needs, no-code is the way to go.
  • Scrape responsibly: Respect Google’s terms, don’t overload their servers, and use the data ethically.

So, next time you need Google search data, skip the scripts and give Thunderbit a try. Your coffee will stay hot, your data will be structured, and you’ll have more time to focus on what really matters—turning insights into action.

Want to learn more about web scraping, list crawling, or exporting data to Excel? Check out the for more guides and tips. And if you’re ready to start scraping Google search results the easy way, .

Happy scraping—no code required.

Try Thunderbit AI Web Scraper for Google Search Results

FAQs

1. What does it mean to scrape Google search results?

Scraping Google search results means extracting structured data—like titles, URLs, snippets, ads, or People Also Ask boxes—from the search engine results pages (SERPs). This process turns unstructured web pages into clean, analyzable datasets that can be used for SEO tracking, competitor research, lead generation, and more.

2. Is it legal to scrape data from Google Search?

While scraping Google for personal or internal business use is common, Google's terms of service prohibit automated data extraction. For large-scale or commercial scraping, it’s recommended to use official APIs. Always scrape responsibly and follow local privacy regulations such as GDPR when handling personal data.

3. What are the benefits of using a no-code tool like Thunderbit for scraping?

No-code tools like Thunderbit make it easy to scrape Google without writing code. Benefits include:

  • AI-powered field detection (e.g., Title, URL, Snippet)
  • Support for subpage scraping and pagination
  • Export to Excel, Google Sheets, Notion, or Airtable
  • No setup or maintenance required It’s ideal for business users who need fast, accurate SERP data without technical complexity.

4. How does Thunderbit compare to Python scripts or SERP APIs?

Thunderbit is easier to use and faster to set up than Python scripts, which require coding skills and ongoing maintenance. Compared to SERP APIs, Thunderbit is more accessible for one-off or moderate-scale scraping tasks, though APIs are better suited for large-scale or automated workflows.

5. What can I do with scraped Google data?

Scraped SERP data is useful for:

  • SEO Monitoring: Track keyword rankings and featured snippets
  • Competitor Analysis: Analyze how rivals appear in search results
  • Lead Generation: Build contact lists from business search queries
  • Content Strategy: Discover trending topics and questions
  • Market Research: Monitor search trends and consumer interest shifts This data helps teams make informed decisions across marketing, sales, and product development.

Learn More:

Shuai Guan
Shuai Guan
Co-founder/CEO @ Thunderbit. Passionate about cross section of AI and Automation. He's a big advocate of automation and loves making it more accessible to everyone. Beyond tech, he channels his creativity through a passion for photography, capturing stories one picture at a time.
Topics
Web Scraping Google Search ResultsScraping Google Search ResultsGoogle ScrapingGoogle Search
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