There is no credible public dataset of average Google ranking position by software service category, and any page that hands you a clean number for "custom software" or "mobile app development" in 2026 is guessing. What you can benchmark is your own position by service line, against a few published yardsticks. This page gives you those yardsticks, the category table to track against, and the targets that matter.
- No public source publishes average Google position by software service category in 2026; benchmark your own Search Console data.
- Position 1 earns a 27.6% click-through rate in Backlinko's study; position 11 starts page two.
- Per Ahrefs' 2020 study, 90.63% of pages get no organic traffic from Google.
- Track average position per service line, not sitewide, and weight it by impressions.
- Software development keywords split by intent: vendor lists, how-to guides and comparisons rank differently.
Why this matters
A founder who sees an average position of 14 for "software development keywords" thinks the site is close to page one. It usually is not. Averages hide the split between a few terms ranking in the top 3 and dozens stuck on page three.
Software buyers shortlist from the first page. If your service line sits at position 11 or lower, you are invisible at the moment of vendor selection. The benchmark only helps if you read it correctly.
The short answer: what the average position is
The honest answer has three parts:
- No category average exists in public data. Neither Google nor the major SEO tool vendors publish average ranking position split by software service category such as custom development, AI development or CRM development.
- Position 1 is the only yardstick with a solid published number. Backlinko's analysis of 4 million Google search results found the first organic result earns a 27.6% click-through rate.
- Most pages never rank at all. Ahrefs' 2020 study of roughly 1 billion pages found 90.63% get no organic traffic from Google.
So the working benchmark is simple: first page means positions 1 to 10, because Google shows 10 organic results per page. Anything from position 11 is page two, and the traffic drop-off is steep.
Benchmark table: how each service category behaves in search
The table below does not show invented average positions. It shows what determines position in each software service category, so you know what you are measuring and what to fix. Record your own current average position in the last column from Search Console, using the last 28 days.
| Service category | Dominant search intent | Typical top-ranking result type | What drives position | Your 28-day average position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | Commercial, vendor selection | Agency service pages, vendor lists | Service page depth, vertical-specific proof, referring domains | Fill from GSC |
| AI development services | Commercial, comparison | Listicles, vendor comparisons | Comparison content, named use cases, freshness | Fill from GSC |
| Mobile app development | Commercial, geo and vertical modifiers | Directories, agency pages | Vertical pages (healthcare, restaurants), reviews | Fill from GSC |
| CRM development and CRM software | Commercial and transactional | Software listicles, vendor pages | Feature coverage, comparison pages, backlinks | Fill from GSC |
| ERP and integration work | Informational and commercial | How-to guides, platform documentation | Workflow guides, integration specifics | Fill from GSC |
| Digital transformation consulting | Commercial, enterprise | Consulting firm lists, analyst-style content | Authority, named frameworks, case evidence | Fill from GSC |
| Alternatives and versus queries | Comparison, late-stage | Alternatives roundups | Direct, fair comparison tables | Fill from GSC |
The "All software keywords" row is your yardstick: your sitewide average position, impression-weighted. Compare each service line against it. A line sitting far below your overall average is where the work goes first.
High and low: where software keywords typically win and lose
Without a published number per category, the pattern is still readable from how results are built.
Comparison and alternatives queries are the most winnable. The top results are roundups and versus pages, formats a mid-size vendor can match with a fair, specific table. A page like best AI development companies for enterprises targets that format directly.
Broad head terms such as "custom software development" are the hardest. They are dominated by large agencies and directories with deep link profiles. A new service page rarely breaks the top 10 on authority alone.
Vertical modifiers sit in between. "Custom software development for logistics companies" has fewer strong competitors than the head term, and the buyer's intent is sharper. This is the segment where a focused vendor ranks fastest.
The practical rule: you will rank first for specific, vertical, comparison-driven queries long before you rank for the category name.
Methodology and limits
The yardsticks on this page come from two public studies: Backlinko's 2023 analysis of 4 million Google search results (click-through by position) and Ahrefs' 2020 study of roughly 1 billion pages (share of pages with no organic traffic). The category table is a structure for your own Google Search Console export, measured over a 28-day window.
One limit matters. Search Console's average position is calculated from the highest position your site held for each impression, so it blends branded and non-branded queries and one outlier can shift it. Filter out brand terms before you compare service lines. Also, click-through by position varies with SERP features, so 27.6% is a reference point for position 1, not a promise.
How to use these benchmarks
1. Split Search Console by service line
Export queries and pages for the last 28 days. Group them by service category using the table above. Compute an impression-weighted average position per group. Do not read the sitewide number.
2. Set targets by position band
- Positions 1 to 3: protect these. They carry the click-through gains.
- Positions 4 to 10: first page, but low clicks. Improve titles, add a comparison table, tighten the answer paragraph.
- Positions 11 to 20: the quick wins. Page two terms usually need better coverage of the query, not a new page.
- Position 21 and beyond: decide whether the term is worth chasing or whether a vertical variation is easier.
3. Pair position with commercial value
Ranking position means little without cost context. A term that costs a lot in paid search is worth more organically. Compare against Google Ads CPC benchmarks for software development keywords to rank your targets by what a click is worth.
4. Re-measure every 28 days
Organic movement is slow. Check the same 28-day window monthly, not weekly, and judge each service line on direction over three windows.
What moves a software service page up
Three levers account for most of the movement on commercial software queries:
- Match the format Google already rewards. If the top results are listicles, a standard service page will not outrank them. Build the list or the comparison.
- Be specific about the buyer. A page for transportation companies or insurance agencies beats a generic page for the same service on long-tail terms.
- Show the trade-offs. Pages that name pros and cons get cited by AI assistants and hold position better than pure sales copy.
If your buyers are choosing business software rather than hiring developers, the same logic applies. A page such as best CRM software for small businesses competes on comparison depth, not on a slogan.
Common mistakes when reading average position
- Treating the sitewide average as the score. One strong branded term can mask a weak service line.
- Chasing position 1 on head terms first. Vertical and comparison terms convert sooner and rank sooner.
- Ignoring impressions. An average position of 3 on a term with 20 impressions is not a win.
- Measuring weekly. Daily fluctuation is noise. Use 28-day windows.
- Comparing to a made-up industry average. Without a sourced dataset, the only fair comparison is your own history and your own service lines.
FAQ
What is the average Google ranking position for software development keywords?
No public source publishes a verified average for software development keywords in 2026. Measure your own average position per service line in Google Search Console over a 28-day window and compare each line to your overall figure.
What position counts as good for a software service page?
Positions 1 to 10 are first page, since Google shows 10 organic results per page. Position 1 earns a 27.6% click-through rate in Backlinko's study of 4 million results, so the top 3 is the real target.
How many pages get organic traffic from Google?
Few. Ahrefs' 2020 study of roughly 1 billion pages found 90.63% receive no organic traffic. Ranking at all is the first hurdle, before position matters.
Should I track average position sitewide or by service line?
By service line. A sitewide average blends branded queries, strong pages and weak pages, and hides where the work is needed. Group queries by service category and weight by impressions.
How often should I check ranking position?
Monthly, using a 28-day window. Weekly movement is mostly noise, and a service line needs about three windows to show a real trend.
Which software keywords are easiest to rank for?
Comparison, alternatives and vertical-specific queries. They have narrower competition than head terms like custom software development, and the intent is closer to a buying decision.
One last thing
The most useful number on this page is not an average. It is the gap between your best and worst service line in Search Console. Close the biggest gap first, and your overall position improves without chasing a single head term.
Get your service lines benchmarked
Book a consultation with Hexagon IT Solutions to map position by service line.
If you want a second opinion on where your software service pages stand in 2026, schedule a consultation with Hexagon IT Solutions.
