Intro
Isolate comparison queries that explicitly use vs or versus between your brand and a competitor.
Use this regex to isolate explicit comparison searches in GSC when users are evaluating your brand against a named competitor.
The Regex
How This Regex Works (Explained Simply)
()
Parentheses group terms together so GSC treats them as one unit. That is what lets one regex cover several query variants in a single filter.
|
The pipe means OR. GSC will match any term on either side of the pipe, which is useful for variants, modifiers, or alternative phrases.
.*
Dot-star means any characters can appear here. In GSC it is commonly used when you want to allow extra words before or after a core phrase.
GSC regex is case-insensitive by default, so capital letters do not need separate variants. GSC also uses partial matching by default, so the regex can match part of a longer query unless you anchor it with ^ or $.
What This Regex Does
- Matches brand-versus-competitor and competitor-versus-brand comparisons.
- Captures clear comparison intent without relying on loose competitor mentions alone.
- Supports dedicated reporting for mid-funnel evaluation searches.
What it does not match
- semrush pricing - Mentions a competitor, but not a comparison operator or your brand.
- spicy metrics reviews - This is branded research demand, not a competitor comparison.
Edge Cases
- This pattern expects a named competitor from the grouped list. New rivals need to be added manually.
- Loose comparison words without a competitor or brand mention should be handled in a broader intent recipe instead.
Example Matches Table
| Query | Match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| spicy metrics vs semrush | Match | Contains the brand, a vs term, and a grouped competitor. |
| ahrefs versus spicy metrics | Match | The competitor appears first, but the second branch still matches. |
| semrush pricing | No | Mentions a competitor, but not a comparison operator or your brand. |
| spicy metrics reviews | No | This is branded research demand, not a competitor comparison. |
How to Use This in Google Search Console
- Open Performance and go to Search results.
- Click Add filter and choose Query.
- Select Custom (regex).
- Paste the regex and click Apply.
When to Use This
- Track explicit comparison intent separately from broader competitor demand.
- Find pages that win evaluation-stage queries.
- Measure whether new comparison pages start attracting visibility.
Pro Tips
- Keep the comparison segment separate from general competitor mentions to avoid muddy reporting.
- Add compare if your market uses that wording instead of vs or versus.
- Review matched queries manually because comparison searches are often high-value but low-volume.
Variations
Add compare wording
Broadens the comparison operator group beyond just vs and versus.
Comparison operator only
Useful for exploratory work when you want to see any vs-led comparison demand before tightening the regex.
Related Regex Recipes
Regex for Competitor Keywords
Use this regex to isolate competitor keywords in Search Console and see where your content earns visibility around rival tools.
Regex for Competitor + Brand Queries
Use this regex to isolate queries where users mention both your brand and a competitor, regardless of whether they say vs explicitly.
Regex for "Alternative to [Competitor]"
Use this regex to isolate replacement-intent searches that explicitly look for an alternative to a named competitor.
CTA
Regex is powerful in GSC, but manual filtering still leaves you exporting, comparing, and rebuilding the same views. Spicy Metrics turns those segments into reporting your team can reuse.
Turn regex into repeatable reporting