Google Analytics and Google Search Console are both free tools from Google, and they are frequently confused with each other. They are not competing products — they measure different things and are commonly used together rather than as alternatives.
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Quick Comparison
| Google Analytics | Google Search Console | |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | How visitors behave on your site or app once they arrive | How your site performs specifically in Google’s organic Search results |
| Data source | Tracking code placed on your website or app | Google’s own Search index and crawl data |
| Typical use | Traffic sources, user behavior, conversions, marketing performance | Search clicks, impressions, indexing status, crawl errors |
| Cost | Free (Analytics 360 enterprise tier available with custom pricing) | Free, no paid tier |
What Google Analytics Does
Google Analytics tracks what happens after a visitor lands on your website or app: which pages they view, how long they stay, what marketing channel brought them, and whether they complete goals like purchases or sign-ups. See the full breakdown on the Google Analytics profile.
What Google Search Console Does
Google Search Console reports on how your site appears in Google Search specifically: which queries triggered impressions and clicks, whether pages are indexed, and technical issues Google found while crawling your site. See the full breakdown on the Google Search Console profile.
Why Use Both Together
- Search Console shows which search queries bring visitors in; Analytics shows what those visitors do once they arrive.
- Linking the two tools in Google’s interface lets you see organic search data alongside on-site behavior in one place.
- Search Console helps diagnose why a page isn’t appearing in search; Analytics helps diagnose why traffic isn’t converting.
- Neither tool replaces the other — most SEO and marketing workflows rely on both.
FAQ
Are Google Analytics and Search Console the same thing?
No. They are separate, complementary Google products. Analytics measures on-site visitor behavior; Search Console measures organic Search performance and indexing.
Do I need both?
Most site owners benefit from using both together, since they answer different questions about how a site is found and how visitors behave once they arrive.
Are both tools free?
Yes. Both Google Analytics and Google Search Console are free. Google Analytics also has an enterprise tier, Analytics 360, with custom pricing not published.
Can I link the two tools together?
Yes, Google provides an official way to link a Search Console property with a Google Analytics property to view combined reporting.