Google Analytics vs Google Search Console

Google is an all-rounder platform when it comes to modern marketing and web use in general. It has provided the world with unique search abilities and analytical tools, especially for businesses, looking to get ahead in the market. Google has created many advanced tools for marketers so that they achieve success on the web. Two of these most popular and efficient tools are Google Analytics and Google Search Console, the latter one also known as Google Webmaster.

Both the mentioned tools provide an in-depth insight into one’s digital presence- but both these tools though seem alike are actually not the same. In this blog, we will delve deep into the topic- of Google Analytics vs Google Search Console. This post will give you a broad view of Google’s marketing tools and also how to achieve the best possible insights and the best possible results.

Table of contents

  • What is Google Analytics?
  • What is Google Search Console?
  • Google Analytics vs Google Search Console

What is Google Analytics?

One of the most popular tools in the web world among marketers, Google Analytics provides a vivid picture of traffic statistics to site owners. Brings into light the interactions with one’s site such as total site visits, bounce rate, average time spent on site, and also demographic information on members of the owner’s target audiences. Google Analytics also offers benefits to those running active campaigns, in the form of Google Ads.

The main goal of Google Analytics is to process and analyze website usage data, along with searching for trends and opportunities that can lead to an increase in traffic and also a boost in web presence.

The data Google Analytics acquires on each website visitor is through page tags. A JavaScript page tag is incorporated into the code of each page. This tag is present in the web browser of each visitor through which data is collected and sent to one of Google’s data collection servers. This enables Google Analytics to produce customizable reports that track and comprehend data. The data as mentioned before is in the form of a number of users, bounce rates, average session durations, page views, goal completions, etc.

The page tag in the entire process operates as a web bug or web beacon. It gathers all the information of the visitor who has accessed the site. However the tag depends heavily on cookies for information so, the system fails to collect data of those users who have disabled them.

What is Google Search Console?

Google Search Console is an important tool for webmasters that leads to success in search results. The focus is on clicks and impressions through which users can study things like click-through rates, search queries, crawl errors, links from other websites, and HTML errors. These metrics though have little relevance to who visits the site, they give information on how the site appears to those searching for specific keywords or phrases. This is of importance to SEO marketers and web developers.

In contrast to Google Analytics which provides flexible and customizable data in an easily understandable form; Google Search Console offers suggestions for improvement by highlighting problem areas in the workings of the website.

Google Analytics vs Google Search Console: A Comparison Chart

Here is the basic difference between Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

 

 

Basis Google Search Console Google Analytics
Usage It allows you to use data to optimize website performance. It allows you to use data to track the website performance.
Record Limit Google Search Console has a record limit of 1000 URLs per site, per day. Google Analytics does not have such a limit.
Data Collection Data collection takes place according to Pacific Daylight time for the search console Google Analytics operates as per a specific time zone of a particular region
Metrics Metrics to track with Google Search Console include search performance, links to your site and internal links, mobile usability, Google Index Coverage reporting. Metrics to track with Google Analytics include bounce rate, audience and demographic data, acquisition, sessions, pageviews, goals.
Reporting Google Search Console reports on the landing pages. Google Analytics reports on the redirected URL itself.
Data Tracking You can’t track website performance goals using Google Search Console. Google Analytics can track website performance goals such as add-to-carts, page views, purchases, signups, etc.
Real-Time Data Real-time data is not available. You can see see real-time data
User-Behavior You can’t analyze user-behavior on your website. You can analyze user-behavior on your website.
Indexing Search Console helps you index your website in Google database. Analytics is only meant to track data of your website.
Search Visibility You can fix and improve the search visibility of website by many ways such as disavowing irrelevant backlinks, submitting sitemap, configuring schema markup, and more. No such methods are applicable in Google Analytics tool.
Activation of Javascript Regardless of Javascript is active or not, Google Search Console will collect data from your website. Javascript must be activated in your browser to collect data from Google Analytics.

These basic differences between Google Analytics and Google Search Console answer the generally assumed question “Is Search Console a part of Google Analytics?” Actually, both of these platforms serve different purposes and are thus completely different altogether.

Though these two platforms have their own independent identities, they can be used to achieve gigantic tasks while working together. It is because both Google Search Console and Google Analytics complement each other’s data. Thus, giving you a picture of the users’ journey through the site and beyond.

Conclusion

Now that you have an understanding in detail of both Google Analytics and Google Search Console, that they serve different purposes, you might wonder which one is better.

The answer is ‘both’. Since the market is subject to continuous change in organic search traffic and targeted traffic, both of which can be achieved only by the combination of Search Console and Google Analytics.