Google Search Console vs Looker Studio: which should you choose?
Two Analytics tools, compared on what can be checked: pricing model, entry price, declared features, and what each one offers that the other does not. The 0 shared capabilities will not decide anything — the differences will.
Google Search Console
Free
Free tool from Google to monitor and troubleshoot your site's presence in Google Search results. Essential for every website.
Google Search Console profile
Looker Studio
$0/mo
PART 1: Looker Studio, formerly known as Google Data Studio, is a powerful data visualization and reporting tool designed for businesses and marketers who want to unlock the full potential of their data. This tool is particularly benefici…
Looker Studio profileSide by side
| Criterion | Google Search Console | Looker Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Analytics | Analytics |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Entry price | Free | $0/mo |
| Listed features | 6 | 8 |
| Community rating | 4.8 / 5 | — |
| Official site | search.google.com | lookerstudio.google.com |
What each one adds
Only in Google Search Console
- Search Performance
- Index Coverage
- URL Inspection
- Core Web Vitals
- Sitemaps
- Mobile Usability
Only in Looker Studio
- Wide range of data source connectors
- Real-time data updates
- Customizable templates and visualizations
- Interactive dashboards
- Collaboration and sharing capabilities
- User-friendly interface
- Embedding options for web pages
- Developer platform for extensions
The verdict, as the data has it
- Entry price: both start at a comparable level.
- Breadth: Looker Studio declares the wider scope (8 features).
- Tight budget: neither has a free tier: plan for a paid trial period.
These criteria can be verified from the vendors' own pages. What no comparison page can verify, and what usually decides, is data quality in your own market: test both on your own keywords and your own domain before signing an annual contract.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Google Search Console and Looker Studio?
Both cover 0 shared capabilities. Google Search Console adds Search Performance, Index Coverage, URL Inspection, while Looker Studio adds Wide range of data source connectors, Real-time data updates, Customizable templates and visualizations. The decision therefore rests on those differences rather than on the shared base.
Which is cheaper, Google Search Console or Looker Studio?
Both advertise comparable entry prices. Compare total cost at an equal number of seats and an equivalent project volume instead, which usually reveals a much bigger gap.
Can you use Google Search Console and Looker Studio together?
Yes, and many teams do when the two cover different jobs. But with 0 overlapping capabilities, paying for both is mostly paying twice for the same data: keep the one your team genuinely opens every week.