The Google Search Console Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Google Search Console in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Google Search Console
The Insider’s Guide
Free Google reports on a site's search traffic, indexing and issues
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among technical SEO tools, read from Google Search Console’s own pages.
Made by Google · checked Oct 23, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Google Search Console’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Google Search Console’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 73 of the 83 other technical SEO tools we grade
Google Search Console is Google's free service for site owners to see how their site appears in Google Search. It reports clicks, impressions, average position and the queries behind them, shows which pages are indexed and why others are not, and sends email alerts about indexing, spam and security problems. Sitemaps and single URLs can be submitted for crawling, and an API and a daily BigQuery export give access to the data outside the browser.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Google Search Console, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You prove you own or manage the site before seeing anything, and the indexing and performance reports take some learning.
- 1
Best for Google search traffic and indexing data
Google Search Console shows the clicks, impressions and queries that bring people to your site from Google, which pages are indexed and why others aren't, and alerts you to problems, all for free.
- 2
It is free
Google Search Console has no paid plan at all. Free with a Google account for any site whose ownership you verify: every report and tool, email alerts, the API and up to 100 non-owner users per property.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Performance report
Clicks, impressions, click-through rate and average position, by query, page, country, device, search appearance and date, for web, image, video and news results.
- 5
Indexing and URL Inspection
Review which pages Google has indexed, submit sitemaps and single URLs, and inspect a URL for its crawl, index and serving details straight from the Google index.
- 6
Issue alerts
Email alerts when Google finds indexing, spam or other problems, with the affected URLs and a way to tell Google once they are fixed.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 73 of 83
That is against the other technical SEO tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Google Search Console is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Google Search Console at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Category
- Technical SEO & Site Audits
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for Google search traffic and indexing data
Google Search Console shows the clicks, impressions and queries that bring people to your site from Google, which pages are indexed and why others aren't, and alerts you to problems, all for free. But it only covers Google, nothing shows until you verify the site, the API stops at 50,000 rows a day per search type, and the BigQuery export needs a billed Cloud project.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free, from Google, with every report, URL Inspection, email alerts, the API and up to 100 non-owner users per property. There is no paid plan. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Everything is free once you verify the site. The caps are on the API, 50,000 rows a day per search type, which most sites won't reach. |
| Features | C | Performance by query and page, indexing and URL Inspection, Core Web Vitals, rich result and links reports, alerts and a BigQuery export. The gap: it's Google's view only, with no crawl you run yourself, and Bing, Yandex, Baidu and Naver need their own tools. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. You prove you own or manage the site before seeing anything, and the indexing and performance reports take some learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with the Search Console API, a scheduled daily BigQuery export and Site Kit by Google. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Google Search Console is for
- Fits if you own a site and want to know which Google searches bring visitors
- Works for finding out why pages are missing from Google's index
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need Bing, Yandex, Baidu or Naver data, as it covers Google Search only
- Not for you if you can't prove you own or manage the site, as nothing shows until you do
- Tight if you pull a lot through the API, which stops at 50,000 rows a day per search type and 25,000 per request
- Watch out: the BigQuery export needs a Google Cloud project with billing, and use beyond the free level is charged
- Too light for big teams on one property, which allows at most 100 non-owner users
Good to know
Good for
- Any site owner who wants to know which Google searches bring visitors
- Finding out why pages are missing from Google's index
- SEO specialists and developers checking structured data and Core Web Vitals
Worth knowing
- Covers Google Search only; Bing, Yandex, Baidu and Naver each run their own webmaster tools.
- You must prove you own or manage the site before you see any data, and a property allows at most 100 non-owner users.
- The API exposes at most 50,000 rows a day per search type, at up to 25,000 rows per request.
- The BigQuery export needs a Google Cloud project with billing; storage and queries beyond the free usage level are charged.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Google Search Console is free to use.
Everything is free once you verify the site.
Free
$0
Performance, indexing, Core Web Vitals and rich result reports, URL Inspection, sitemaps, alerts and the API.
The free plan
Free with a Google account for any site whose ownership you verify: every report and tool, email alerts, the API and up to 100 non-owner users per property.
Read from support.google.com on Oct 23, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Free Google reports on a site's search traffic, indexing and issues. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, site audit, schema markup, page speed.
Performance by query and page, indexing and URL Inspection, Core Web Vitals, rich result and links reports, alerts and a BigQuery export.
- Performance report
- Clicks, impressions, click-through rate and average position, by query, page, country, device, search appearance and date, for web, image, video and news results.
- Indexing and URL Inspection
- Review which pages Google has indexed, submit sitemaps and single URLs, and inspect a URL for its crawl, index and serving details straight from the Google index.
- Issue alerts
- Email alerts when Google finds indexing, spam or other problems, with the affected URLs and a way to tell Google once they are fixed.
- Experience and enhancement reports
- Core Web Vitals on mobile and desktop, plus reports on rich results from structured data such as recipes and jobs, and on AMP pages.
- Links report
- Shows which other sites link to yours, as part of the same set of reports as search traffic and indexing.
- API and BigQuery export
- The Search Console API queries search data, lists sites and manages sitemaps; a scheduled daily export sends all performance data, except anonymized queries, to BigQuery.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- BigQuery
- Site Kit by Google
Google Search Console is made by Google.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
73/83
Other technical SEO tools it is graded above
Google Search Console's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 73 of the 83 other technical SEO tools we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 62 of 83) and worst on ease of use (C, above 7).
Google Search Console has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 84 technical SEO tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Google Search Console’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 54 of 83
- AFree plan and trialAbove 62 of 83
- CFeaturesAbove 10 of 83
- CEase of useAbove 7 of 83
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 27 of 83
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 73 technical SEO tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Google Search Console is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Google Search Console is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 73 of the 83 other technical SEO tools we grade.
What you could make
- Schema markup: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A crawler that checks every page of a site.
- Speed tests run from real browsers on a schedule.
- It plugs into other products, BigQuery and Site Kit by Google among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Google Search Console’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Bing Webmaster Tools, Yandex Webmaster, SEO Gets, Search Analytics for Sheets and Ahrefs
The 5 tools Google Search Console is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Bing Webmaster Tools
Free
Free Bing reports on search traffic, indexing and AI answer citations.
- Google Search Console also covers schema markup and page speed.
- Bing Webmaster Tools also covers keyword research, backlink analysis and AI search visibility.
- 3.0GPA
Yandex Webmaster
Free
Free Yandex reports on a site's indexing, errors and search queries.
- Google Search Console also covers schema markup and page speed.
- 2.4GPA
SEO Gets
Free plan · from $49/mo
Search Console and GA4 analytics with SEO reports and client portals.
- Only SEO Gets lists a browser extension.
- Google Search Console also covers site audit, schema markup and page speed.
- SEO Gets also covers reports and dashboards.
- 2.2GPA
Search Analytics for Sheets
Free plan · from $16/mo
Google Sheets add-on that pulls and backs up Search Console data.
- Google Search Console also covers site audit, schema markup and page speed.
- Search Analytics for Sheets also covers spreadsheets and reports.
- 2.0GPA
Ahrefs
Free plan · from $29/mo
SEO toolset for backlinks, keyword research, audits and rank tracking.
- Only Ahrefs lists a browser extension.
- Google Search Console also covers schema markup and page speed.
- Ahrefs also covers keyword research, rank tracking and backlink analysis.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Google Search Console free?
Yes. Google Search Console is free to use.
How much does Google Search Console cost?
Google Search Console lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Google Search Console work on?
Google Search Console is available on Web.
Does Google Search Console have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. Google Search Console is listed for Web.
Does Google Search Console have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 23, 2026. Google Search Console is listed for Web.
Is Google Search Console open source?
Google Search Console is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 23, 2026.
Does Google Search Console have an API?
Yes. Google Search Console offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Google Search Console integrate with?
Google Search Console's listing names BigQuery and Site Kit by Google.
Who makes Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is made by Google.
What are the alternatives to Google Search Console?
The closest alternatives to Google Search Console in our directory are Bing Webmaster Tools, Yandex Webmaster, SEO Gets, Search Analytics for Sheets and Ahrefs.
How does Google Search Console compare with other technical SEO tools?
Google Search Console's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 73 of the 83 other technical SEO tools we grade, and level with 7.
Is Google Search Console good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Google Search Console A for value for money. Google Search Console has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Google Search Console?
Google Search Console is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Google Search Console’s own pages on Oct 23, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 23, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Google's own pages on 23 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Google. Prices change, so check search.google.com before you buy.
- support.google.com/webmasters/answer/9128668?hl=en
- search.google.com/search-console/about
- support.google.com/webmasters/answer/9128669?hl=en
- support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7576553?hl=en
- support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7687615?hl=en
- support.google.com/webmasters/answer/12918484?hl=en
- support.google.com/webmasters/answer/12917675?hl=en
- developers.google.com/webmaster-tools
- developers.google.com/webmaster-tools/v1/how-tos/all-your-data
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Google Search Console, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/google-search-console
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Google Search Console: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 23, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/google-search-console
Know someone choosing between technical SEO tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/google-search-console/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded technical SEO tools after Google Search Console, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Technical SEO & Site Audits Insider's GuideEvery one of the 84 technical SEO tools we grade, compared
- Lighthouse Insider's GuideGoogle's open-source audit of page speed, accessibility and SEO3.2 GPA
- PageSpeed Insights Insider's GuideFree Google speed test with real-user Core Web Vitals and Lighthouse3.2 GPA
- Yellow Lab Tools Insider's GuideFree open-source audit of a page's speed and front-end code3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Google Search Console’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Google Search Console is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Google. Prices and plans change: check search.google.com before you buy.