Google Search Console

Google Search Console is Google's free tool for monitoring a site's presence in Google Search. It shows how Google crawls and indexes pages, which queries the site appears for, and at what position, along with impressions and clicks.

What is Google Search Console used for?

The tool is used to monitor indexing, spot crawl errors, submit a sitemap, analyze the queries that drive traffic and detect technical issues (mobile, structured data, core web vitals). It is the source of truth for organic search on Google's side, complementing a traffic analytics tool.

Google Search Console or a paid SEO tool?

Search Console gives Google's real data on your site, but tracks neither competitors nor search volume. It pairs with a tool like Semrush for keyword research and competitive analysis, and with Google Analytics for visitor behavior.

How much does Google Search Console cost?

The tool is entirely free, with no limits or paid tier. You just prove ownership of the site to access it. It is one of the few reference SEO tools that costs nothing.