Side-by-side comparison
Kong Metrics vs Google Search Console
Google Search Console is where your organic-search data lives. Kong Metrics is what you use to work with it — available history, automated workflows, and every long-tail row the API returns, all built on the same first-party source.
One complete product with the full feature set. Pay per connected Google Search Console property.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Dimension | Google Search Console | Kong Metrics |
|---|---|---|
| Data source | First-party (Google) | Google Search Console API (same first-party data) |
| Historical retention | 16 months | 16 months backfilled, as available from Google |
| Rows per query export | 1,000 | Stores every row Google returns (Google allows up to about 50,000 rows per day per search type); CSV export up to 25,000 rows per file — narrow the date range or filters for more |
| Long-tail sampling | UI truncates long-tail rows; anonymized queries hidden | Every API row stored; shows the share of traffic from anonymized queries (Google never exposes their text) |
| Cross-filter (query × page × device × region) | Limited to 2 dimensions at a time | Unlimited combinations |
| Content decay detection | Manual | Included |
| Keyword cannibalization | Manual pivot tables | Included |
| Traffic forecasting | None | Included |
| Team collaboration | Property-level access only | Unlimited view-only members |
| Price | Free | $19 per licence/month or $190 per licence/year + tax |
When to use which
Stick with GSC alone if
- — You run a single small site and check performance weekly
- — 16 months of history is enough for your reporting cycle
- — You export under 1,000 rows at a time and rarely cross-filter
- — You do not need automated decay, cannibalization, or forecasts
Recommended for teams
Add Kong Metrics when
- — You need the available backfilled history for trend analysis and anomaly detection
- — Long-tail queries and striking-distance keywords are part of your growth strategy
- — You want content decay, cannibalization, and forecasting surfaced automatically
- — Reporting to stakeholders eats hours every week
- — You manage more than a handful of properties or clients
Frequently asked questions
Does Kong Metrics replace Google Search Console?
No. Kong Metrics is built on top of the GSC API and uses the exact same first-party data. Think of GSC as the raw data source and Kong Metrics as the analytics warehouse that makes that data queryable, historical, and actionable.
Is it worth paying for a GSC layer when GSC is free?
If you run more than a small site, yes. GSC caps history at 16 months, truncates long-tail queries in its interface, and limits exports to 1,000 rows. Kong Metrics stores every row the GSC API returns, shows how much of your traffic comes from anonymized queries (Google never exposes their text, so no tool can recover them), and adds paid workflows for content decay, cannibalization, forecasting, and striking-distance opportunities.
Can I use Kong Metrics without Google Search Console?
No. Kong Metrics reads its data from your verified GSC property via the official API. You need a GSC account and verified domain before you can connect Kong Metrics.
Does Kong Metrics send data back to Google or change my GSC data?
No. Kong Metrics is read-only. It pulls data via the GSC API, stores it in our EU-based warehouse, and never writes back to Google. Your GSC account is unaffected.
Try Kong Metrics on your GSC data
Connect your verified Google Search Console property in one click. Start a 14-day trial with a card; tax is added at checkout.