Why Does SEMRush have different analytics than Google Search Console?

Have you ever looked at your website traffic numbers and thought, “Wait, why doesn’t SEMRush match up with Google Search Console?” You’re not alone. Many marketers and website owners notice a big difference between what SEMrush reports and what they see in Google Search Console. While it might seem like one tool is broken, the truth is that both are working exactly as intended—they just measure traffic in very different ways. In this article, we’ll break down why these numbers rarely align and what each tool is actually telling you.

Why Doesn’t SEMRush Present The Same Data As Google Search Console?

There are multiple reasons why SEMRush does not match the same data you see in other SEO tools like Google Search Console. To put it simply, SEMRush and many other tools are not directly connected to your website and instead rely on estimation.

Google Search Console provides direct, real-user data straight from Google. It shows exactly how many people saw your website in search results, how many clicked through, what keywords they used, and which pages they landed on.

What Is Traffic Estimation?

SEMRush, on the other hand, uses third-party data and algorithms to estimate your traffic based on keyword rankings, search volumes, and expected click-through rates. This means that Google Search Console is reporting what actually happened, while SEMrush is offering a best guess based on what is happening.

Time Lag In Data Reporting

Regardless of which tool you are using, there is going to be a time lag between when users visit your websites and the tool’s ability to report on it. This is true even for Google Analytics’ real-time reports. This time lag is another possible reason for SEMRush and Search Console to show slightly different data. Because Search Console is directly connected to your website, it often will collect data first before any other 3rd-party can report it to tools like SEMRush.

Keyword Tracking Variance Between SEMRush & Google Search Console

Because of these different approaches, it’s natural that the numbers won’t match. SEMrush doesn’t have access to your website’s internal analytics or Google’s backend data. Instead, it analyzes millions of websites and keywords, tracks ranking positions, and then estimates traffic based on those rankings and known search volumes. While this gives a broad overview of how a website might be performing, it’s still a model. Models aren’t always accurate for those in niche industries or with lots of long-tail keywords.

Another big reason for the discrepancy is keyword coverage. Google Search Console shows all the queries your site ranks for—even ones with very low search volume that you may have never thought to target. SEMrush, however, only tracks a set number of keywords in its database. If your site gets most of its traffic from low-volume or ultra-specific keywords that SEMrush doesn’t track, your SEMrush traffic estimates might seem much lower than what GSC reports.

However, in many of these cases, you can use SEMRush’ tools to perform keyword research on new keyword opportunities that it may not have previously been tracking or reporting on.

This makes combining both tools extremely useful.

Making The Most Of Using Both Tools

If you’re measuring your actual website performance from organic search, Google Search Console is the most accurate source. It tells you exactly what users are searching for, what they’re clicking on, and how your site is performing in Google’s eyes. SEMrush is incredibly useful for competitive research, SEO planning, and tracking general visibility trends but it shouldn’t be treated as an exact traffic counter.

To get the most value from both tools, use Google Search Console for analyzing real performance and uncovering hidden opportunities. Dig into your top-performing queries, check which pages are getting the most clicks, and identify keywords with high impressions but low click-through rates. These insights can guide your content updates and on-page SEO tweaks.

Meanwhile, use SEMrush to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. This includes competitor research. It’s perfect for tracking how your site stacks up against competitors, discovering new keywords to target, and monitoring how your rankings change across a broader set of terms. You can also use it to perform site audits, find backlink opportunities, and identify gaps in your content strategy. By combining the precision of Search Console with the broader scope of SEMrush, you can create a more effective, well-informed SEO plan that balances both data and strategy.

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