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SEO · head to head

Google Search Console vs Linkody

Google Search Console logo

Google Search Console

SEO

Google's free tool for monitoring how a site appears in Search

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Linkody logo

Linkody

SEO

Backlink monitoring tool for teams that only want link alerts, not a full SEO suite

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Search Console has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Search Console query data below a low, undisclosed volume threshold is anonymised and dropped from reports, so genuine long-tail performance is invisible.; Linkody its own backlink index is smaller than Ahrefs or Semrush, so it is weaker for discovering new link prospects than for monitoring links it already knows about.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Search Console covers Performance reports, Linkody covers Backlink alerts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Search Console and Linkody actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Search Console and Linkody differ
AttributeGoogle Search ConsoleLinkody
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer month by tracked domains and backlinks
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (SEO).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Search Console

  • Performance reports
  • Index coverage
  • URL inspection
  • Core Web Vitals report
  • Sitemap and manual actions
  • Search Console API

Only in Linkody

  • Backlink alerts
  • Link quality scoring
  • Competitor backlink tracking
  • Rank tracking
  • Campaign management
  • API access

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Search Console

  • Any site owner confirming what Google actually indexed versus what a crawler assumes it indexednot Linkody
  • A team diagnosing a traffic drop by checking for manual actions or a spike in crawl errors firstnot Linkody
  • An SEO analyst exporting query-level click data via the API to blend with a paid rank tracker's historynot Linkody
  • A developer validating that structured data and mobile rendering match what Googlebot seesnot Linkody

Linkody

  • A link builder who wants alerts on new and lost backlinks without paying for a full SEO suite's research modulesnot Google Search Console
  • A PR or outreach team monitoring whether placed links stay live over timenot Google Search Console
  • An SEO consultant with clients on a budget who wants a cheap add-on tool alongside a primary research subscription elsewherenot Google Search Console
  • An agency needing white-label backlink reporting at the Agency tier without the cost of Ahrefs Enterprisenot Google Search Console

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Search Console

  • Query data below a low, undisclosed volume threshold is anonymised and dropped from reports, so genuine long-tail performance is invisible.
  • Performance history is capped at 16 months, so year-over-year comparison beyond that window requires a third-party tool that has been logging the data independently for longer.
  • It only reports Google Search; it has no visibility into Bing, other search engines, or the AI answer engines increasingly sending referral traffic.
  • The interface aggregates by property, and comparing multiple properties or clients side by side means exporting and reassembling data yourself.
  • Position and CTR figures are averages across ranking positions and personalisation, so they do not match what any single search or rank tracker snapshot shows for a specific query.

Linkody

  • Its own backlink index is smaller than Ahrefs or Semrush, so it is weaker for discovering new link prospects than for monitoring links it already knows about.
  • It has no keyword research, technical crawling or content tooling at all, so it never functions as a standalone SEO tool for a team that only buys one product.
  • Entry-tier domain and backlink allowances are modest, at 2 domains and 500 tracked backlinks, so a team with several client sites quickly needs to move up two or three tiers.
  • Rank tracking is bundled in from the Advanced tier but is a secondary feature rather than the deep, dedicated tracking a purpose-built tool like AccuRanker offers.
  • As a smaller, narrowly scoped vendor, roadmap pace and new feature development are slower than a well-funded full suite competing across every SEO category.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Search Console

Free
  • Google Search ConsoleFree
    • Unlimited verified properties per account
    • 16 months of performance history
    • Index coverage, sitemaps and Core Web Vitals reporting

Linkody

On request
  • Webmaster$14.9/month
    • 2 domains, 500 tracked backlinks
    • 30-day free trial
    • Backlink and lost-link alerts
  • Advanced$24.9/month
    • Higher domain and backlink allowance than Webmaster
    • Competitor tracking
    • Rank tracking included
  • Pro$49.9/month
    • Agency-level domain and backlink allowance
    • API access
    • Campaign management
  • Agency$99.9/month
    • Higher agency-tier allowance than Pro
    • White-label reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Search Console if

  • You need performance reports.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want index coverage.
Google Search Console review

Choose Linkody if

  • You need backlink alerts.
  • You also want link quality scoring.
Linkody review

Questions people ask

Is Google Search Console or Linkody better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Search Console starts at Free and Linkody at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Search Console or Linkody?
Google Search Console has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Search Console and On request for Linkody.
Does Google Search Console or Linkody run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Google Search Console for free?
Yes. Google Search Console has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Linkody starts at On request.
What is Google Search Console best used for?
Google Search Console is most often used for any site owner confirming what google actually indexed versus what a crawler assumes it indexed, a team diagnosing a traffic drop by checking for manual actions or a spike in crawl errors first, an seo analyst exporting query-level click data via the api to blend with a paid rank tracker's history, a developer validating that structured data and mobile rendering match what googlebot sees. Of those, any site owner confirming what google actually indexed versus what a crawler assumes it indexed and a team diagnosing a traffic drop by checking for manual actions or a spike in crawl errors first are not what Linkody is typically brought in for.
What can Google Search Console do that Linkody cannot?
Google Search Console covers Performance reports, Index coverage, URL inspection, Core Web Vitals report. Linkody covers Backlink alerts, Link quality scoring, Competitor backlink tracking, Rank tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Search Console: Do I need to pay for Search Console?

No. It has never had a paid tier and Google has given no indication of introducing one.

Linkody: Does Linkody find new backlink opportunities?

It monitors and alerts on backlinks a site already has or gains; it is not built as a link prospecting or outreach discovery tool.

Google Search Console: Why does it show different keyword rankings than my rank tracker?

GSC reports averaged position across many searches, devices and locations over the reporting period; a rank tracker takes a single snapshot from a defined location, so the two numbers measure different things.

Linkody: Can it replace a full SEO suite like Ahrefs or Semrush?

No, it covers backlink monitoring and light rank tracking only; keyword research, site audits and content tools are not included.

Google Search Console: Can I use it instead of a rank tracker?

For your own site's actual click and impression data, yes; for daily position tracking, historical trend charts beyond 16 months, or any visibility into competitors, no.

Linkody: Is there a free trial?

Yes, the Webmaster tier includes a 30-day free trial.

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