Google Search Console vs Bing Webmaster Tools
Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools help website owners monitor search performance, submit sitemaps, inspect URLs and identify technical problems. They serve similar purposes, but each reports data from its own search ecosystem and provides a somewhat different set of tools.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Google Search Console | Bing Webmaster Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Primary search data | Google Search | Bing and Microsoft's search ecosystem |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Search performance | Clicks, impressions, click-through rate, average position, queries, pages, countries, devices and search appearance | Search performance data including clicks, impressions, keywords and pages in Bing |
| Website verification | DNS and several URL-prefix verification methods | Google Search Console import, Domain Connect, XML file, meta tag or DNS record |
| Sitemaps | Submit and review sitemaps for Google | Submit sitemaps for Bing or import eligible sitemaps through a connected Search Console account |
| URL inspection | Inspect indexed and live URL status as understood by Google | Inspect URL status and crawl or indexing information for Bing |
| Indexing reports | Page indexing, video pages, sitemaps and related reports | URL inspection, site scan and crawl or indexing information |
| Backlink information | Links report | Backlinks report |
| SEO recommendations | Primarily reports search, indexing, enhancement and technical issues | Includes SEO reports and site scanning designed to identify possible technical or on-page issues |
| Instant update protocol | No general-purpose IndexNow submission inside Search Console | Supports IndexNow |
| Import from the other service | No Bing Webmaster Tools import workflow | Can import verified sites and sitemaps from Google Search Console |
What both tools have in common
Search visibility reports
Both services help you see whether pages are appearing in their respective search results and which searches are leading users to your site.
- Search impressions
- Clicks
- Queries or keywords
- Pages receiving search visibility
- Traffic trends over time
Indexing and crawl diagnostics
Both tools provide ways to investigate how the corresponding search engine understands and processes a website.
- URL inspection
- Sitemap submission
- Crawl or indexing information
- Security or technical warnings
- Structured-data information
Where Google Search Console is especially useful
Understanding Google Search traffic
Search Console is the direct source for understanding how your site appears in Google Search.
- Review clicks, impressions, average click-through rate and average position.
- Break performance down by query, page, country, device and search appearance.
- Investigate Google indexing with the Page Indexing and URL Inspection tools.
- Review reports for eligible enhancements, structured data, video pages, Discover and Google News when those reports are available.
- Receive alerts about security issues, manual actions and certain indexing problems.
Where Bing Webmaster Tools is especially useful
Additional search data and diagnostic tools
Bing Webmaster Tools provides a second independent view of your website and includes several features that complement Search Console.
- Review how the site performs specifically in Bing search results.
- Run site scans and review reported SEO issues.
- Examine Bing backlink and keyword information.
- Use IndexNow to notify participating search engines when URLs are added, updated or deleted.
- Import verified sites and sitemaps from Google Search Console to simplify initial setup.
Does Bing Webmaster Tools copy Google performance data?
No. Connecting Search Console helps Bing verify eligible sites and import associated setup information such as sitemaps. Bing then collects and reports its own search and crawl data.
Search Console remains the source for Google Search performance, while Bing Webmaster Tools reports information associated with Bing.
Should small websites use both?
Yes. A small or recently launched website can benefit from having direct information from more than one search engine.
Even when Bing sends less traffic than Google, its data can reveal:
- Pages that one search engine discovered before the other
- Different ranking queries
- Sitemap or crawl problems
- Technical issues found by Bing's site scan
- Search opportunities that are less visible in Google data
Recommended workflow
- Add and verify the website in Google Search Console.
- Submit the website's sitemap to Google Search Console.
- Import the verified property into Bing Webmaster Tools, or add it manually.
- Confirm that Bing has received the correct sitemap.
- Allow time for each service to collect its own performance data.
- Compare indexing, queries, pages and technical warnings across both tools.
Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools?
| Your goal | Best starting point |
|---|---|
| Understand performance in Google Search | Google Search Console |
| Understand performance in Bing | Bing Webmaster Tools |
| Submit a sitemap to both search engines | Use both |
| Find additional technical SEO issues | Use both and compare the findings |
| Use IndexNow | Bing Webmaster Tools |
| Monitor the widest practical search footprint | Use both |
Features were reviewed against Google Search Console Help, Bing Webmaster Tools Help and Bing's official comparison. Features may change. Last reviewed: July 30, 2026.