The verdict
On the data we hold, Google Search Console comes out ahead. Here is why, point by point.
What the data says
- Both cover 1 of the 1 features we compared.
- Only Google Search Console has a free plan to start on.
- Only SurferSEO has an MCP server, so an AI employee can work in it directly.
- In our SEO ranking, Google Search Console places 12 and SurferSEO 1 of 15.
Side by side
| 5 points compared | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | Not known yet | €49/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server | No | Yes |
| Rank tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Links |
Plans and pricing
Google Search Console
- FreeSearch Console is a free Google service.Free
SurferSEO
- AI Search AnalyticsTracks AI visibility across ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Overviews and Perplexity; EUR 82 per month billed yearly.€984/yr
- DiscoveryCreate or optimise 120 documents and track 10 pages; EUR 49 per month billed yearly.€588/yr
- Standard360 documents, integrations and team collaboration; EUR 99 per month billed yearly.€1,188/yr
- ProStandard plus more AI prompts, internal linking and cannibalization reports; EUR 182 per month billed yearly.€2,184/yr
- Peace of MindUnlimited documents, dedicated success manager and API access; EUR 299 per month billed yearly.€3,588/yr
Prices as the vendors list them. They change often; the final price is on their sites.
Who each is for
Choose Google Search Console if…
Website owners, SEO specialists and marketing teams who want Google's own data on which searches bring visitors, which pages are indexed and what is stopping pages from ranking.
Choose SurferSEO if…
Content teams, SEO specialists, agencies and founders who publish articles for search and want data-based guidance on what to write and how to optimise it for Google and AI search.
Other options worth a look
Tool·Client acquisitionCombines backlink analysis, keyword research, rank tracking and technical audits built on an extensive web index.SEO
From €27/moFree plan
Tool·Client acquisitionUnify keyword research, backlink analysis, technical audits and rank tracking in one dashboard.SEO
From €112.52/mo yearlyFree planAffiliate link
Tool·Client acquisitionMonitor how your brand appears inside AI search results across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI and Copilot.SEO
From $25/mo yearly
Tool·Client acquisitionTrack how your brand appears in AI search answers and measure your share of voice.SEO
From €94.94/moAffiliate link
Tool·Client acquisitionTracks how AI assistants describe your brand and recommends content changes to improve those answers.SEO
Free plan
Tool·Client acquisitionMonitor how your brand appears in AI search and serve optimised pages to AI crawlers.SEO
From $250/mo