Bing Webmaster Tools vs Google Search Console: do you need both?
Yes, use both. Both are free, Bing imports your sites from Search Console, and Bing's data also covers Microsoft Copilot.
Checked on October 25, 2026
By Bruno Amorim · ·
Search Console shows how Google sees your site. Bing Webmaster Tools does the same for Bing, and its AI Performance report counts citations in Microsoft Copilot and Bing's AI summaries. Neither shows the other's data.
Bing also has tools Search Console doesn't: backlinks for your site and competitors, keyword research, and a site audit.
| Topic | Google Search Console | Bing Webmaster Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Search data | Clicks, impressions, and position, for 16 months | Clicks, impressions, and position, for 16 months |
| AI answers | Generative AI report: impressions in AI Overviews and AI Mode | AI Performance: citations in Copilot and Bing AI summaries |
| Check one URL | URL Inspection | URL Inspection |
| Ask for a crawl | Request indexing, with a quota | URL submission and IndexNow |
| Backlinks | Links to your own site | Your site and your competitors |
| Keyword research | No | Yes |
| Site audit | No | Site Scan |
| Setup | Verify each property | Import up to 100 sites from Search Console at once |
Why Bing matters for AI answers
Microsoft Copilot cites pages, and Bing's AI Performance report shows which of yours it cited. OpenAI says ChatGPT search sometimes partners with other search providers, without naming them, so being on Bing as well as Google is the safe plan.
Where CrawlCoach fits
Paid plans connect Bing Webmaster Tools next to Search Console, show the pages Bing has not crawled, and on Pro and Agency send them to Bing for you through IndexNow.
Questions
Do I need Bing Webmaster Tools if I have Search Console?
Yes. Search Console only covers Google. Bing Webmaster Tools covers Bing and shows your citations in Microsoft Copilot. It is free, and it imports your sites from Search Console.
Does Google use IndexNow?
No. Google is not one of the IndexNow search engines. For Google, submit a sitemap in Search Console.
Which one shows more data?
Both keep 16 months of search data. Bing adds backlinks for competitors, keyword research, and a site audit. Search Console has Google's own index verdict for your pages and Request indexing.
Related guides
- Bing Webmaster Tools statuses, and how to fix each one
- Does ChatGPT search use Bing or Google?
- IndexNow setup guides by platform
- Is there a Google Search Console alternative?
Sources
Checked on October 25, 2026. Prices and features can change after that date.
- Bing Webmaster Blog: Start using Bing Webmaster Tools
- Bing Webmaster Blog: Search Performance data for 16 months
- Bing Webmaster Blog: Import sites from Search Console
- Bing Webmaster Tools Help: AI Performance
- Search Console Help: Generative AI performance report
- Analytics Help: Queries report (Search Console keeps 16 months)
- Search Console Help: Links report
- Google: Ask Google to recrawl your URLs
- OpenAI Help: Searching the web with ChatGPT
See why Google skips your pages
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