Is it safe to connect Google? What SEOmatic can and cannot do with your data
Updated
Yes. By default SEOmatic asks Google for one permission: View Search Console data, which is read-only. With it, SEOmatic cannot change your Search Console settings, your website or your Google account. Two extra permissions exist, and both stay off until you turn them on.
What the default connection allows#
| SEOmatic can | SEOmatic cannot |
|---|---|
| Read your clicks, impressions, click rate and average position | Add or remove users on your property |
| Read which searches and pages bring you traffic | Change any Search Console setting |
| Check whether Google has indexed a page | Submit a sitemap or ask Google to index a page |
| List the sitemaps you already submitted | Delete or remove your property |
| Read this data in the background, so your agents can plan and measure while you are away | See your email, files or anything outside Search Console |
Google shows the consent screen each time you connect. Check the list on that screen: the default connection only asks to view your Search Console data. Leave that box ticked, or SEOmatic cannot read anything.
Reading Search Console is free. It never uses AI credits.
Optional permissions, off until you turn them on#
Both are in Settings > Integrations, under the Google Search Console row. Only the account owner sees that tab. Each one sends you back to Google to approve one more permission.
| Permission | What it lets SEOmatic do | Line to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Index requests | Ask Google to index new or updated pages. Google only accepts these for job posting and livestream pages. | Index requests for job posting and livestream pages are off. then Turn them on |
| Sitemap submission | Submit your sitemap to Search Console. This needs Google's full Search Console permission, which Google lists as view and manage, not only read access. SEOmatic uses it only to submit sitemaps. | Sitemap submission to Search Console is off. then Turn it on |
You do not need either one
Your agents work fully with the default read-only connection. For most sites, IndexNow or IndexMeNow is the better way to get new pages found. See instant indexing.
Other Google connections#
| Connection | What SEOmatic does with it |
|---|---|
| Sign in with Google | Uses your name and email address to create and sign in to your account. |
| Google Analytics | Reads your traffic, top pages and visits from AI assistants. Read-only. |
| Google Ads | Reads your campaigns, keywords and search terms to answer your questions. SEOmatic does not change your ads. |
| Google Business Profile | Reads your locations and reviews to answer your questions and build local pages. SEOmatic does not change your profile. |
To see every connection in one place, open Settings > Integrations and click See exactly what each connection can access.
Whose Google account is used#
- Each SEOmatic user has their own Google connection. Connecting does not give your teammates access to your Google account.
- For background work (planning, weekly reports, measuring results), SEOmatic reads Search Console through the workspace owner's connection. A teammate can only pick a property that the owner's Google account can read.
- Your Search Console data stays in your workspace. Your agents never use another site's data for your answers.
What SEOmatic keeps#
- Up to 26 weeks of weekly Search Console history per workspace, so your agents can spot trends and measure changes.
- When you disconnect, SEOmatic deletes the stored Google access right away. The weekly history stays with the workspace until you pick a different property or delete the workspace.
- Deleting a workspace deletes its Search Console history too.
Remove SEOmatic's access completely#
- In SEOmatic, open Settings > Integrations and turn off the Google Search Console switch. There is no confirmation, and it clears the property on every workspace you own.
- In your Google Account, open the list of third-party apps with access to your account and remove SEOmatic. Turning off the switch in SEOmatic does not remove it from that list.
- Google showed a screen saying the app is not verified. Is that safe?
- Go back and check which permissions the screen lists. The default connection only asks to view your Search Console data. If the screen asks for more and you did not click Turn them on or Turn it on, cancel and connect again from Search Visibility. If it keeps happening, email contact@seomatic.ai.
- Can SEOmatic change my website through Google?
- No. Changes to your website only happen through your website connection, and only after approval or in the mode you chose. See connect your website.
- Why does Google say SEOmatic can work while I am offline?
- That lets SEOmatic read your data on a schedule, for example to plan every Monday and to measure each change. It is still read-only.
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