Why do rank trackers show different positions from Search Console?

Both are right. They measure different things.

Search Console's average position is an average across every impression your page received for that query in the period. Those impressions came from different people in different places, on different devices, with different search history. A page that shows at position 2 for some people and position 15 for others averages out to something in the middle that nobody actually saw.

A rank tracker checks 1 search at a time, from a set location and device, at a set time. It tells you where you appear for that specific setup.

Common reasons the 2 numbers differ:

1. Location. A tracker set to a country can differ from one set to a city. Local intent makes this larger.
2. Device. Mobile and desktop results are often different.
3. Personalization and history. Real searches vary. Trackers use a neutral setup.
4. Averaging. Search Console's figure moves when your impressions come from different positions, even if your best position does not change.
5. Time of day and day of week. Results update, and trackers check at a point in time.
6. SERP features. How a tool counts a page when there is a map pack or an AI Overview above it can vary.

How to use them together:

• Use Search Console to see what really happened across all the searches that produced impressions.
• Use a tracker to watch the specific keywords and places that matter to you, on a schedule, and to see changes in near real time.
• Compare the direction. If both go up over a few weeks, trust the trend.

Doily checks Google rankings daily, on desktop and mobile, by country, state, or city, and shows SERP features including whether an AI Overview appears. Set the location to match your customers, then use Search Console as the second opinion.