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Facebook Metrics Differences - Complete Overview

A practical guide that contrasts Facebook’s native definitions with what our analytics can surface through the Meta API.

Diana Gogolan avatar
Written by Diana Gogolan
Updated yesterday

How to Use This Guide: This guide explains all possible reasons why numbers in Meta Business may differ from those in our platform.

Each metric includes the specific formulas, reasons for differences, and expected impact on your numbers.

Total Engagement

Engagement numbers can vary due to the formula, content types included, paid versus organic inclusion, and how interactions are attributed over time.

Below are explained all the possible reasons.

→ Formula

💡Reason: API limitation - Saves are not available through Meta's API. To enable fair competitor analysis, only public and available metrics are included.

Facebook formula

Socialinsider formula

reactions + comments + shares + saves

reactions + comments + shares

→ Content Types Included

💡Reason: API limitations - Stories insights are not available through Meta's API.

Facebook

Socialinsider

  • Posts (photo, album, status, link, event, music)

  • Videos

  • Reels

  • Stories

  • Organic + Paid content (boosted/ ads/ dark ads)

  • Posts (photo, album, status, link, event, music)

  • Videos

  • Reels

  • Organic + Boosted content

→ Attribution Model

💡Reason: API constraint - post-level attribution is used for both connected and competitor accounts.

Facebook

Socialinsider

  • May attribute interactions to the day they happened

  • Attributes interactions to the day the post was published (post attribution)

  • Example: interactions received in September for an August post are counted in August (and attributed to the day the post was published)


Total Posts

Differs based on which formats and ad types are counted.

→ What is included

💡 Reason: Facebook Stories are not available through Meta's API.

Facebook

Socialinsider

  • Posts (photo, album, status, link, event, music)

  • Reels

  • Videos

  • Stories

  • Organic + Paid content (boosted/ ads/ dark ads)

  • Posts (photo, album, status, link, event, music)

  • Reels

  • Videos

  • Organic + Boosted content


Total Views

Varies if story views and ad views are included.

→ What is included

💡 Reason: Facebook Stories are not available through Meta's API.

Facebook

Socialinsider

  • Post views (photo, album, status, link, event, music)

  • Reels views

  • Video views

  • Stories views

  • Organic + Paid content (boosted/ ads/ dark ads)

  • Post views (photo, album, status, link, event, music)

  • Reels views

  • Video views

  • Organic + Boosted content views


Total Reach

Facebook reports estimated account reach, including ads. Socialinsider also estimates this metric, but in a different way.

💡 Reason: API limitation - only organic post-level reach is available.

Facebook

Socialinsider

  • Meta estimates this metric

  • Includes both organic and paid content (boosted/ ads/ dark ads)

  • Socialinsider estimates this metric

  • Includes organic and boosted content


Followers' Growth

Historical values before onboarding are estimated. Tracking starts when the account is first added to Socialinsider.

💡 Reason: API limitation on historical follower counts.

Facebook

Socialinsider

  • Native app shows full history

  • Estimates for dates before the account was added

  • Exact tracking begins on the first day the account is added

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