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TikTok Metrics Differences - Complete Overview

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

Diana Gogolan avatar
Written by Diana Gogolan
Updated yesterday

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

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

Total Engagement

TikTok doesn't have a specific formula for calculating engagement.

However, the engagement metrics on a TikTok post are:

  • Likes

  • Comments

  • Shares

→ Formula

However, a more standardized formula exists that most marketers commonly use.

TikTok general formula

Socialinsider formula

likes + comments + shares + saves

likes + comments + shares + saves

Note: TikTok does not provide the ‘saves’ metric as a key metric.

→ Content Types Included

💡Reason: API limitations - only organic content is available through the API. Moreover, live videos are not available.

TikTok

Socialinsider

  • Videos

  • Carousels

  • Live videos

  • Organic + sponsored content (ads)

  • Videos

  • Shorts

  • Organic content

→ Attribution Model

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

TikTok

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: API limitations - only organic content is available through the API. Moreover, live videos are not available.

TikTok

Socialinsider

  • Videos

  • Carousels

  • Live videos

  • Organic + sponsored content (ads)

  • Videos

  • Carousels

  • Organic content


Total Views

→ What is included

💡Reason: API limitations - only organic content is available through the API. Moreover, live videos are not available.

TikTok

Socialinsider

  • Video views

  • Carousel views

  • Live video views

  • Organic + sponsored content (ads) views

  • Video views

  • Carousel views

  • Organic content views


Followers' Growth

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

💡 Reason: API limitation on historical follower counts.

TikTok

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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