> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://govisibl.gitbook.io/help-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://govisibl.gitbook.io/help-docs/data-discrepancies.md).

# Data Discrepancies

### **Why is the data on Visibl different from other tools?**

In most cases, any difference between Visibl and other analytics tools should be minimal. However, discrepancies can appear depending on **how certain metrics are defined and calculated**. Below are some of the most common differences and what causes them:

#### 🕒 **Time Spent vs. Engaged Time**

One of the most common sources of confusion comes from how **time on page** is measured.

* **Time Spent** (Visibl): This is the total time a user has a page **open and in view**, regardless of whether they are constantly interacting with it.
* **Engaged Time** (Other tools): This typically refers only to the time when a user is **actively interacting** with the page — scrolling, moving the mouse, or clicking.

At Visibl, we prioritize **Time Spent** over **Engaged Time** because we’re built specifically for **publishers and bloggers**. On content-heavy sites, users often spend several minutes reading without interacting — and that shouldn’t be ignored.

**How we calculate Time Spent:**

* When a user lands on a page, the timer starts.
* As long as the user is interacting with the page, the timer runs.
* If there’s no activity for **60 seconds**, the timer pauses.
* If the user resumes activity (scrolling, moving the mouse, etc.), the timer continues.

This approach captures more accurate reading behavior, which is why **time spent on Visibl may appear higher** than on platforms that only track active engagement.

#### 👥 Live User Count

In some cases, you may see the number of live users and pageviews being significantly different. This is usually because of the duration given to consider a user as live. 

* On Visibl, a user is live as long as they perform an action (like a pageview or scrolling on a page) **within 90 seconds**. 
* Most other analytics tools consider a longer time period of 120 seconds or 5 minutes (300 seconds).

While each method is valid, **Visibl’s 90-second window aims to be closer to real-time activity**, giving you a more truthful snapshot of current engagement.

#### 🤖 **Bot Traffic**

Another reason for discrepancies is how bot traffic is handled.

* Many analytics tools **don’t filter bot visits separately**, meaning your traffic numbers may include non-human activity.
* Visibl automatically **detects and hides bot traffic** from your dashboard so you see only actual user data.

This ensures your traffic insights are clean, accurate, and not inflated by crawlers or automated scripts — a crucial difference if you’re making editorial or business decisions based on the data.