Google PageSpeed Insights vs. Lighthouse
Blog post from Prismic
In 2023, developers and website managers have access to tools like Google PageSpeed Insights (PSI) and Google Lighthouse to objectively measure and optimize website performance, accessibility, and SEO. Google PageSpeed Insights offers free analysis using real-world and lab data, providing detailed reports across various categories such as Performance, Accessibility, Best Practices, and SEO, while Google Lighthouse offers similar functionality but with a focus on synthetic lab data and unique features like Progressive Web App assessments. Both tools facilitate mobile optimization, adherence to web development best practices, and competitive analysis, although PSI is more widely accessible across browsers. Speed is emphasized as a critical factor for user experience, SEO, and conversion rates, with tools helping to address issues like First Contentful Paint and Largest Contentful Paint. Ultimately, choosing between PSI and Lighthouse depends on specific needs, such as real user data from PSI or PWA capabilities from Lighthouse, to improve website performance for better business outcomes and user satisfaction.