💡 Overview
Search Atlas displays cost-related data — such as estimated CPC (cost-per-click) values — in US Dollars (USD) by default. This is a platform-wide display setting and is separate from the billing currency configured in your Google Ads account. If your Google Ads account is set to GBP (£), EUR (€), or any other currency, you may notice a difference between the figures shown in Search Atlas and what appears in your Google Ads billing dashboard. This article explains why that happens and what to expect.
🔍 Why Search Atlas Uses USD
Search Atlas sources keyword and advertising data from aggregated global datasets. To ensure consistency across all users and regions, the platform standardises cost metrics — such as CPC estimates and keyword competition values — in USD. This approach means:
- All users see the same benchmark data regardless of their location or billing currency.
- Comparisons between keywords, markets, and competitors remain accurate and consistent.
- Data sourced from third-party providers is normalised into a single currency to avoid conversion discrepancies.
This is a display convention, not a billing or payment setting. Search Atlas never charges you in a currency different from what you agreed to at subscription.
📊 How This Differs from Google Ads Billing
Your Google Ads account has its own billing currency, which is set when the account is first created and cannot be changed after that point. The currency shown in Search Atlas for CPC and traffic value estimates is not pulled directly from your personal Google Ads account — it reflects aggregated market data standardised in USD. Because of this:
- A keyword showing $2.50 CPC in Search Atlas does not mean you will be billed $2.50 in Google Ads.
- Your actual Google Ads spend will appear in your billing currency (e.g. GBP, EUR, AUD) inside the Google Ads platform.
- Exchange rates and regional auction dynamics mean actual costs may vary from the estimates shown.
Always refer to your Google Ads billing dashboard for authoritative spend figures in your local currency.
🛠️ Can I Change the Display Currency in Search Atlas?
At this time, Search Atlas does not offer a per-user or per-account option to switch the display currency from USD to another currency. The USD display is a platform-wide setting applied to all cost-related metrics. If this is a feature you would like to see, you are welcome to submit a feature request through the chat widget.
✅ What You Should Do
- Use Search Atlas USD figures as directional estimates — they are useful for comparing relative keyword value and competitiveness, not for calculating exact spend.
- Apply a conversion rate manually if you need a rough local-currency equivalent. For example, multiply the USD CPC estimate by the current USD-to-GBP exchange rate to get an approximate GBP figure.
- Validate actual costs in Google Ads — use your Google Ads account's reporting tools for precise billing figures in your local currency.
- Do not adjust your Google Ads budget based solely on Search Atlas CPC estimates without accounting for currency differences and regional auction variations.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
- Will Search Atlas ever bill me in USD if my account is in GBP? No. Your Search Atlas subscription is billed in the currency agreed to at sign-up. The USD display applies only to data metrics within the platform.
- Are the CPC values in Search Atlas accurate? They are estimates based on aggregated data and are best used for comparative analysis rather than exact budget planning.
- Can I request a currency toggle feature? Yes — share your feedback via the chat widget and our team will log it as a feature request.
💬 Need More Help?
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.