Skip to main content

Why Is Keyhole Data Different From Instagram or Twitter?

You might see different post counts or engagement numbers in Keyhole compared to what shows natively on Instagram or Twitter. Here's why.

Julie Bevacqua avatar
Written by Julie Bevacqua
Updated this week

This happens because Keyhole pulls data using official platform APIs—not through the apps themselves. That means what Keyhole can access (and when) is based on API rules, privacy restrictions, and your tracker’s setup—not what’s shown inside the native apps.


Tracking Start Date

Keyhole begins collecting posts from the moment your tracker is created.
Instagram and Twitter, on the other hand, may show posts from earlier dates.

To access posts from before your tracker started, you’ll need to request Historical Data.


Privacy Restrictions

Instagram and Twitter may show private posts in total engagement counts.
Keyhole can only access public posts—those allowed through the platform’s APIs.


API Limitations vs. App View

The apps often show more content or engagement than external tools are allowed to retrieve. For example:

  • Impressions in the app may include private users or Stories

  • Post counts in Instagram may include content from users you can’t access via the API

These differences are normal when comparing third-party tools to native apps.


Want Data from Before the Tracker Started?

Use Keyhole’s Historical Data service to access posts from earlier timeframes.
Submit a request from your dashboard or contact [email protected] to learn more.


Get Help

For assistance, click the chat icon in the bottom-right corner and select I'm an existing customer and need support.

Did this answer your question?