Rich Snippets vs Featured Snippets

Google’s search results are no longer just 10 blue links. Today, you see:

Stars ⭐
Prices 💰
FAQ dropdowns ❓
Answer boxes at the very top

Two of the most important SERP features are rich snippets and featured snippets. Many people mix them up, but they are not the same.

If you want better click-through rate (CTR) and more organic traffic, you need to clearly understand the difference between rich snippets and featured snippets, and when to optimize for each.

Key Differences : Rich Snippets vs Featured Snippets

Here’s the core difference between rich snippets and featured snippets, in plain language.

Position in the SERP

Rich snippets:
Show as normal organic results but with extra details. They appear in positions like #1, #3, #7, etc.
Featured snippets:
Usually appear at the very top of the page, above all organic results (Position Zero).

Control and Implementation

Rich snippets:
- You add schema markup.
- Google reads it and may show rich details.
- You have some control (by adding correct structured data).
Featured snippets:
- No special code is required.
- Google chooses a part of your content.
- You influence it with content formatting and relevance, not with schema.

How They Look to Users

Rich snippets make your existing listing richer:
- Stars, price, FAQs, images, etc.
- They increase visibility inside the list of results.
Featured snippets act like a direct answer box:
- A highlighted block at the top.
- Often satisfies simple questions right in the SERP.

Search Intent and User Behavior

Rich snippets work best when users compare options:
- Which product? Which service? Which guide to click?
Featured snippets work best when users want a quick answer:
- Definition, explanation, steps, comparison overview.

To get proper schema structure in you site, you can always contact an technical SEO expert here.

What Are Rich Snippets in Google Search?

Simple Definition of Rich Snippets

A rich snippet is a normal organic search result that has extra information added to it. It still appears in the regular list of results, but it stands out visually.

Instead of just:

Title
URL
Meta description

a rich snippet may also show things like:

⭐ Star ratings and review count
💰 Price and availability
📦 Product details
❓ FAQ questions and short answers
🍳 Recipe time, calories, ingredients

Examples of Rich Snippets

Common rich snippets include:

Review snippets – “⭐ 4.8 · 122 reviews”
Product snippets – price, “In stock”, brand
FAQ rich results – collapsible Q&A under your listing
How-to / recipe – steps, images, cooking time

How Rich Snippets Are Generated

Rich snippets are powered by structured data, also called schema markup.

You add special code (usually JSON-LD) to your page that tells Google:

“This is a product.”
“This is a review with rating 4.8.”
“These are FAQ questions and answers.”

Google then may use this data to display a rich result.

What Are Featured Snippets in Google Search?

A featured snippet is a special answer box that appears above the normal search results (often called “Position Zero”).

It usually includes:

A short answer pulled from a page
The page title and URL
Sometimes a list, table, or image

Example queries:

“difference between rich snippets and featured snippets”
“what is schema markup”
“how to optimize for featured snippets”

For these kinds of questions, Google may show a featured snippet at the top with a direct answer.

Types of Featured Snippets

Featured snippets can appear as:

Paragraph – 1–3 short sentences
List – bullet list or numbered steps (“how to…”)
Table – comparison, pricing, data
Video – often starting at a specific timestamp

How Featured Snippets Are Chosen

Featured snippets are not created by schema markup.
They are chosen by Google’s algorithm based on:

Relevance to the query
Content structure (clear headings, lists, definitions)
How well the page answers the question

You cannot “force” a featured snippet, but you can optimize for it.

How Rich Snippets Affect SEO and CTR

Rich snippets help your existing rankings perform better.

They make your result visually stand out.
They show extra proof (ratings, price, FAQ) that improves trust.
They can significantly increase click-through rate, especially on results already on page 1.

Rich snippets are perfect for:

Product pages
Local business pages
Service pages
Blog posts with FAQs or how-to content

How Featured Snippets Affect SEO and CTR

Featured snippets can bring huge visibility, because you appear at the top, even if your normal ranking is position #3 or #5.

But CTR impact can be mixed:

For some queries, the snippet encourages users to click to read more.
For very simple questions, users might get the full answer on Google and not click at all (zero-click searches).

Still, featured snippets are powerful for:

Brand awareness
Authority in your niche
Owning important question-based keywords

When to Optimize for Rich Snippets vs Featured Snippets

Focus on rich snippets if you:

Run ecommerce or product-based sites
Offer local services (restaurants, clinics, agencies, etc.)
Have pages where price, rating, availability, or FAQs matter a lot for decision-making

Here, structured data is a must-have.

When Featured Snippets Matter More

Focus on featured snippets if you:

Publish informational content (blogs, guides, tutorials)
Target questions like “what is…”, “how to…”, “difference between…”, “best way to…”
Want to be seen as an expert source in your topic

Here, content structure and keyword targeting are more important than schema.

How to Implement Rich Snippets Using Schema Markup

To get rich snippets, you should:

Choose the right schema type
- Product for ecommerce
- FAQPage for Q&A sections
- LocalBusiness for local services
- Article or BlogPosting for content
- HowTo for step-by-step guides
Use JSON-LD format
- It’s Google’s preferred format.
- Easier to manage and update.
Match schema with visible content
- If your schema says “4.9 rating · 120 reviews”, that must match what users see.
- Never mark up content that isn’t actually on the page.
Validate your markup
- Use Google’s Rich Results Test and Search Console enhancements reports.

How to Optimize for Featured Snippets

To win featured snippets, focus on content structure, not code.

Answer the main question clearly in 1–3 sentences near the top.
- Example: a short definition of “difference between rich snippets and featured snippets”.
Use headings and subheadings to break down topics.
Use lists and tables where helpful.
Target question-style and comparison queries.

Good patterns:

“What is [term]?”
“How to [do something]”
“Difference between [A] and [B]”

Write short, clear, neutral answers, then provide more detail below.

Common Mistakes with Rich Snippets and Featured Snippets

Using fake or misleading schema (fake reviews, wrong prices)
Marking up content that is not visible to users
Stuffing keywords in schema fields
Over-optimizing content for featured snippets by writing for Google, not humans
Ignoring the search intent (trying to force a featured snippet on a commercial keyword that needs a product page)

These mistakes can:

Reduce trust
Hurt CTR
Cause Google to remove your rich results

Putting It Together in One SEO Strategy

The best approach is not “rich snippets vs featured snippets”, but both working together:

Start with strong content that answers user intent.
Add schema markup to pages that need rich snippets (products, FAQs, local pages, articles).
Format key informational pages to win featured snippets: clear answers, lists, headings.
Track results in Google Search Console:
- CTR
- Average position
- Impressions

Then refine over time.

Conclusion: Between Rich Snippets vs Featured Snippets

Rich snippets are enhanced organic results powered by schema markup.
Featured snippets are answer boxes at the top chosen by Google’s algorithm.

Both can:

Improve visibility
Boost CTR
Strengthen your brand

But they work differently and support different types of search intent. Once you understand the difference between rich snippets and featured snippets, you can design a smarter SEO strategy: structured data for rich results + well-structured content for featured snippets.

FAQ: Rich Snippets vs Featured Snippets in Google

Do rich snippets and featured snippets directly improve rankings?

They don’t directly change your ranking algorithm score, but they can increase CTR and engagement, which indirectly supports better performance.

Can a page have both a rich snippet and a featured snippet?

Yes. A page can appear as a featured snippet for one query and also have rich snippet elements (like ratings or FAQ) as a normal result for other queries.

Do you need schema markup for featured snippets?

No. Featured snippets are based on page content and structure, not schema. Schema helps with rich snippets, not required for featured snippets.

Which is better for small websites: rich snippets or featured snippets?

Both are useful. If you sell products or services, start with rich snippets (schema). If you publish guides and blogs, also aim for featured snippets on key question-based keywords.