One of the best advantages for your business to leverage is Google Analytics because it can help improve your marketing strategy and address key issues with your audience. But finding the best Google Analytics Plugin for WordPress can be a real hassle, there are just so many options to choose from, and you’re going to want the best solution for your company’s needs.
In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of the best plugins available to help you choose the right plugin for your needs.
What is a Google Analytics Plugin for WordPress?
Google Analytics is a platform that collects data from your websites and apps to create reports that provide insights into your business. These include:
- The number of visitors to your website
- Information about the visitors’ interests and demographics
- Find your blog posts and landing pages with the most traffic.
- Determine the source that generates the most traffic (social, organic, etc.)
- How visitors use your website and which links they choose to click
It’s a fantastic resource that lets you take a deep dive into your website, but it isn’t exactly user-friendly. It’s easy to get lost in a sea of data trying to sift out useful information from the superfluous tidbits. That’s where a good Google analytics plugin comes into play.
A good plugin will easily let you segment data so you can analyze and improve your content and user flow without any of the usual headaches.
The Best Google Analytics Plugins for WordPress
The Best WordPress Google Analytics Plugins Listed In Order
We’re eager to share these plugins with you so you can get a leg-up on Google Analytics needs, so let’s get started with our choices!
1. MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights does a wonderful job of combining the tools of both WordPress and Google Analytics. It operates in the background and won’t have an impact on any front-end WordPress themes you use.
You don’t even need to leave WordPress to gain important visitor data using the built-in Google Analytics dashboard, which provides statistics on your best traffic sources, top-ranking articles, site visits, outbound links, and much more. With these helpful stats, MonsterInsights is also one of many plugins that can help your SEO.
It’s clear that MonsterInsights is the quintessential Google Analytics plugin for WordPress; garnering over 3 million active installations and a 4.5-star rating. In the WordPress community, it’s the most well-known and well-liked analytics tool. It’s free to use but comes with some pretty cool add-ons with the premium version, including eCommerce and outbound link tracking.
Key Features of Google Analytics for WordPress by MonsterInsights:
- Simple to comprehend reports from a Google Analytics dashboard
- Conversion tracking for forms
- Improved tracking for eCommerce
- Track affiliate links
- Detailed demographic reports of your audience (gender, age, device, location, etc.)
- Ability to see which sites are referring the most viewers to you and what visitors are searching for within your site
- Enables you to track 404 errors
- Updated embedded tracking code
- Monitor performance for specific pages
Viewing real-time statistics from your dashboard to improve your strategies and generate clicks is just one of the many features of MonsterInsights. Affiliate links, ad tracking, and enhanced e-commerce tracking are all incredibly useful tools that come with MonsterInsight.
You can monitor the top traffic sources for your website as well as your best-performing articles, pages, etc. Making business decisions based on data is made simple thanks to this insight into the behavior of your customers.
Google Analytics for WordPress by MonsterInsights is for you if…
- You are looking for a simple-to-use plugin with a ton of advanced features.
- You want a solution that’s super easy to configure and integrates easily with WordPress.
- You want to understand your audience more deeply.
Google Analytics for WordPress by MonsterInsights Pricing: Free with premium plans starting at $99.50 per year.
2. Analytify
Another major player in the WordPress analytics space is Analytify. This plugin can install your Google Analytics tracking code for you without requiring any coding on your part. The user interface makes it possible for you to retrieve your data directly from your WordPress dashboard and presents it understandably.
Since it provides improved eCommerce tracking features, Analytify is especially beneficial for organizations that engage in online sales. Although the commercial versions of the plugin are far less expensive than MonsterInsights while providing identical capabilities, they also have the advantage of allowing you to look deeper into specific posts and pages.
However, the free version of the plugin is very constrained, allowing you to have limited access to some more general features with premium features being necessary for your complete Google Analytics needs.
Key Features of Analytify:
- Automated email reports
- Real-time visitor tracking capability
- Shortcodes for data integration into custom templates
- Clear, intuitive UI
This plugin provides you with some great data, made even more useful through digestible graphs and charts. You can view stats like views, users, bounce rates, time spent on your pages, and more from the admin panel on WordPress.
Analytify is for you if…
- You use a web store and want enhanced eCommerce tracking.
- You want automatic reports emailed to you.
- You want to track individual campaign progress.
Analytify Pricing: Free with premium plans starting at $59 per year.
3. ExactMetrics
ExactMetrics comes in third on our list of the top Google Analytics plugins for WordPress. With over 1 million downloads this plugin was one of the most trusted in the industry. It has a ton of features and makes it easy to set up Google Analytics without requiring you to work with any code or pay a specialist.
Its user-friendly statistics for beginners put stats into your WordPress dashboard so you can quickly assess how your website is doing and which tactics you’re implementing are effective.
Additionally, it is quite simple to collect data in Google Analytics without manually setting up event monitoring thanks to tracking features like file download tracking, scroll tracking, eCommerce tracking, and custom dimensions.
However, it’s important to note that this plugin has a drawback in that it prevents you from integrating with other tools and services like WooCommerce or Google Ads. Also, the complaints about incessant advertisements have dropped their score to 2.5/5 stars.
Key Features of ExactMetrics:
- No coding is necessary to configure Google Analytics
- Comprehensive dashboard reports
- Track form conversions
This simple-to-install solution allows you to track advanced data and view metrics to better understand your website user experience. While the recent addition of advertisements for the free version seems to have tanked their reputation, the paid version is still a viable solution.
ExactMetrics is for you if…
- You want a more basic analytics plugin.
- You don’t mind being bombarded with advertisements.
- You are willing to pay for the premium version.
ExactMetrics: Free with premium plans starting at $99.50 per year.
4. Goal Tracker – Custom Event Tracking for GA4
The Goal Tracker – Custom Event Tracking for GA4 plugin is the newer version of the popular WP Google Analytics Events plugin by PineWise. Compatible with Google Analytics 4, it’s a no-code solution for setting up tracking events for your WordPress website.
With the plugin, you can track a variety of elements on your website, such as CTA buttons, ads, and videos. It can also integrate with popular form plugins like WPForms, allowing you to set goals for tracking form submissions.
Additionally, you have the option to add dynamic data to events, which means you can check the logged-in status of users, making it especially useful for membership sites. This flexibility enables you to monitor various aspects of your site’s performance and make informed decisions to enhance user experience and increase conversions.
Key Features for Goal Tracker – Custom Event Tracking for GA4:
- Track buttons, videos, forms, and more
- Editable plugin permissions
- Track element visibility
- Dynamic event data
Goal Tracker – Custom Event Tracking for GA4 Pricing: Free, with premium licenses starting at $49.99 per year.
Get Goal Tracker – Custom Event Tracking for GA4
5. GA Google Analytics
GA Google Analytics is a lightweight plugin that simply connects every page of your WordPress site to Google Analytics. Unlike other WordPress analytics tools, it won’t show any data or insights, but it still does its job well.
The GA Google Analytics interface might be more appealing to many WordPress users that don’t want a dashboard application and would prefer to use the native Google Analytics dashboard. This plugin is for you if you’re content to leave Google Analytics separate from the WordPress dashboard but still want to keep things light and make sure the tracking code is on every page.
Because it eliminates the need for you to manually add tracking code to each page, Google Analytics is perfect for large, complicated websites with a lot of pages.
Key Features of GA Google Analytics:
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant
- Does one thing and does it well
- Support for Global Site Tag (gtag.js), Google Analytics 4, and Universal Analytics (analytics.js)
This relatively light solution is a great way to get your feet wet in terms of tracking analytics. It’s designed to be straightforward, to easily get you started in the world of analytics.
GA Google Analytics is for you if…
- You want a lightweight solution.
- You don’t want an extra dashboard UI specifically for tracking Google Analytics.
- You are new to analytics tracking and want to learn the basics before taking a deep dive.
GA Google Analytics Pricing: Free with premium plans starting at $25 (one-time fee).
6. WP Statistics
WP Statistics is a robust yet simple WordPress analytics plugin that enables you to monitor all user activity from your WordPress dashboard. The content and geographical-based reports that this plugin produces are solid and, it displays real-time website analytics all for free.
This might not be the greatest option if you’re looking for a simple and uncomplicated plugin. However, it is a good choice if you want to dig deep into the statistics of your WordPress site and want to get data from several platforms and search engines in addition to Google.
You won’t need to set up the plugin with Google Analytics, which is another benefit. The tool only collects information that takes place on your website; no outside data is provided. The only drawback to this is that it can eat up storage space and grow the size of your backup.
Key Features of WP Statistics:
- Data export in XFL or CSV files.
- Filter data by location, keywords, IP address, etc.
- Track from multiple search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo.)
In your WordPress dashboards, WP Statistics can find important incites like the number of visitors, referrals, browser usage, country origins, and more. This plugin shines in particular at providing information in a palatable way, such as graphs and maps.
WP Statistics is for you if…
- You want to keep track of analytics from search engines other than just Google.
- You want to focus on geographical data and content reports.
- You want a free solution
WP Statistics Pricing: Free, with add-ons starting at $39 per year.
7. Jetpack
One of the many features of Jetpack, a multi-purpose WordPress plugin, is its integration with Google Analytics. Jetpack provides a quick overview of your site’s performance by displaying your site stats through a straightforward interface. You shouldn’t count on being able to delve deep into the data on certain posts and pages, though.
The free edition only offers you its analytics capabilities and reports, which is something to keep in mind. Therefore, you must upgrade to a Pro license if you expressly want Google Analytics integration.
Key Features of Jetpack:
- Simple site traffic reports
- Funnel reports help you track user flow through your site
- Track visitor’s goal conversion
Google Analytics integration with Jetpack’s growth tools enables you to examine traffic statistics for your website in the WordPress dashboard.
Jetpack is for you if…
- You want to keep using Jetpack as a multifunctional tool.
- You have experience with using Jetpack for other purposes.
- You are looking for an all-in-one toolkit for WordPress
There is also a JetPack CRM plugin that may be a great addition to your business.
Jetpack Pricing: Free with premium licenses starting at $20 per month.
8. Matomo (A Google Analytics Alternative)
A highly regarded substitute for Google Analytics is Matomo, garnering over 60,000 downloads and a 5-star review. Matomo and Google Analytics differ significantly in that Matomo does not disclose data if you choose not to. This plugin can be a suitable choice if you run a website that promotes privacy.
They pride themselves on security above all else and put you in full control of your data, which is a nice feature in the current climate.
Key Features of Matomo:
- No one else can see your data
- Easy to install. No coding or technical knowledge is needed.
- Free to use, premium features are relatively cheap.
You can view a bevy of advanced analytics from the Matomo dashboard and be ensured of the safety of your data. All of the fundamental features of an analytical plugin are present in Matomo. You can monitor the number of people who visit your website and it displays thorough information on traffic sources, keywords, geo-locations, and other analytics, just like Google Analytics.
Matomo is for you if…
- You value privacy and want to be in control of your data.
- You want a cheap solution that provides everything you need for advanced analytics.
- You want an easy to user interface that doesn’t need too much configuration.
Matomo Pricing: Free with plans starting at $23 per month.
Comparing The Best WordPress Google Analytics Plugins
Incorporating Google Analytics into your WordPress website provides a great way to guide your marketing strategies, increase visitor engagement, and improve your search engine rankings. Deciding which one to use can be a difficult task. We’ve featured some of the best GA plugins around so that you can weigh your options.
Google Analytics Plugin Price Comparison
Before settling on one plugin, we suggest trying them all. Each plugin on our list comes with a free version, so there’s ample opportunity to try one before you buy. Also, we’ve created a helpful comparison table, which contains links to each product along with pricing for each.
Plugin | Price | Free Option | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
🥇 | MonsterInsights | $99.50 per year | ✔️ | Visit |
🥈 | Analytify | $59 per year | ✔️ | Visit |
🥉 | ExactMetrics | $99.50 per year | ✔️ | Visit |
4 | Goal Tracker – Custom Event Tracking for GA4 | $49.99 per year | ✔️ | Visit |
5 | GA Google Analytics | $25 one-time fee | ✔️ | Visit |
6 | WP Statistics | $39 per year | ✔️ | Visit |
7 | Jetpack | $20 per month | ✔️ | Visit |
8 | Matomo | $23 per month | ✔️ | Visit |
Google Analytics Plugin Feature Comparison
As many analytics plugins are tailored for specific purposes, you might want to select more than one. Choose a plugin like MonsterInsights or Analytify if you want to integrate the power of Google Analytics into your WordPress dashboard. If you want to go for a premium plugin, ExactMetrics has a litany of features, such as advanced ecommerce reporting, affiliate link tracking, and more.
🥇 MonsterInsights | 🥈 Analytify | 🥉 ExactMetrics | |
---|---|---|---|
Starting Price | Free | $99.50/year | $149/year |
Multiple Payment Gateways | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Analytics | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Paid Add-Ons | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Page Builder Compatibility | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Subscriptions | ✔️(add-on) | ✔️(pro) | ✔️(add-on) |
Front End Submissions | ✔️(add on) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Active Installations | 3M+ | 50K+ | 1M+ |
Community Rating | 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read Reviews | 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read Reviews | N/A |
Get MonsterInsights | Get Analytify | Get ExactMetrics |
What is the Best Google Analytics Plugin?
While all of the plugins on our list are excellent choices, if we have to choose one, it’s definitely MonsterInsights. It’s easy to use, allows you to track ecommerce and affiliate links, and allows you to monitor your site’s performance. The intuitive setup wizard assists you in connecting to Google Analytics in a few minutes, making it a simple tool for anyone to use. If you’re looking for more WordPress plugins, make sure to check out our ultimate list of recommendations for each plugin type!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Before we wrap up, let’s answer some of your most common questions regarding the best WordPress Google Analytics plugins. Did we miss one? Leave a question below, and we will respond!
What is the best Google Analytics plugin for WordPress?
What is the best free Google Analytics for WordPress?
What is the best way to integrate Google Analytics with WordPress?
Do I need a plugin for Google Analytics?
Is Google Analytics free for WordPress?
Which WordPress Google Analytics plugin is GDPR-friendly?
Why are analytics important?
What are the best alternatives to Google Analytics?
What are the differences between Google Analytics 3 and Google Analytics 4?
What is the difference between Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics?
Article featured image by Blan-k / Shutterstock.com
You may have said it somewhere in the post but I have to note that you need a business plan in your WordPress plan to be able to install these plugins. Thank you for the info nevertheless.
That is true if the website is under WordPress.com hosting. If it is not, then those plugins can be installed without upgrading.
Another great alternative to Google Analytics is Plausible.io – I’m one of their happy customers.
I’ve been happily using Rank Math as my SEO plugin on my Divi based sites for a year or 2 now. Very impressed.
Considering that Universal Analytics is going to be discontinued on 1 july 2023 it would have made sense to update this article with information on plugin support for GA4 before it was republished. Also a bit strange that an article that promises 7 Google Analytics plugins only gives 5 of them while adding 2 other statistics plugins that have nothing to do with analytics.
There is also Google Site Kit. You can connect your Google Search Console, AdSense, Analytics, and Tag Manager accounts, as well as Google Page Speed Insights. If you use Google Optimize for A/B testing, it can also be connected.
It which shows a lot of Google analytics data on site traffic, site content from your site’s Google Search Console, and data about how well your site does Google Page Speed right in your WordPress Admin.
It’s free and built by Google.
Yes, I was surprised this plugin wasn’t mentioned -built by Google, it’s free etc. It’s the one I use on every site.
Amazing article can you please update the Analytify because currently I’m using this plugin and its totally different in term of design and features.
Really good advice which we will have a go at installing on our DIVI website. Thank You.
Happy to help!
While using a Google Analytics plugin provides some great insight, care must be taken when also using a SEO plugin. You want to avoid two instances of the UA code or Tag code being placed on the pages. This has caused false readings in Google analytics when it comes to tracking visits and bounce rates.
That has been my experience, when both have been used. I opt not to place a GA plugin on a website if I am using an SEO plugin.
I know GA is supposed to be the one to use but I use Statcounter.com. My reason for doing so is that it gives me all I need but more importantly I have a few hundred sites out there and it gives me a project page where I can see on one page how many visitors/page views each site received today, yesterday, this month and since inception. So at a glance I can see problems.
I just wonder if that Is possible with any of the above mentioned plugins?
You can use Analytify & MonsterInsighst any of them for your analytics.
Hi Brian! Statcounter sounds like a handy tool. I don’t think you can integrate it with your sites using any of the plugins in this post, but there is a free Statcounter plugin in the WordPress Plugin Repository that you might look into.
Have to agree with you Brian. Unless you are exclusively a digital marketing professional focusing on analytics and have 36 hours in the day, many of the recommended plugins above are overkill. I use StatCounter as well and use the Visitor Paths feed to quickly see how much traffic any of the sites I am working on is getting.