The Top 6 Best Google Analytics Plugins for WordPress

The Top 6 Best Google Analytics Plugins for WordPress

Have you ever wondered what happens to your website, the working process behind its curtain? Or, more so, have you ever wondered why people are visiting your WordPress site in huge numbers, yet you fail to convert them into buyers?

This is where Google Analytics shows up as the helpful and spectacular superhero. 

Over 28 million websites use Google Analytics, which accounts for almost 56% of all websites on the internet. However, the numbers for integrating Google Analytics plugins are very low. 

There is a possibility that your website isn’t optimised for your particular target audience. Or the landing pages do not fulfil the expectations of your visitors. Or they lack value in terms of the services you offer. There may be many reasons, but the answer is just one: Google Analytics plugins. 

Yes, with the right plugin, your website can be enhanced to load fast, be content-driven, optimise for SEO, and track the key metrics that will help you in decision-making.

Google Analytics can track over 200 different metrics and dimensions. That’s another reason you must focus on integrating Google Analytics plugins into your WordPress site. 

But wait, there’s more! We are not referring to the standard Google Analytics; instead, we are exploring the realm of Google Analytics plugins specifically designed for WordPress websites.

And we will also learn about the significance of custom WordPress development services. So, let’s dive right in. 

What are Google Analytics Plugins? 

Google Analytics plugins are highly specialised add-ons that help you extend Google Analytics’ functionality directly into your WordPress site. These plugins help add the Google Analytics tracking code to your site, so you don’t need to be a technical person to track various aspects of your website. 

One incredibly convenient aspect of a Google Analytics plugin is that it automatically inserts the tracking code into your WordPress website. This code tracks your visitors’ activities on your site, including view rates, clicks, and the time spent on the site.

The plugin then transfers this data to your Google Analytics account after analysis, and it is provided through a detailed report. 

Can We Integrate Google Analytics With a WordPress Site? 

Linking Google Analytics to your WordPress site is relatively easy using the plugins below. Generally, most plugins come with intuitive front ends and user interfaces to facilitate easy installation.

In simple terms, you typically install your plugin, select your tracking preferences, and then begin collecting data using Google account authentication. This integration enables businesses to gain insights into their website’s performance in a natural setting, without requiring modifications to the tracking codes or knowledge of coding languages. 

The Shift to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Why It Matters

Right, let’s get one thing straight. The old Google Analytics, which we all knew as Universal Analytics or UA, is now discontinued. It’s gone.

As of mid-2024, Google has flipped the switch for good, so if your plugin is still running on the old system, you’re essentially looking at a broken compass.

The new game is Google Analytics 4, also known as GA4. And look, this isn’t just a new paint job on the same old car; it’s a completely different engine.

The old way was all about ‘sessions’, essentially grouping all the actions a user took during one visit. GA4 eliminates that and focuses on ‘events’.

Everything a person does, from loading a page to clicking a link or watching a video, is now an event. This provides a much clearer and more flexible picture of what people are actually doing on your site, rather than just what pages they visited.

It’s also built to track users properly across different devices, such as their phone and laptop, which the old system always struggled with.

Long story short, any plugin you choose today must be built for GA4. No excuses.

Why Do Google Analytics Plugins Matter? 

As a user, you are the master of the WordPress boat sailing in the middle of the seas of the World Wide Web. But how do you know you are going the right way if you do not even have a compass to tell you that? That’s where plugins like Google Analytics come into play, such as the map feature for your website. 

These plugins are not just intelligent add-ons, but also valuable and vital for understanding your site traffic and actions. Google Analytics plugins enable the tracking of website visitor numbers, the number of pages viewed on the website, the bounce rate, and other metrics. The ROI function is like a magnifying glass, allowing you to hone in on all specifics involving your site. 

But wait, there’s more! Here are some plugins that can accelerate website performance by integrating Google Analytics. There are specific custom WordPress development services that allow you to hire professionals to handle the task for you.

Consider the possibilities, such as predicting the metrics by which your content will perform best or identifying where users encounter difficulties in an application or website. That is about all the magic that one can associate with such plugins. 

And here’s the kicker: As much as we hope to have evolved these Google Analytics plugins, it’s worth noting that they are growing rapidly, at the speed of light, as we might say.

With new features and functionalities being introduced more frequently than we can say ‘analytics,’ there is a need to stay aware of the latest market developments. Wouldn’t you hate driving your car using a map compiled years ago? There goes your answer.  

What are the Benefits of Using Google Analytics Plugins? 

Using Google Analytics plugins offers many advantages to businesses that want to optimise and boost their online presence. 

Here are a few critical benefits listed: 

1. You get access to comprehensive data insights: The critical monitoring metrics include total visitors/visits, page views, bounce rates, and average time on site/visit. For example, a high bounce rate suggests visitors need help finding what they want. Therefore, when reforming, you should consider a layout or content change. 
2. You can track user behaviour: You can know how your website is perceived, which pages users stayed on the most, where exactly they bounced off, etc. The thing is, with GA4’s ‘Enhanced Measurement’ feature, the best plugins can now track this stuff automatically.

   We’re talking about how far people scroll down a page, when they click a link to leave your site, what they type into your search bar, and even their video engagement. All without you needing to touch a single line of code.

   This information helps enhance the User experience and subsequent conversion rates. For instance, for a given page or product, customers are leaving the shopping cart midway, and there could be problems such as slow loading times or confusing layouts, which can be addressed.

3. You can improve site performance by finding key metrics, such as page rank, time taken to load a page, devices being used, and referring sites, which enable your site to be optimised. For example, if you find out that most of your visitors come from mobile devices, an area of focus could be optimising the mobile site for improved speed. 
4. You can track your goals and optimise conversions: These plugins allow you to set and track specific goals, such as form submissions, product purchases, or newsletter sign-ups. It’s worth knowing that what we used to call ‘Goals’ in the old system are now ‘Conversions’ in GA4, and they’re tied directly to those events we talked about.

   A major advantage of a good plugin is that it allows you to mark an event as a conversion, such as a newsletter sign-up, with a simple click of a switch directly within your WordPress dashboard. No more faffing around in the main Google Analytics settings.

   By monitoring these conversions, you can assess the effectiveness of your marketing strategies and make data-driven decisions to optimise your campaigns.

5. You can retrieve customisable reports: Many Google Analytics plugins allow users to modify and define their reports based on the parameters most impacting the organisation’s operations. These customisable reports can be sent to your inbox daily, weekly, or monthly, so you don’t have to constantly check your site on Google Analytics throughout the day. 
6. You can track data in real-time: Plugins can be handy during product launches or while running new campaigns. They can help you track the critical metrics for your campaign’s performance. This allows you to make subsequent changes instantly and direct your campaigns toward success. 

5 Key Criteria for Selecting Top Google Analytics Plugins for WordPress

While Google Analytics plugins are a great addition to your website, selecting them casually can be a time-consuming process. It is equally vital that you understand which plugins will be helpful to your business. 

You can only achieve results if you put effort into selecting the best and most optimal Google Analytics plugins for your WordPress site. Thus, to improve the quality and performance of your website, the following are five essential factors that may help you choose the plugins to use. 

1. GA4 Compatibility and Feature Depth: Let’s be blunt, this is the most important factor now. Full Google Analytics 4 compatibility is completely non-negotiable.

   But don’t just check if a plugin can add the tracking tag; you need to look deeper. How effectively does it utilise GA4’s features?

   Can you easily set up custom event tracking from your WordPress admin? Can it pass along extra details, like the post author or category, as custom dimensions?

   If you run a shop, does it generate proper eCommerce reports that use GA4’s specific event parameters? That’s the real test of a quality plugin.

2. Ease of Use: Look for a plugin with a user-friendly interface and an easy setup process. Even someone within your team with little to no plugin experience should be able to install and use it. 
3. Features and Functionality: Your plugins should be able to retrieve comprehensive, real-time information. Look for customisation options so that you can track reports of the critical factors responsible for the specific functionality. 
4. Compatibility and Integration: Ensure your chosen plugins are compatible with WordPress themes, especially your website’s theme. These plugins should also be in sync with other plugins, making data integration easy in case your website encounters any issues. 
5. Support and Updates: Ensure that your chosen plugins showcase reliable customer support. Regularly updating your plugins is another essential way to keep your website up-to-date with industry best practices. 
6. Pricing: Lastly, monitor the pricing of your plugins. Ensure that it fits perfectly within your existing budget. Check if your plugins offer a freemium feature for a limited time before charging a particular amount. 

Navigating Privacy Regulations with Analytics Plugins

Now for the boring but incredibly important bit: data privacy. With laws like GDPR in Europe and others popping up all over, you can’t just slap Google Analytics on your site and hope for the best.

Thing is, Google Analytics works by collecting user data, and that means you’ve got to be careful about compliance.

Get this wrong, and you could be facing some serious fines. The good news is that most of the top-tier analytics plugins have your back.

They come with built-in tools to help you stay on the right side of the law. Look for features like easy integration with cookie consent banners, which is a must.

They should also offer a simple way to anonymise IP addresses, so you’re not storing personal data you shouldn’t be. Some even give you options to disable specific tracking, like demographic reports, for any visitor who hasn’t given you a clear ‘yes’ to being tracked.

It’s your responsibility, so make sure your plugin helps you meet it.

Let’s look at the top 6 picks based on our requirements and the above criteria. 

The Top 6 Google Analytics Plugins

Plugin 1: MonsterInsights 

Among many capabilities, MonsterInsights provides harmony with Google Analytics to analyse their specific data from the WordPress admin interface. Here is the promise: leave behind jumping from one platform to another. With MonsterInsights, you have it all. 

But that’s not all! MonsterInsights also has enhanced features that help track e-commerce, affiliate links, and custom events. From an e-commerce business owning an online store to Affiliate marketing campaign tracking, MonsterInsights has everything you need. 

Additionally, MonsterInsights offers a dedicated “EU Compliance” add-on, which simplifies meeting GDPR requirements. It’s not just about general traffic, either.

Its dashboard includes specific reports, such as the “Publisher Report,” which is excellent for tracking clicks on your affiliate links and banner ads. And if you run a shop, its eCommerce reports are top-notch, working directly with WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, and even MemberPress.

The feedback given by users is much more valuable than ours. MonsterInsights also proves to be very friendly regarding functionality and features. MonsterInsights has a rating of 2900+ five stars on the WordPress plugin directory. Analysing the data of a top WordPress.org site, it is evident that users are particularly fond of MonsterInsights. 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Installation and use are straightforward. 
• It offers comprehensive insights. 
• You can create custom reports in it. 
• It provides regular updates and support. 

Cons:

• The free version offers limited features. 
• It might feel complex for beginners. 

Plugin 2: Analytify 

One of the standout features of Analytify is its dashboard, which displays all the necessary information on your website’s performance. Analytify is a comprehensive solution that provides you with every possible detail about your website’s traffic sources and pages that are performing better. 

But wait, there’s more! Analytify also enhances reporting, allowing you to create and design reports according to your preferences. Whether you need to estimate the effectiveness of your campaign or analyse your users’ activity, all your data is presented in an understandable and handy form. 

Users like Analytify because it is simple to use. This plugin has garnered over 420 five-star reviews from WordPress users. 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• It has a user-friendly interface with smooth navigation. 
• It displays critical metrics in real-time. 
• It offers detailed eCommerce analytics. 
• It has a customisable reporting feature. 

Cons:

• It has a limited free version with a few features. 
• It is dependent on Google Analytics. 

Plugin 3: ExactMetrics 

ExactMetrics provides practical ways to maximise Google Analytics. With ExactMetrics, you can track the time and date of each visit, as well as custom dimensions and events, down to the level you wish to track on your website.

However, a question remains regarding the users’ opinion of ExactMetrics. Some users who have reviewed this plugin positively include those with 535 or more five-star ratings on WordPress.

If we read the reviews from actual users on ExactMetrics’ website, their X (Twitter) page, or even on their FB page or anywhere at org, one thing is for sure: ExactMetrics has a good reputation among its users. Many users appreciate it due to its ease of use and powerful reporting features, which make it suitable for anyone creating a website. 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• It has a user-friendly interface. 
• It offers comprehensive insights. 
• It provides customisation and gives detailed reports. 
• It provides regular updates and security features. 

Cons:

• The free version has minimal features. 
• It might only cover some analytics features. 

Plugin 4: Site Kit by Google 

Site Kit by Google is a comprehensive WordPress plugin that consolidates all the pointers from various Google plugins directly into your WordPress dashboard. This plugin is beneficial in organising essential data and methods of working with it, and it can be easily combined with other Google tools.

The massive advantage of Site Kit is that it’s the official plugin from Google. You can trust the connection is solid.

Its real strength isn’t just showing you Analytics data; it’s about putting everything in one place. It pulls data from your Google Search Console, AdSense, and PageSpeed Insights accounts right into a single dashboard in WordPress.

This provides a comprehensive view of your site’s performance, directly from the source, without requiring you to log in to four different places.

Created by Google, Site Kit works effectively and ensures regular updates, making it the ideal tool for businesses to enhance their website performance.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• It easily integrates with other Google services. 
• It has a user-friendly interface. 
• It is an official Google plugin. 
• It offers comprehensive insights. 

Cons:

• It has limited customisation features. 
• It might only cover some of your needs. 

Plugin 5: GA Google Analytics 

Thanks to the easy setup process and multiple features of GA Google Analytics, tracking performance does not require any additional and complex configurations. 

Among similar tools, a unique characteristic of GA Google Analytics is its ability to be linked directly with Google Analytics. It enables you to track basic metrics such as the number of visitors, views, and people leaving the website without touching other sub-tools—Adios to spreadsheets, and welcome Automate, which allows you to receive instant performance updates within WordPress. 

What do readers think about GA Google Analytics? On WordPress.org alone, 94% of users have given 5-star reviews. Users appreciate it as simple but efficient. Most users have appreciated this tool for its ease of use and efficiency, and it is among the most popular options for website owners who want to utilise Google Analytics. 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• It is straightforward to use and set up. 
• It speeds up your site’s speed by optimising the web page resources. 
• It supports advanced tracking features, like user behaviour. 
• It features built-in privacy options, including IP address protection. 

Cons:

• It has a limited dashboard integration. 
• The reports generated are fundamental. 

Plugin 6: Jetpack 

Being an all-encompassing tool for website control, Jetpack is one of the most demanded WordPress plugins. 

It’s essential to recognise that Jetpack’s Google Analytics integration is just one component of a comprehensive toolkit. Its main stats tool is called “Jetpack Stats,” but it also allows you to easily add your GA4 tracking code.

If you’re already using Jetpack for its security scans, backups, or performance enhancements, this is a great option. It lets you centralise your tools and means you don’t have to install yet another separate plugin just for analytics.

With Jetpack’s Google Analytics, you can monitor basic metrics like visitors, page views, and where the traffic is coming from on your dashboard. With other available programs, you can hop from one platform to another, and this is not the case with Jetpack because it is packed with many crucial features. Jetpack has earned over 1,250 five-star ratings on WordPress.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Jetpack combines an all-in-one platform for tracking and optimisation. 
• It can be integrated with Google Analytics. 
• It offers robust security features. 
• It helps enhance site loading speed and optimise other SEO-related functions. 

Cons:

• It can be complex for beginners. 
• Jetpack can be resource-intensive, which can slow the site’s loading speed. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing and Setting Up Google Analytics Plugins 

Now comes the installation part. How you integrate the plugins in your WordPress site plays a significant role in boosting your online presence. Therefore, we break down the entire process into Installation and Setup.

From the WordPress Dashboard:

1. Log in to Your WordPress Admin Panel
   • Enter your username and password on your WordPress login page (yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
2. Navigate to Plugins
   • On the left-hand menu, click “Plugins” and select “Add New.”
3. Search for the Plugin
   • In the search bar on the top right, type in the name of the Google Analytics plugin you want to install, such as “MonsterInsights” or “Site Kit by Google.”
4. Install the Plugin
   • Once you find the desired plugin, click the “Install Now” button.
5. Activate the Plugin
   • After the installation, click the “Activate” button to enable the plugin on your site.

Manual Installation

1. Download the Plugin
   • Go to the plugin’s website or the WordPress repository, find the plugin you want, and download the .zip file to your computer.
2. Upload the Plugin to WordPress
   • In your WordPress admin panel, navigate to “Plugins” and “Add New.” Click on the “Upload Plugin” button at the top.
3. Choose the File
   • Click “Choose File,” select the downloaded .zip file from your computer, and click “Install Now.”
4. Activate the Plugin
   • After uploading and installing the plugin, click the “Activate Plugin” button to enable it on your site.
5. Setup and Configuration

Connecting to Google Analytics

1. Authenticate the Plugin
   • After activating the plugin, connect it to your Google Analytics account. Typically, this involves clicking a button like “Connect to Google Analytics” within the plugin settings.
2. Sign in to Google
   • You’ll be prompted to sign in to your Google account. Ensure you use the account that has access to your Google Analytics property.
3. Grant Permissions
   • The plugin will request access to your Google Analytics data. Click “Allow” to grant the necessary permissions.
4. Select the Analytics Property
   • Choose the Google Analytics property you want to connect to your WordPress site. This is usually the website profile you’ve already set up in your Google Analytics account.

Configuring Settings

1. Access Plugin Settings
   • Go to the plugin’s Settings page within your WordPress dashboard. This is usually found under a menu item labelled with the plugin’s name.
2. Enable Recommended Settings
   • Most plugins have recommended settings that must be enabled. These often include options for enhanced link attribution, file download tracking, and demographic tracking.
3. Set Up Goals and Events
   • Configure specific goals and events you want to track, such as form submissions, product purchases, or button clicks. This can usually be done within the plugin’s settings or directly in your Google Analytics account.
4. Enable Enhanced eCommerce
   • If you run an online store, enable enhanced eCommerce tracking to get detailed insights into your customers’ purchasing behaviour. This feature is available in plugins like MonsterInsights.
5. Check for Compatibility
   • Ensure the plugin settings are compatible with other tools and plugins you’re using, such as SEO plugins or caching tools.

To install, configure, and upgrade the Google Analytics plug-in on every WordPress website, you must perform these fundamental processes. This will provide insight into how decisively your website performs and allow you to improve your marketing strategy. 

Key Takeaways 

That brings us to the end of this article. The best plugins and their pros and cons have been discussed above so you can easily integrate them into your WordPress website. These plugins may provide features like ease of installation and use, tracking complex aspects, and customised reports. 

This article does not recommend using a specific plugin while working on WordPress. We only provide general recommendations on analysing the plugins and their features according to your needs and requirements. Then, select the plugin that best suits the intended purposes.

WordPress site owners can utilise plugin overlays that link to Google Analytics, providing them with valuable information and guidance on enhancing their websites’ effectiveness and driving sustainable business growth.