Google Analytics can of course be integrated into WordPress WITHOUT a plugin. However, the use of special plugins can bring the following advantages:
- No editing in the code
- No binding to a theme
- Mostly better control over DSGVO requirements
- Mostly more/simpler possibilities to transfer additional data to GA
- If necessary display of visitor statistics directly in WordPress
For this reason, I would like to compare different Google Analytics plugins here.
| Plugin | MonsterInsights Free | Monster Insights Pro | Site Kit by Google | GA Google Analytics Free | GA Google Analytics Pro | ExactMetrics Free | ExactMetrics Pro | Google Analytics Germanized | Analytify | 10WebAnalytics | SEOPress |
| Price | free | from 199$ p.a. | free | free | from 15$ one time | free | from 199$ p.a. | free | tbd | tbd | free |
| Reviews | 4,5 | 4,5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 4,5 | 5 | ||
| active installs | 2+ M | 2+ M | 700k | 500k | 500k | 1+ M | 1+ M | 20k | 100k | ||
| GA Dashboard in WP | yes | yes | yes | ? | ? | yes | yes | no | no | ||
| GPDR | AnonymizeIP | AnonymizeIP, Integration with Cookie Notice, CookieBot, browser opt-out | ? | AnonymizeIP | AnonymizeIP, Opt-Out | only AnonymizeIP | yes | yes, by default | yes: AnonymizeIP, Cookie-Banner, OptIn | ||
| eCommerce | no | Integration for Woocommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, MemberPress | ? | no? | no? | no | Integration for Woocommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, MemberPress | no | |||
| Engagement tracking | no | forms, downloads, external links, ads | ? | no? | no? | downloads, external links | downloads, external links, AdSense, forms, Scroll Depth | external Links | Downloads, external Links | ||
| custom dimentions | no | authors, Logged In, category | ? | no? | no? | no | yes | no | author, taxonomie, PostType |