Privacy-focused, self-hostable web analytics.
Best for: Organizations that need full data ownership or strict privacy/compliance guarantees.
Top-rated in Analytics PluginsAnalyticsWordPress
See pricingFree plan
Analytics Plugins
See traffic and conversion data inside the WordPress dashboard, or connect the site to an analytics platform.
Best Analytics Plugins
WordPress analytics plugins vary in where data is processed and how much context they bring into the dashboard. Some simply surface Google services inside WordPress, others store analytics locally, and some provide a separate privacy-focused measurement system. The important distinctions are data ownership, cookies, ecommerce reporting, search data and whether marketers need the full analytics interface or only a concise publishing view. None of them is the overall winner; each entry says where it fits.
By SEM Solutions Editorial Team. Researched from vendor documentation, not hands-on testing. Ordered by Overall Score. Checked October 6, 2026. How we research
For analytics data ownership
Matomo
Overall Score75/1004.4Editor RatingMarket Signal 63#1 of 7 in Analytics Plugins
Matomo offers a WordPress analytics option for teams that want more control over how visitor data is stored and processed. It supports standard web analytics and can be extended into behavior and ecommerce analysis; the key distinction is architectural: organizations can keep analytics closer to their own infrastructure instead of depending entirely on an advertising-platform analytics account.
- Visitor analytics
- Self-hosting option
- Campaign tracking
- Ecommerce analytics
- Best for
- Privacy-conscious organizations that want greater ownership of analytics data and infrastructure choices.
- Consider
- Running analytics on your own infrastructure adds storage, maintenance and performance responsibilities that a fully hosted service would otherwise handle.
Publisher-friendly stats
Jetpack
Overall Score71/1004.0Editor RatingMarket Signal 67#2 of 7 in Analytics Plugins
Jetpack Stats brings traffic, referrers, countries, top content, clicks, video plays and downloads into a WordPress-focused dashboard. It also connects audience information with subscribers and publishing activity. The interface is aimed at quick content decisions and does not require deep event-model configuration, so it suits editors who want useful site trends without a separate analytics workspace.
- Real-time visitors
- Referrer reports
- Content performance
- UTM tracking
- Best for
- Publishers and site owners that want accessible traffic and content insights directly in WordPress.
- Consider
- Jetpack Stats does not expose personally identifying viewer information, and teams needing highly customized event models can require a deeper analytics platform alongside it.
Google Analytics in WordPress
MonsterInsights
Overall Score60/1003.5Editor RatingMarket Signal 57#3 of 7 in Analytics Plugins
MonsterInsights connects Google Analytics to WordPress and presents selected reports inside the dashboard, including content and ecommerce views. The fit is strongest for teams committed to Google Analytics that want implementation and common reports closer to WordPress; it reduces the need for editors to work directly in the broader Google Analytics interface for routine checks.
- Google Analytics connection
- Dashboard reports
- Ecommerce tracking
- Outbound link tracking
- Best for
- WordPress teams that already use Google Analytics but want easier setup and reporting inside the CMS.
- Consider
- The underlying measurement still depends on Google Analytics, so it does not address requirements for keeping analytics data entirely within WordPress.
Local cookieless analytics
Independent Analytics
Overall Score54/1003.9Editor RatingMarket Signal 36#4 of 7 in Analytics Plugins
Independent Analytics records website visits without cookies and stores its analytics data in the site's WordPress database, keeping it off external analytics servers. It also avoids storing personal data in its reporting model. It is a distinct fit for site owners who want simple WordPress analytics with local data storage and a privacy-first architecture.
- Cookieless tracking
- Local data storage
- No external analytics server
- WordPress-native reports
- Best for
- WordPress site owners that want straightforward analytics while keeping measurement data on their own server.
- Consider
- Local storage means the site's own database carries the analytics data, so retention and database growth should be monitored on higher-traffic installations.
For Google service reporting
Site Kit by Google
Overall Score49/1003.5Editor RatingMarket Signal 36#7 of 7 in Analytics Plugins
Site Kit is Google's WordPress plugin for connecting services such as Search Console and Analytics and surfacing their metrics in the WordPress dashboard. Setup can verify the site and connect existing Google accounts, making it useful for site owners who want first-party Google search and analytics data without installing separate connectors for each service.
- Search Console connection
- Analytics connection
- WordPress dashboard
- Google account setup
- Best for
- WordPress sites that mainly need a convenient view into Google's own measurement services.
- Consider
- Site Kit is a connector and reporting layer for Google services instead of an independent analytics engine, so its data model is defined by the connected products.
How to choose
- Settle early whether data should live with Google, another hosted provider or inside your WordPress infrastructure.
- Publishers should compare content and referrer reports; stores should check ecommerce event coverage.
- Privacy requirements may determine whether cookies, external data transfer or consent controls are acceptable.
- If editors need quick answers, assess the WordPress dashboard itself alongside the underlying analytics engine.
All Analytics Plugins (7)
Ranked by Overall Score: our Editor Rating and Market Signal, 50/50. Market Signal uses Ahrefs and Semrush data through September 2026, pulled October 6 to 12, 2026. How we score
WordPress plugin suite for backups, security and performance.
Best for: WordPress site owners that want Automattic-managed security, backup, performance, and traffic tools in one plugin family.
Top-rated in Backup PluginsWordPressWebsite Security
From $9.95/mo (annual billing)Free plan
Google Analytics WordPress plugin with ecommerce, form and Search Console reporting.
Best for: WordPress publishers, stores, and service businesses that want Google Analytics reporting and event tracking without custom tagging.
WordPress
From $8.29/mo (annual billing)Free plan
Independent Analytics
Overall Score54/100
3.9Editor Rating
Market Signal 36#4 of 7 in Analytics Plugins
WordPress-native analytics storing privacy-friendly traffic data directly in the site's database.
Best for: WordPress site owners who want cookieless, first-party analytics managed and stored within their own WordPress installation.
WordPress
From $4.08/mo (annual billing)Free plan
Privacy-focused WordPress analytics with goals, engagement reporting, ecommerce funnels, and REST endpoints.
Best for: WordPress sites that want locally managed analytics, conversion goals, and optional ecommerce funnel reporting without external tracking dependencies.
WordPress
From $4.08/mo (annual billing)Free plan
WordPress Google Analytics plugin with ecommerce, forms, Search Console, and event tracking.
Best for: WordPress publishers, stores, and membership sites that want Google Analytics reporting and automated event tracking inside WordPress.
WordPress
From $16.58/mo (regular price; first-year discount lower), billed annuallyFree plan
Google's WordPress plugin connecting Search Console, Analytics, AdSense, PageSpeed, and tagging services.
Best for: WordPress site owners who want official Google search, analytics, monetization, and performance data inside WordPress.
WordPress
FreeFree plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a WordPress analytics plugin replace Google Analytics?⌄
Only some do. Plugins such as Site Kit or MonsterInsights connect to Google Analytics; they do not replace it. Products such as Matomo or Independent Analytics can operate as separate analytics systems with their own data collection and reporting models.
What is the benefit of storing analytics data in WordPress?⌄
Local storage gives the site owner direct control over the database and reduces dependence on an external analytics processor. The tradeoff is operational: your own hosting must store and maintain the data, so database size and retention become your responsibility.
Do any of the tools listed under Analytics Plugins have a free plan?⌄
Yes, Matomo, Jetpack, MonsterInsights, Independent Analytics, Burst Statistics, ExactMetrics and Site Kit by Google all offer a free plan. Free tiers usually come with usage limits, so check whether they cover your volume before relying on them long-term.
Which tool listed under Analytics Plugins has the lowest starting price?⌄
Among the tools listed here whose main product is in this category and whose pricing we've verified, Independent Analytics has the lowest listed starting price: $4.08/mo (annual billing). Starting price isn't the whole picture, so check what's included at that tier before deciding.