If you’re looking for a Google Analytics plugin for WordPress, chances are you’ve seen both GA Google Analytics and MonsterInsights in your search results. Wondering which one you should use to set up tracking?
While GA Google Analytics and MonsterInsights both connect your website with Google Analytics, that’s just about where the similarities end. In fact, they’re distinctly different plugins when you examine their features, functionality, and how they present your analytics data.
In this comparison, I’ll go over the main features of both plugins and explain their key differences. By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to decide which plugin will work better for your WordPress site.
In this article:
GA Google Analytics vs. MonsterInsights: Overview
To start, I’ll give you a brief overview of each plugin. Let’s take a look.
About GA Google Analytics
GA Google Analytics is a lightweight, fast, free plugin that connects your WordPress site with Google Analytics without requiring any code. It focuses on doing one thing well: adding the Google Analytics tracking code to your site. The plugin also offers a Pro version with additional features like a visitor opt-out box, the ability to disable tracking for logged-in users, and support for multiple tracking codes.
About MonsterInsights (Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress)
MonsterInsights is the most popular Google Analytics plugin for WordPress, with over 3 million active installations. It not only connects your WordPress site to Google Analytics with just a few clicks but also provides advanced tracking features beyond standard Google Analytics capabilities. Plus, MonsterInsights brings your analytics data directly into your WordPress dashboard with easy-to-understand reports, eliminating the need to constantly switch between WordPress and Google Analytics.
Now that you’ve read the overview of each plugin, you can probably already see the big differences between the two!
GA Google Analytics and MonsterInsights: The Key Differences
The free versions of both plugins will quickly and easily install your Google Analytics code on your website. From there, they’re significantly different.
The biggest difference between GA Google Analytics and MonsterInsights is the stats dashboard. GA Google Analytics helps you set up GA4 and lets you use the GA4 dashboard to find your data. MonsterInsights, on the other hand, helps you set up GA4 and brings a bunch of that data into your WordPress dashboard.
So, your choice between these Google Analytics plugins will largely depend on the additional features you need and whether you want your analytics data presented within your WordPress dashboard in easy-to-read reports.
Detailed Comparison: MonsterInsights vs. GA Google Analytics
Let’s dive deeper into the specific features and capabilities of each plugin to help you make an informed decision.
1. Installation and Setup
The first step in using any analytics plugin is getting it installed and configured properly. Both plugins aim to simplify this process, but they take somewhat different approaches.
GA Google Analytics:
- Simple and straightforward setup
- Free Google Analytics installation
- Lightweight plugin that adds minimal load to your site
- Options to place tracking code in header or footer
- Basic customization options for tracking code
Here’s a look at the GA Google Analytics settings dashboard:
MonsterInsights:
- User-friendly setup wizard
- Easy authentication with Google Analytics
- No need to manually copy/paste tracking codes
- Options to exclude specific user roles from tracking
Here’s the MonsterInsights setup wizard:
2. Analytics Dashboard
Once your tracking is set up, it’s time to see and analyze your data. This is where the two plugins differ a lot.
GA Google Analytics:
- No built-in analytics dashboard
- You must visit your Google Analytics account to view data
- Requires learning the Google Analytics interface
- No simplified reports in WordPress
MonsterInsights:
- Comprehensive analytics dashboard within WordPress
- Easy-to-read reports on traffic, referral sources, popular content, and much more
- Real-time stats accessible directly in WordPress
- Dashboard widgets for quick analytics overview
- Date range selector for viewing historical data
3. Advanced Tracking Features
Basic pageview tracking is just the beginning. To get truly valuable insights, you might need more advanced tracking capabilities. The plugins offer different levels of functionality in this area.
GA Google Analytics:
- Basic tracking capabilities
- Limited advanced features in the free version
- The pro version adds more tracking options, like enabling tracking on your login page, excluding logged-in users, and displaying an opt-out box
- Requires custom code for most advanced tracking scenarios
MonsterInsights:
- Advanced tracking features even in the free version
- Automatic tracking of outbound links, downloads, and affiliate links
- Site Notes feature to keep track of marketing campaign dates, website updates, content publish dates, and more
- Media tracking for videos and other media (Plus version)
- GDPR settings (Plus version)
- eCommerce tracking for online stores (Pro version)
- Form conversion tracking (Pro version)
- Custom dimension tracking for advanced data analysis (Pro version)
- And much more
4. eCommerce Tracking
For online store owners, tracking sales and customer behavior is essential. The plugins vary significantly in how they handle eCommerce analytics integration.
GA Google Analytics:
- Requires additional setup for detailed eCommerce analytics
- May need developer assistance for proper implementation (you’ll need to add code)
MonsterInsights:
- One-click eCommerce setup for WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, and other popular eCommerce plugins
- Detailed dashboard eCommerce reports showing conversion rates, average order value, and top products
- eCommerce funnel report
- User journey report
5. Integration with Other Tools
Modern websites often use multiple tools and platforms that need to work together. The ability to integrate with other services can extend the functionality of your analytics solution.
GA Google Analytics:
- Primarily focused on Google Analytics integration
- Limited integration with other tools
MonsterInsights:
- Integrates with multiple Google tools (Search Console, Google Ads)
- Works with social media platforms like Meta (Facebook)
- Connects with WordPress form plugins for tracking form submissions
- Integrates with popular SEO plugins like All in One SEO, Yoast, and Rank Math
- Can integrate with Pretty Links for easy affiliate link tracking
- Integrates with popular WordPress eCommerce and membership plugins
6. Pricing
Budget considerations are important for most website owners. Both plugins offer free versions, but their pricing structures for premium features differ.
GA Google Analytics:
- Free version available with basic features
- Pro version starts at $20/year for a single site
MonsterInsights:
- Free version (MonsterInsights Lite) with essential tracking features
- Plus tier: $99.60/year for more advanced reporting and features
- Pro tier: $199.60/year for eCommerce, form tracking, and more
- Agency tier: $399.60/year for multisite support and client reporting
Why choose GA Google Analytics?
GA Google Analytics might be the right choice for you if:
- You want a lightweight solution that doesn’t add bloat to your site
- You’re comfortable using the Google Analytics interface and don’t need simplified reports
- You have a limited budget and just need basic tracking
- You prefer simplicity and don’t need advanced tracking features
- You’re already familiar with Google Analytics and know how to find the data you need
Why choose MonsterInsights?
MonsterInsights might be better suited for you if:
- You want user-friendly analytics reports directly in your WordPress dashboard
- You need advanced tracking capabilities without writing custom code
- You run an eCommerce store and want comprehensive sales tracking
- You value time-saving features that eliminate the need to switch between platforms
- You want actionable insights presented in an easy-to-understand format
- You need more GDPR compliance features for EU visitors
What if you use Google Analytics without a plugin?
Without a plugin like GA Google Analytics or MonsterInsights, you would need to:
- Manually add the Google Analytics tracking code to your theme files
- Set up enhanced tracking features through Google Tag Manager
- Learn the complex Google Analytics interface to find your data
- Risk accidentally removing the tracking code during theme updates
Both plugins eliminate these challenges, though in different ways. For more on analytics for WordPress without a plugin, check out Add Google Analytics to WordPress WITHOUT a Plugin (2025).
MonsterInsights vs. GA Google Analytics: Which one is better?
The answer depends entirely on your specific needs:
- For beginners and non-technical users: MonsterInsights provides a more user-friendly experience with its in-dashboard reports and simplified setup.
- For developers and technical users: GA Google Analytics offers a lightweight solution that does one thing well without adding unnecessary features.
- For eCommerce sites: MonsterInsights offers superior eCommerce tracking and reporting features.
- For basic blogs: Either plugin will work, depending on your level of experience with using Google Analytics.
- For businesses needing detailed insights: MonsterInsights provides more comprehensive data directly in WordPress.
Final Verdict: MonsterInsights vs. GA Google Analytics
Both MonsterInsights and GA Google Analytics are excellent plugins that serve different needs and user preferences.
GA Google Analytics is perfect for users who want a simple, lightweight solution to add Google Analytics to their WordPress site and are comfortable navigating the Google Analytics interface.
MonsterInsights shines for users who want comprehensive analytics data right in their WordPress dashboard, along with advanced tracking features that don’t require technical knowledge to implement.
Your choice ultimately depends on how you prefer to interact with your analytics data and the level of tracking detail you need for your website.
If you’re still unsure, consider starting with the free version of MonsterInsights to experience its dashboard features, or GA Google Analytics if you prefer a more lightweight approach. You can always upgrade or switch later as your needs evolve.
Next Steps
Whichever plugin you choose, the most important thing is to start tracking your website analytics as soon as possible. The data you collect will provide valuable insights to help you improve your content, user experience, and overall website performance.
That’s it!
I hope you liked this comparison of MonsterInsights and GA Google Analytics. You might also be interested in:
MonsterInsights vs. Google Site Kit: A Detailed Comparison
MonsterInsights vs. Jetpack Stats: A Detailed Comparison
How to Add Google Analytics to WordPress (The Easiest Way)
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