Most WordPress site owners end up with two analytics plugins in their shortlist: MonsterInsights and Google Site Kit. Both connect to Google Analytics in minutes. But after installation, they go in very different directions.
The decision matters more than it looks. Choose the wrong one and you’ll be missing key data — eCommerce tracking, form conversions, scroll depth. Or you’ll spend hours in Google Tag Manager trying to fill the gap yourself.
I’ve helped many site owners work through this exact comparison. The answer almost always comes down to what you actually need to track. Here’s how the two stack up.
In This Article:
Connections & Installations
What tools and other plugins do the two analytics plugins connect with?
Both plugins can connect with a Google Search Console property to bring some of your keyword data into your WordPress dashboard. Both of them will also connect with Google Ads to help you track conversions from people clicking on your ads.
Google Site Kit can also connect with and install your Google Tag Manager code for you. MonsterInsights doesn’t have this feature. Most site owners find they don’t need it — MonsterInsights already tracks so many of the events you’d use Google Tag Manager for.
Google Site Kit will also connect with Google AdSense and insert the AdSense code on your site.
MonsterInsights, on the other hand, also connects with:
- Meta (Facebook): Input your Pixel ID to track conversions from your ads
- Microsoft Ads: Input your Microsoft Ads Tag ID to track conversions from Bing
- WPForms and other WordPress forms plugins: Use the MonsterInsights Forms addon to track form submissions from most WordPress forms plugins
- WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, MemberPress, and other eCommerce plugins: MonsterInsights connects with the top eCommerce plugins to set up Google Analytics eCommerce tracking
- Pretty Links: Use the Pretty Links plugin and MonsterInsights together to track clicks on affiliate links
- All in One SEO and Yoast: Use MonsterInsights with one of these SEO plugins to track your focus keywords and SEO scores
Pro Tip: MonsterInsights’ native integrations mean you don’t need Google Tag Manager for most standard event tracking. Forms, videos, affiliate links, and eCommerce data all flow through the plugin directly.
Reports
Both MonsterInsights and Google Site Kit include reports in your WordPress dashboard. The plugins really differ in which reports they have, so take a look at the full lists below.
In Google Site Kit, you’ll get one consolidated page of reports. It pulls data from Google Analytics, Search Console, Ads, AdSense, and PageSpeed Insights — whichever you’ve connected.
So, Google Site Kit reports include:
- An Overview report that provides traffic sources, countries, and devices used to access your site
- A Traffic report that pulls impressions and clicks from Search Console plus unique visitors from search and key events (conversions) from Google Analytics
- A Top Search Queries report that shows your site’s top keywords from Search Console
- A Top Content report that shows your top pages’ pageviews, sessions, engagement rate, and session duration numbers from Google Analytics
- A Speed report that shows your PageSpeed Insights results
- A Monetization report that shows your AdSense earnings
MonsterInsights, on the other hand, provides a full dashboard of different reports. The reports you have access to will vary based on which license (or Lite version) you have.
No matter which license or version you have, the Overview report is always available. It shows sessions, pageviews, average session duration, and total users.
Below that, you’ll see your new vs. returning visitor data and a basic device breakdown:
The overview report also shows you the top referral sources and countries that send the most traffic. You can use this data in different ways. For instance, with the top referral report, you can find new partnership opportunities to grow your traffic.
With the top countries report, you can geotarget visitors with different marketing and promotional campaigns. You can also create content for users from your top regions to make more money.
Below that, you’ll see your top posts and pages by pageviews:
Some of the other reports you’ll find in the MonsterInsights reports dashboard include:
- Top Landing Pages
- Channels (Traffic sources)
- Source/Medium
- Technology (browsers and mobile devices)
- Campaigns
- Social Media
- Outbound link clicks
- Affiliate link clicks
- Downloads
- GA4 Enhanced Measurement Guide (+ Alternatives)
- MonsterInsights vs. Google Analytics – What’s the Real Difference?
- How to Set Up Google Analytics Click Tracking
- How to Set Up Google Analytics in 2026: Step-by-Step
- MonsterInsights vs. Analytify – Which One Is the Best?
- Google Tag Manager vs. Google Analytics: Everything to Know
Key Takeaway
Google Site Kit shows you a snapshot. MonsterInsights shows you the full picture — all from inside your WordPress dashboard, without ever logging into Google Analytics.
For more on what’s included in the MonsterInsights dashboard, check out The Ultimate Guide to MonsterInsights Dashboard Reports.
Pricing
Google Site Kit is a free plugin.
MonsterInsights also offers a free basic version (MonsterInsights Lite). It includes the Overview report, outbound link tracking, affiliate link tracking, tel and email link click tracking, and more.
Pro Tip: MonsterInsights Lite is available free on WordPress.org. It includes the Overview report and outbound link tracking — enough to test the plugin before committing to a paid plan.
You can also add more features by choosing one of the license levels.
MonsterInsights Plus adds GDPR compliance, many more of the reports we listed above, full date range history, scroll tracking, media tracking, and more. MonsterInsights Plus is $99.60/year.
MonsterInsights Pro adds form submission tracking, eCommerce tracking, author tracking, focus keyword tracking, and more. MonsterInsights Pro is $199.60/year.
Key Takeaway
Both plugins have free versions, but the upgrade path matters. MonsterInsights’ paid tiers unlock the tracking most growing sites actually need — eCommerce, forms, and GDPR compliance all included.
MonsterInsights Agency adds an Exceptions report and alerts, Site Notes automation, multisite support, and more. MonsterInsights Agency is $399.60/year.
Advanced Features
Google Site Kit doesn’t add any advanced features beyond the connections with different Google tools and a basic reports dashboard. If you want eCommerce tracking, you’ll need to learn how to implement it with Google Tag Manager or hire an Analytics pro.
For other advanced capabilities like form submissions and video tracking, there are two approaches. You can use GA4’s Enhanced Measurement feature (which has some limitations), or configure everything manually in Google Tag Manager.
Alternatively, MonsterInsights can set up those advanced tracking features for you with just a couple of clicks.
In practice, this is where most site owners outgrow Google Site Kit. It happens the moment they want to see real store performance or form conversion data.
Track eCommerce Performance
MonsterInsights’ eCommerce addon shows you the full picture of your store’s performance. You’ll see conversion rate, transaction count, revenue, and average order value — all inside your WordPress dashboard.
Here’s a complete guide for tracking eCommerce performance using MonsterInsights.
Form Conversion Tracking
Another benefit of MonsterInsights over Google Site Kit is automatic form conversion tracking — no additional setup required.
The Form Conversion Tracking addon supports popular WordPress form plugins. Install the plugin, activate the addon, and MonsterInsights handles the rest.
Easily Make Your Site GDPR Compliant
MonsterInsights also covers something Google Site Kit doesn’t — built-in GDPR compliance.
It offers a simple EU Compliance addon that you can use to disable tracking and anonymize user information.
Simply enable the option to disable demographics, user ID tracking, and more, and you can comply with privacy laws without any coding.
Check out our complete guide on GDPR and MonsterInsights for more information about making your site compliant in the EU.
Head to the MonsterInsights Pricing page to see a list of what’s included at each license level.
Video Tutorial: MonsterInsights vs. Google Site Kit
FAQs About MonsterInsights vs. Google Site Kit
Is Google Site Kit free?
Yes, Google Site Kit is completely free. It’s an official WordPress plugin from Google that connects your site with Google Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, and other Google tools at no cost.
What is the difference between MonsterInsights and Google Site Kit?
Both plugins install Google Analytics on your WordPress site, but they differ significantly in depth. Google Site Kit offers basic overview data. MonsterInsights includes eCommerce tracking, form tracking, scroll depth, and dozens of other reports — all inside your WordPress dashboard.
Does MonsterInsights work with Google Analytics 4 (GA4)?
Yes, MonsterInsights fully supports Google Analytics 4. It connects your WordPress site to GA4, tracks key events automatically, and displays GA4 data inside your WordPress dashboard through its built-in reports.
Can I use both MonsterInsights and Google Site Kit at the same time?
Technically you can, but it’s not recommended. Running both plugins on the same site can cause duplicate tracking in Google Analytics. If you’re using MonsterInsights for its full reporting and tracking features, you won’t need Google Site Kit.
Does Google Site Kit support eCommerce tracking?
No, Google Site Kit does not include eCommerce tracking out of the box. For WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads tracking, you’d need to configure it manually via Google Tag Manager. MonsterInsights handles eCommerce tracking automatically through its eCommerce addon.
Is MonsterInsights free?
MonsterInsights offers a free version called MonsterInsights Lite, available on WordPress.org. It includes the Overview report, outbound link tracking, and basic analytics. Paid plans start at $99.60/year and add advanced reports and tracking features.
Which analytics plugin is better for WordPress?
It depends on your needs. If you only need basic traffic data and use Google’s other tools (Search Console, AdSense), Google Site Kit is a simple, free option. If you need detailed reports, eCommerce tracking, form tracking, or GDPR compliance, MonsterInsights is the stronger choice.
That’s it! I hope this article helped you compare MonsterInsights vs. Google Site Kit. If you liked this article, check out the following beginner-friendly guides:
Finally, don’t forget to follow us on X, Facebook and YouTube for more helpful Google Analytics tips.