Best WordPress plugin for analytics in 2025

Understanding how people use your website is key if you want to grow your traffic, increase sales, or just see what’s working. However, choosing the right analytics plugin for WordPress can be surprisingly tricky. Many tools are either too complex for everyday site owners, too expensive once you unlock the “real” features, or not very privacy-friendly.

To cut through the noise, I tested five of the most popular analytics plugins to see how they really compare:

• Burst Statistics
• MonsterInsights
• ExactMetrics
• WP Statistics
• Site Kit

Here’s what I found.

• Choosing the right analytics plugin depends on your needs: GA integration, privacy, or simplicity
• Burst Statistics offers the best privacy-first alternative
• MonsterInsights and ExactMetrics excel in GA tracking and e-commerce data
• WP Statistics brings local, third-party-free data to your dashboard
• Site Kit is powerful if you’re deeply invested in Google’s ecosystem

To fairly compare these plugins, here’s how I approached the review:

1. Installed each plugin on a fresh WordPress site.
2. Tested setup, ease of use, and dashboard clarity.
3. Analyzed privacy compliance like cookie requirements and third-party data sharing.
4. Compared features, pricing models, and support offerings.
5. Framed my findings for Personal users (bloggers, freelancers), Business users (WooCommerce users) and Agency users (who have multiple clients)

If protecting user data while keeping analytics simple is your priority, Burst Statistics is the best choice by far. Unlike most analytics tools, it doesn’t rely on third-party servers or drop tracking cookies onto your visitors’ browsers. All tracking stays on your own WordPress site, which means you’re in full control of the data. That also means no complicated GDPR consent banners, no hidden scripts sending data to advertising networks, and no legal uncertainty.

Burst is designed for everyday site owners who want the numbers that matter most, without having to wade through the complexity of Google Analytics. The dashboard is clean and built directly into WordPress, so you don’t need to switch between platforms or learn a new reporting tool.

• Fully self-hosted, privacy-first; avoids third-party data sharing
• Clean, lightweight dashboard with the essentials in one place
• Easy to use; minimal setup, no coding needed
• Free core plugin with a Pro tier for advanced reporting
• GDPR-compliant by design, removing the need for cookie banners in most cases

• Doesn’t integrate with Google Ads
• Limited deep segmentation compared to GA-based tools

The core plugin is completely free, making it accessible to anyone starting out. For those who need more advanced features like additional filters, extended reporting, and export options, there’s a Pro version.

Burst is ideal for your WordPress site if you want fast insights without legal headaches. It gives you the data you need to understand how your site is performing, without overwhelming you with unnecessary metrics. If your priority is balancing clarity, performance, and visitor trust, Burst stands out as the strongest privacy-friendly analytics plugin for WordPress.

Burst is built with privacy at its core. All analytics data stays on your own server, making it fully compliant with GDPR and other data regulations.

One of the most popular choices for integrating Google Analytics into WordPress, MonsterInsights strikes a good balance between depth and usability

• Easy install, no code needed
• Real-time reports, e-commerce stats, affiliate tracking
• Site Notes for marking key changes
• Supports GDPR-friendly settings

Cons

• Depends on GA, so you still need cookie banners
• Premium pricing may feel steep for basic users

Paid plans start at around $99/year for a single site. More advanced tiers, which include features like e-commerce tracking, custom dimensions, and support for multiple sites, increase in price depending on your needs.

MonsterInsights is a solid choice if you’re already using Google Analytics and want those reports inside your WordPress dashboard. E-commerce tracking is helpful for online stores. That said, it’s not something I’d pick if privacy was my top concern, and I did feel like the best features were locked behind the higher-priced plans.

ExactMetrics is another plugin built around Google Analytics, but it positions itself as the more lightweight, beginner-friendly alternative to MonsterInsights. I found it quick to set up with GA4, and the dashboard inside WordPress makes the data easier to digest without needing to log into Google’s platform every time.

• Easy and fast Google Analytics setup
• Tracks affiliate links, file downloads, and outbound clicks
• Works well across multiple client sites, which is useful for agencies

• Still relies entirely on Google Analytics, so the same privacy concerns apply
• Some of the most useful reports (like e-commerce tracking and custom dimensions) are only available in the Pro plans

There’s a free version with the basics, but most features are locked behind the premium tiers. Paid plans start at around $99/year and go up to $699/year depending on the features and number of sites you need to cover.

In my experience, ExactMetrics is a decent choice if you’re an agency or freelancer handling several WordPress sites and want an easier way to surface GA data for clients. It offers a simpler setup than MonsterInsights, but pricing ends up in a similar range once you need the advanced features. And since it relies entirely on Google Analytics, the same privacy issues apply, so if GDPR compliance or a privacy-first setup is your priority, I’d still look elsewhere.

WP Statistics is another plugin that avoids Google Analytics completely, keeping all data stored on your own server. It’s been around for a long time and is a familiar name for people who want local, privacy-minded analytics. You get useful insights like referrers, most-viewed pages, and visitor stats without sending any information to third parties.

• Collects traffic data directly on your server
• Provides core insights like referrers, top pages, and user data
• No external connections or cookie management needed

• The interface feels dated compared to more modern plugins
• Can use a lot of server resources on high-traffic sites
• Advanced features require a paid license, which gets expensive quickly

The core plugin is free, but most of the useful features sit behind premium plans. Prices start at $119/year for a single site, $249/year for 5 sites, and $449/year for unlimited sites.

WP Statistics is a solid option if you want to avoid Google Analytics and don’t mind paying for premium add-ons. But in my experience, it feels heavier and less intuitive than newer tools. For the same privacy benefits without the performance trade-offs, or the higher annual cost, I’d personally choose Burst Statistics. It’s lighter, faster, and much easier to manage day to day.

Site Kit is Google’s official WordPress plugin and brings several of their services together in one place. Once installed, you can view data from Google Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, and PageSpeed Insights directly inside your WordPress dashboard. It’s handy if you’re already using multiple Google products and want to centralise reporting without switching between platforms.

• 100% free and officially supported by Google
• Combines GA, Search Console, AdSense, and PageSpeed in one dashboard
• Regularly updated and maintained by Google

Cons

• Interface can be overwhelming, especially for beginners
• Still tied to Google Analytics, so cookie banners and consent management are required
• Not privacy-first, since data is processed through Google’s servers

Site Kit is completely free with no paid tiers, making it attractive for site owners who want access to Google’s ecosystem at no extra cost.

From my perspective, Site Kit is best suited for digital marketers or agencies who are already fluent in Google Analytics and Search Console. It does a good job of pulling everything into WordPress, but it can feel heavy if all you need is straightforward visitor stats. And while the price tag is appealing, it doesn’t offer the simplicity or privacy benefits of a tool like Burst, which keeps everything local and beginner-friendly.

The “best” WordPress analytics plugin really comes down to what you need most, whether that’s simplicity, detailed Google Analytics reports, or a privacy-first setup. MonsterInsights and ExactMetrics are strong picks if you want full GA integration. WP Statistics works well for local data. And Site Kit makes sense if you’re all-in on Google’s tools.

For businesses, bloggers, and site owners who value clarity and compliance, though, Burst Statistics stands out. It gives you the insights that matter without the complexity or legal headaches, making it the easiest way to track your site with peace of mind.