WordPress powers more than a third of all websites, yet it does not include built-in analytics. To track visitor behavior, you need either a plugin or a manually inserted tracking snippet. Here is a guide to the best options available.

How to Check Your WordPress Blog Stats

You have two main paths: install a dedicated analytics plugin, or manually add a tracking script to your theme files. With WordPress, you have extensive choices -- some plugins are WordPress-native while others connect to external services.

Google Analytics for WordPress

Site Kit by Google

The official WordPress plugin from Google integrates your site with Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Google Search Console, and other Google services. It is used on over one million sites and is free.

Reasons to Consider Alternatives

It is owned by the largest advertising technology company in the world
The tracking script is heavy and impacts page load speed
The complexity is unnecessary for most website owners
It creates GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulation compliance challenges
Ad blockers and privacy-focused browsers frequently block it

Best Analytics Plugin Alternatives

Jetpack Site Stats

Made by the same team behind WordPress.com. Installed on over five million sites, it includes a lightweight analytics script with total view counts, top referrers, search terms, and top posts.

Koko Analytics

A simple, privacy-first, WordPress-native analytics plugin. No external services, cookies can be disabled, and it features an extremely lightweight 126-byte script.

Matomo Analytics

A self-hosted, open-source alternative to Google Analytics with over 70 individual reports and hundreds of metrics.

Privacy-Focused Analytics Tools

Several newer analytics tools focus on simplicity, privacy, and lightweight performance. These avoid cookies and cross-site tracking, making them compliant with privacy regulations without requiring consent banners.

Insert Headers and Footers

This utility plugin lets you insert any code into your site header without editing theme files. It works with any analytics service.

Adding Analytics Without a Plugin

Navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor, select your current theme, locate the header.php file, and paste your tracking code between the <head> tags. Note that you will need to repeat this process whenever you update your theme, unless you create a child theme.