Do you find it hard to really grasp what’s going on with your WordPress site? You might have set up Google Analytics, but its complexity can be daunting, and pinpointing the metrics that truly matter to your business can be tough.
WordPress analytics plugins were developed to address this precise issue.
Google’s Site Kit plugin for WordPress provides a streamlined answer, whereas MonsterInsights is a more complete tool featuring extra capabilities.
The real question is: which plugin empowers you to make smarter choices regarding your website?
We rigorously tested both plugins across multiple WordPress sites over several weeks, assessing which delivers superior insights and a better user experience.
This guide provides a detailed breakdown of each plugin’s features, enabling you to select the one that aligns with your website’s objectives and your technical expertise.
Quick Overview: MonsterInsights vs. Site Kit
If time is short, this quick comparison of MonsterInsights and Site Kit will help you quickly determine which one is best.
| 🥇 MonsterInsights | 🥈 Site Kit | |
| Ease of Use | Dashboard designed for beginners, with intuitive navigation. | Very easy for beginners. |
| Tracking Features | Sophisticated tracking featuring in-depth reports for eCommerce, events, and marketing campaigns. | Basic tracking for core Google Analytics data + Google Search Console + PageSpeed Insights |
| GDPR Compliance | Includes integrated tools to assist with GDPR compliance. | Requires manual setup. |
| 3rd-Party Integrations | WooCommerce, MemberPress, Easy Digital Downloads, WPForms, AIOSEO and more. | Primarily focuses on Google’s suite of tools, notably Analytics and Search Console. |
| Cost Structure | Offers a free version, with enhanced premium plans beginning at $99.60 annually. | Available entirely without charge. |
MonsterInsights Compared to Site Kit: An Overview
Analytics plugins and tools offer insights into your website’s performance and user behavior. Leveraging this information can refine strategies and facilitate goal attainment.
However, some analytics platforms present an overwhelming amount of complex information, which can be difficult to interpret, especially for those new to Google Analytics 4.
Fortunately, WordPress users can simplify GA4 data using plugins like MonsterInsights and Site Kit by Google. These tools display essential metrics directly in your dashboard, eliminating the need for advanced technical skills.
MonsterInsights simplifies connecting to GA4. Once connected, it presents a range of intuitive reports, detailing visitor demographics, including new versus returning users, their countries of origin, and the devices they use.
Real-time statistics are available, providing immediate insights into the number of active visitors on your site at this very moment.
For online stores, it provides simple sales and revenue tracking. Reports are customizable, allowing focus on key areas like top-performing pages or specific audience segments.
Furthermore, MonsterInsights seamlessly integrates with widely used plugins such as WPForms, WooCommerce, and Yoast, establishing it as a valuable tool for WordPress site owners.
Here’s what the MonsterInsights dashboard looks like:
We utilize MonsterInsights and have directly experienced how it simplifies data analytics, greatly easing the process of leveraging data for well-informed choices. Refer to our comprehensive MonsterInsights review for further details.
Conversely, Site Kit is WordPress’s official Google plugin.
It serves as a hub for connecting to and overseeing your Google tools, such as Google Analytics, Search Console, and AdSense, all from your WordPress dashboard.
Site Kit provides essential metrics regarding your traffic, search effectiveness, and revenue. It also offers seamless integration with Google Tag Manager, enabling more sophisticated tracking without the requirement for supplementary plugins.
Related: See our detailed comparison of Google Analytics vs. Jetpack Stats.
Having outlined the fundamentals of MonsterInsights and Site Kit, we will now examine the pivotal elements that we rigorously assessed and investigated to assist you in determining the optimal plugin for your needs.
The topics covered include:
- Ease of Use
- Site Kit’s Ease of Use
- MonsterInsights’ Ease of Use
- Winner – Tie
- Tracking Features
- Site Kit’s Tracking Features
- MonsterInsights’ Tracking Features
- Winner – MonsterInsights
- GDPR Compliance
- Site Kit’s GDPR Compliance
- MonsterInsights’s GDPR Compliance
- Winner – MonsterInsights
- Integrations
- Site Kit’s Integrations
- MonsterInsights’ Integrations
- Winner – MonsterInsights
- Pricing
- Site Kit’s Pricing
- MonsterInsights’ Pricing
- Winner – Site Kit
- MonsterInsights versus Site Kit: A Comparison for WordPress Analytics
- Frequently Asked Questions: MonsterInsights and Site Kit
- Further Reading: Guides to WordPress Analytics
📣 Why Trust CanadaCreate?
The CanadaCreate team consists of WordPress, eCommerce, online marketing, and growth strategy experts.
We possess significant experience with Google Analytics and MonsterInsights, having used various analytics platforms.
We utilize MonsterInsights on our own sites to monitor conversions, referrals, and visitor data, which aids in understanding our audience and refining our approaches.
Tools not used internally undergo rigorous testing and research to guarantee precise, current information for our readers; consult our editorial guidelines for more details.
Let’s begin!
User-Friendliness
An analytics plugin needs to be time-saving and straightforward. We evaluated the installation and daily operation of MonsterInsights and Site Kit.
Site Kit’s User-Friendly Design
Site Kit’s primary advantage lies in its straightforward installation. Install it via the WordPress dashboard by navigating toPlugins » Add New and searching for “Site Kit by Google.”
After locating it, install and activate using the provided instructions.
After activation, a wizard guides you through linking your Google account.
You will also be prompted to grant permissions for services like Google Analytics, Search Console, and AdSense.
🚨 Important: If you don’t already have accounts for these Google services, you’ll need to create them first. For help, see our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress and how to add your WordPress website to Google Search Console.
Once configured, Site Kit offers a streamlined dashboard displaying essential data from all integrated services.
You’ll receive a concise summary of traffic, content effectiveness, and website speed.
Its user-friendliness establishes it as a strong option for novices seeking fundamental insights without added intricacy.
MonsterInsights’ Ease of Use
MonsterInsights is a robust plugin integrating Google Analytics directly into your WordPress dashboard. It simplifies intricate data using straightforward visuals and reports.
We use MonsterInsights every day on CanadaCreate, and it’s just as easy to get started with.
You’ll just need to install the free MonsterInsights plugin, and a setup wizard will walk you through choosing your website category and connecting your Google Analytics account in a few clicks.
🚨 Important: Remember that if you don’t already have a Google Analytics account set up, you will need to do that first. For more information, see our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.
After logging in and granting access, you can select your website profile and complete the connection.
Upon completing the setup wizard, Google Analytics will automatically begin tracking data for your site.
A notable advantage of MonsterInsights is its integrated reporting within your WordPress dashboard. Instead of switching to GA4, you can quickly identify top-performing articles and traffic sources. This speeds up stats review and facilitates data-driven decisions.
MonsterInsights provides reports such as:
- Traffic sourcesDetermine the origin of your visitors, whether from search engines, social platforms, or other websites.
- Visitor locationsIdentify the countries where your audience resides, enabling better content tailoring for regional marketing.
- Device usageUnderstand which devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) your visitors utilize, ensuring optimal site appearance for everyone.
- Top-performing pagesIdentify your most popular content to focus on subjects that resonate with your audience.
You’ll also find specific reports focused on SEO and page speed metrics.
These built-in dashboard reports reduce time spent and simplify the analytics process.
Winner – Tie
Since both plugins simplify Google Analytics setup, the ideal choice hinges on specific needs.
Site Kit’s strength lies in its streamlined approach and limited feature set, making it an excellent starting point. It suits users of other Google services who want fundamental insights without complexity.
Conversely, MonsterInsights offers a broader array of features. While this may require a slightly steeper learning curve initially, it proves intuitive and simpler to navigate than Google Analytics 4 (GA4) once mastered.
Analytics Tools: Tracking Features
While pageview counts offer a basic view, the true benefit of an analytics platform stems from the precision of its data tracking. Here’s a feature-by-feature comparison of MonsterInsights and Site Kit to help you identify the insights necessary for site growth.
Tracking Capabilities Within Site Kit
During our evaluation, Site Kit’s primary report page presented a summary of overall visitor data and traffic origins. A pie chart visualizes these origins, segmented by:
- Traffic Channels:This details organic search traffic, referral links, direct navigation, social media visits, and email campaign click-throughs.
- Geographic Locations:User origin is broken down by country.
- Devices:This shows whether visitors use desktops, smartphones, or tablets.
Further down the page, you can also review reports about popular search terms, pageview statistics, and engagement metrics.
The achievement alerts are a welcome addition. These alerts celebrate traffic milestones, which are a great motivational tool, especially for new website creators.
These alerts are also useful for small to medium-sized businesses looking for additional motivation as they increase their site traffic.
Linking other Google services to Site Kit allows you to view the following reports:
- A traffic report showing clicks and impressions from Google Search Console.
- A keyword analysis showing the most successful search terms on the website.
- A performance analysis of your site’s speed, based on data from PageSpeed Insights.
- A monetization overview displaying revenue from your AdSense account will be available.
While this summary is helpful, it mainly presents data that you can also access directly within those specific platforms.
MonsterInsights’ Tracking Features
MonsterInsights offers impressive tracking features not standard in GA4, positioning it as a preferred tool for many users.
For example, you can readily evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing initiatives, whether via email, social media, or advertisements, allowing you to pinpoint which campaigns generate traffic and conversions.
Furthermore, monitoring your affiliate marketing campaign performance and the actual profitability of your affiliate links becomes straightforward.
This report suits bloggers or anyone who depends on affiliate revenue to assess the effectiveness of their strategies.
The popular post feature identifies your most viewed content and then lets you highlight these popular posts in other areas of your site, like the sidebar or footer.
This is an excellent method to highlight content that resonates with your audience and encourage them to explore your site further.
Moreover, tracking browsers, mobile devices, and form submissions is possible. You can also observe metrics like average scroll depth and real-time data, among others.
Notably, all the functionalities mentioned above are available in the free version of MonsterInsights.
If you opt for the premium version of MonsterInsights, it extends to include sophisticated tracking capabilities that are either not natively supported by Google Analytics or require complex configuration.
A notable addition is the eCommerce extension.
This addon lets you monitor how often users add items to or remove them from their online shopping carts. It provides insights into abandoned cart rates and helps differentiate between first-time and repeat buyers.
You can also pinpoint top-selling products to feature on your landing pages, within advertisements, and in email promotions.
Furthermore, it enables the tracking of poorly performing items so you can launch focused sales initiatives, like upselling or cross-selling.
For those who run online stores, this is much easier than configuring similar eCommerce tracking through Google Tag Manager or by employing a coder.
🚨 Important: If you aren’t using an analytics plugin like MonsterInsights, Google recommends you hire a developer to set up eCommerce tracking in Google Analytics 4. So, MonsterInsights can be a great alternative if you don’t want to deal with the hassle or expense of hiring a professional.
If you produce video content, MonsterInsights provides a Media addon.
The Media addon allows you to monitor the success of all your YouTube and Vimeo videos. The data displayed in WordPress includes video views within WordPress and the number of views on the video hosting platform.
If you offer digital downloads, MonsterInsights allows you to effortlessly monitor file downloads for PDFs, DOCs, ZIP files, and other formats.
This tracking data allows you to determine the most sought-after digital offerings to promote in your marketing activities.
Winner – MonsterInsights
Based on our testing and research, MonsterInsights is the clear leader in the tracking features category. It is highly flexible and offers a wide range of tracking tools for almost every website element. Plus, many of them are free.
Its campaign tracking and affiliate tools are perfect for business websites, while the popular post feature boosts visibility for bloggers.
Meanwhile, if you sell digital downloads or embed videos, it provides valuable insights into their performance.
These features make MonsterInsights the top choice for anyone who needs more than just the basics.
GDPR Compliance
If you’re running a website that serves users in the European Union (EU), following the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is non-negotiable.
When it comes to WordPress plugins, some are better equipped than others to help you stay compliant. Let’s see how Site Kit and MonsterInsights handle this.
Site Kit’s GDPR Compliance
Site Kit helps with GDPR compliance through the WP Consent API. However, you’ll need to enable this feature manually and handle notice and consent requirements yourself.
The good news is that some popular consent software, such as CookieYes, Complianz, GDPR Cookie Compliance, and Cookiebot, work with Site Kit without causing plugin conflicts.
These plugins block data collection until visitors give consent.
MonsterInsights’s GDPR Compliance
MonsterInsights, on the other hand, makes GDPR compliance much simpler.
If you purchase a premium MonsterInsights license, you’ll get access to the EU Compliance addon. This addon helps anonymize user data, such as IP addresses, to align with GDPR requirements.
Plus, the addon integrates with popular cookie consent plugins like WPConsent and Complianz. This allows you to display cookie banners and collect user consent for tracking.
Winner – MonsterInsights
Once again, MonsterInsights takes the lead here, thanks to its EU Compliance addon. All you need to do is install the addon and turn the switch to activate it. No complicated setup.
If privacy compliance is a priority for you (and it should be), MonsterInsights is a more straightforward choice.
🚨 Important: While MonsterInsights and Site Kit provide tools to support GDPR compliance, full compliance depends on how your website handles, processes, and stores data overall. For more information, see our ultimate guide to WordPress and GDPR compliance.
Integrations
Software compatibility can make all the difference in streamlining your analytics and providing deeper insights. So, let’s compare MonsterInsights vs. Site Kit in terms of integrations.
Site Kit’s Integrations
Site Kit offers some great integrations to make tracking your site easier. As you might have guessed, though, these integrations are mainly with other Google tools and services.
For example, it connects with Google Search Console to bring keyword data directly into your WordPress dashboard. You can also link it to Google Ads to track conversions from ad clicks.
One handy Site Kit feature is the ability to automatically install your Google Tag Manager code.
Moreover, its compatibility with Google AdSense streamlines the process of implementing ad monetization code on your site.
MonsterInsights’ Integrations
To enhance your tracking capabilities, MonsterInsights offers integration with a range of different tools.
The plugin links to both Google Search Console and Google Ads.
While it does not provide a direct option to install Google Tag Manager code, it tracks a variety of events typically requiring Tag Manager.
Notably, MonsterInsights extends its integration beyond Google, offering compatibility with numerous other software and services.
For instance, if you’re running an online store, MonsterInsights works seamlessly with WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, MemberPress, and other eCommerce plugins.
By integrating, you can implement Google Analytics eCommerce tracking, unlocking valuable data related to product performance and sales trends.
MonsterInsights includes the Forms addon, which enables the tracking of form views and conversions and is compatible with form plugins such as WPForms.
For advertising campaigns, you can connect Meta (Facebook) by adding your Facebook Pixel ID to monitor ad conversions. Connecting Microsoft Ads using your Tag ID allows for tracking conversions from Bing.
Meanwhile, for affiliate marketing, MonsterInsights pairs with Pretty Links to track clicks on your affiliate links. It also integrates with SEO plugins like All in One SEO (AIOSEO) and Yoast to help you track your focus keywords and measure your SEO performance.
For the complete list, just see the ‘Growth Tools’ menu under ‘Insights.’
Winner – MonsterInsights
After careful consideration, we concluded that MonsterInsights wins for integrations. While Site Kit does a great job connecting with Google tools, MonsterInsights goes above and beyond.
It integrates with more tools, including eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce and MemberPress, as well as popular form plugins like WPForms.
Plus, it pairs with Pretty Links to track affiliate link performance, and it works smoothly with SEO plugins like Yoast and AIOSEO.
So, if you’re looking for a plugin with a wider range of integrations, MonsterInsights is the better choice.
Pricing
When choosing an analytics solution, pricing is an important factor. Let’s break down what you should expect with Site Kit and MonsterInsights.
Site Kit’s Pricing
The Google Site Kit plugin is completely free and open source.
You can connect your WordPress site to key Google services like Google Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, PageSpeed Insights, and Tag Manager – all without paying for the plugin itself.
That said, some of the services you connect with might have their own terms and fees. For example:
- Google Ads requires a budget if you want to run ad campaigns.
- Google Maps Platform may charge fees if you go beyond the free usage limits.
The good news is that most tools, like Google Analytics and Search Console, are free to use.
This makes Site Kit a cost-effective choice for site owners looking to monitor and improve their website.
MonsterInsights’ Pricing
The free version, MonsterInsights Lite, lets you add Google Analytics to WordPress regardless of your budget. You can track key metrics, learn about your audience, and set goals.
For more advanced features like eCommerce tracking, form conversions, or compatibility with plugins like WooCommerce, you’ll need a premium license.
MonsterInsights offers 3 plans to fit different needs, whether you’re a solo blogger or running multiple client sites.
Here’s a breakdown of the plans:
- Plus ($99.60/year for 1 site): Includes standard reports, media and event tracking, and EU compliance tools. Ideal for single-site owners or bloggers.
- Pro ($199.60/year for 5 sites): Adds form, coupon, and eCommerce tracking, plus integrations with MemberPress and WP Charitable. Perfect for online stores and membership sites, with priority support included.
- Agency ($399.60/year for 25 sites): Built for agencies, offering advanced access control, client license management, and multisite support.
Winner – Site Kit
If your focus is on budget, Site Kit takes the win as it’s completely free to use and integrates seamlessly with powerful, no-cost tools like Google Analytics and Search Console.
That said, MonsterInsights provides excellent value for its premium plans. Its additional features, like eCommerce and form tracking, are tailored for businesses and agencies looking for deeper insights and advanced integrations.
While it’s not free, the pricing is affordable, considering the wide range of advanced tools you get.
MonsterInsights vs. Site: Which One Is Better?
So, who wins when it comes to MonsterInsights vs. Site Kit?
Ultimately, it comes down to what you need right now.
If you’re just starting out and want a simple, free way to see your Google Analytics data, Site Kit is a good choice. It’s easy to set up and works well for personal blogs or smaller websites. Plus, it includes data from PageSpeed Insights, Google Search Console, and Google AdSense.
But if you’re looking for something that can do more, then MonsterInsights is the way to go.
It’s packed with powerful features, offers deeper insights, and connects seamlessly with tons of other tools. Whether you’re running a store, growing a business, or need smarter insights, MonsterInsights has you covered.
Furthermore, MonsterInsights is hands-down the better option for overall value and flexibility. Especially if you want a tool that grows with your website.
🚨 Looking for another alternative? Consider using OnePageGA, a simple dashboard that makes Google Analytics 4 easy for beginners. No plugins, no coding – just instant, clear reports with 25+ pre-made options, eCommerce tracking, and custom funnels. For an in-depth breakdown, you can head over to our comprehensive OnePageGA review.
MonsterInsights vs. Site Kit FAQs
Choosing the right analytics tool for your WordPress site can feel tricky. Here are the answers to frequently asked questions to help you decide:
Is MonsterInsights free?
Yes, MonsterInsights offers a free version with basic features. But you can also unlock advanced tools and insights by upgrading to a premium plan. For example, you’ll get eCommerce tracking and tons more powerful integrations.
Is MonsterInsights the same as Google Analytics?
No, MonsterInsights is a plugin that connects your WordPress site to Google Analytics 4, making it easier to view and understand analytics data directly from your dashboard. It also comes with powerful WordPress features and integrations that aren’t available in Google Analytics.
How do I download Google Site Kit?
You can download Site Kit for free from the WordPress plugin repository or directly from your WordPress admin area by searching for ‘Site Kit by Google’ under Plugins » Add New.
Will Site Kit work with eCommerce tools like WooCommerce?
Yes, Site Kit integrates with WooCommerce, but it might lack the detailed eCommerce tracking features that MonsterInsights provides in its premium version.
Why do I need an analytics plugin?
An analytics plugin helps you track website performance, understand visitor behavior, and make data-driven decisions – all without needing to log in to external platforms. This can make it a lot easier to use your data to help grow and improve your site. Without data analytics, it will be much harder to refine your strategies.
Will analytics plugins slow down my website?
When properly configured, analytics plugins like MonsterInsights and Site Kit won’t significantly impact your website’s performance. That said, regularly monitoring your site speed and only using optimized plugins is a good idea.
💡 Note: Are you worried that slow-loading pages are damaging the user experience? Check out our ultimate guide to WordPress speed and performance.
Should I use MonsterInsights, Google Site Kit, or Google Analytics?
It depends on your needs. MonsterInsights is great for user-friendly analytics in WordPress, while Site Kit offers direct Google integration. Google Analytics is the core tool both plugins rely on, but it requires more manual setup if used alone.
Additional Resources: WordPress Analytics Guides
That’s it! We hope this article has helped you learn more about MonsterInsights vs. Site Kit.
Next, you might want to check out our guides on:
- Website Marketing Data You Must Track
- GA4 vs Universal Analytics: What’s the Difference?
- How to Easily See Your Blog Stats
- How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies
- How to Easily Do Visual Regression Testing in WordPress
- How to Do A/B Split Testing in WordPress
- How to Block WordPress Referrer Spam in Google Analytics
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