MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… vs WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
MonsterInsights – Google Analytics…
2.0M+ active installs
Free
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly…
600K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… has a higher user rating (4.6/5 from 3,125 reviews) and leads in active installations (2.0M+ vs 600K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… has accumulated 260M+ total downloads while WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… has 35M+. MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 47%).
Expert Insight
As of February 2026, MonsterInsights and WP Statistics represent two different approaches to WordPress analytics. MonsterInsights (2M active installs, 4.6★) deeply integrates Google Analytics 4 and offers AI-powered reports, eCommerce tracking, and PPC attribution starting at $99.50/year. WP Statistics (600K installs, 4.1★) is completely self-hosted and privacy-friendly, storing 100% of data locally, with premium features like UTM tracking, REST API, and Search Console integration from $119/year. MonsterInsights wins on user satisfaction and support quality (100% ticket resolution vs. 82%), while WP Statistics leads in data privacy and independence. MonsterInsights suits marketers and online stores relying on GA4 insights, whereas WP Statistics fits publishers and privacy-conscious organizations that avoid external data sharing. Both have free tiers, but MonsterInsights invests more in usability and dashboard polish, while WP Statistics appeals to developers preferring raw ownership of data.
Analysis by PluginSift editorial team
Who Should Use Which?
Overall Recommendation
MonsterInsights — stronger user satisfaction, broader integrations, and enterprise-grade analytics features make it the more polished plugin for most site owners.
Best for Beginners
MonsterInsights — its no-code setup wizard, simplified GA4 management, and friendly dashboard make it ideal for beginners wanting instant insights.
Best for Developers
WP Statistics — open-source, REST API endpoints, and full local data storage appeal to developers requiring privacy and extensibility.
Best for Budget
MonsterInsights — while its paid plans start at $99.50/year, its free version already provides useful analytics for small sites without paying for upgrades.
Best for WooCommerce
MonsterInsights — its built-in eCommerce tracking, product performance reports, and funnel analytics outperform WP Statistics’ local-only system.
Pricing Comparison
MonsterInsights offers a freemium model starting at $99.50/year (Plus), $199.50 (Pro), and $299.50 (Elite). WP Statistics Premium starts at $119/year (Single Site) up to $449/year (Unlimited). MonsterInsights’ plans emphasize GA4, AI insights, and eCommerce tracking, while WP Statistics focuses on REST API, Search Console, and UTM analytics. MonsterInsights offers slightly better value for marketers leveraging Google’s ecosystem; WP Statistics better serves privacy-first or on-prem installations.
Pricing verified as of April 2026
Feature Comparison
MonsterInsights excels in GA4 integration, eCommerce tracking, affiliate link reporting, and AI-powered analytics, supported by WooCommerce, WPForms, Yoast, and more. WP Statistics focuses on privacy-first tracking with local data storage, compliance features, and role-based analytics. Its premium add-ons provide REST API and campaign tracking. In short: MonsterInsights dominates in marketing analytics depth, while WP Statistics wins in privacy and self-hosted flexibility.
Compatibility Notes
Both plugins support Multisite, Gutenberg, and multilingual setups. MonsterInsights uniquely supports WooCommerce and numerous SEO and form integrations, while WP Statistics exposes a REST API and integrates with consent tools like Cookiebot and Complianz. WP Statistics’ PHP requirement (7.4) is slightly higher than MonsterInsights’ (7.2), but both run reliably on modern WordPress 6.9+ environments.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… | WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ◄ | 4.1/5 |
| Total Reviews | 3,125 | ◄ | 750 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 600K+ |
| Total Downloads | 260M+ | ◄ | 35M+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | ◄ | 47% |
| Last Updated | 4 days ago | ◄ | 2 weeks ago |
| First Released | 2007 | 2011 | |
| Age | 19 years | 15 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.6.0+ | 6.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.2+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 10.1.2 | 14.16.4 |
Rating Breakdown
MonsterInsights – Google Analytics…
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly…
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… averaged approximately 170,903 daily downloads while WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… averaged 10,538.
Recent Reviews
MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… Reviews
Excellent plugin with great support
MonsterInsights is one of those plugins that are really helpful, even the Lite version. Together with that, provides excellent support and tutorials that are clear and direct. Recommended.
Good Tracking Tool
Really helpful plugin for basic analytics. Setup was easy & UI is clean. Got useful insights without much hassle. Sometimes feels a bit limited in the free version, but overall works well 👍
Awesome product!
Very useful tool, very versatile, highly recommended.
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… Reviews
Thank you
I like it, just what I wanted, you cannot expect more for free!
Great Analytics Plugin
I have been using this since 2025, even on big websites. It is easy to set up and privacy-friendly. You can use it without cookie and without cookie-opt-in. Currently I would choose this over Matomo.
very good
very good
More Google Analytics Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… and WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly…
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Provides integration between Google Analytics and WooCommerce.
A simple WordPress analytics plugin that is privacy-friendly, fast, and an alternative to Google Analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MonsterInsights – Google Analytics… or WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… more popular?
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What is the difference between MonsterInsights and WP Statistics?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.