WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… vs Hotjar (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly…
600K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… has a higher user rating (4.1/5 from 750 reviews) and leads in active installations (600K+ vs 70K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… has accumulated 35M+ total downloads while Hotjar has 1.1M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… | Hotjar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ◄ | 2.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 750 | ◄ | 18 |
| Active Installs | 600K+ | ◄ | 70K+ |
| Total Downloads | 35M+ | ◄ | 1.1M+ |
| Support Resolution | 47% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 weeks ago | ◄ | 2 years ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2019 | |
| Age | 15 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.6+ | 4.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 14.16.4 | 1.0.16 |
Rating Breakdown
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly…
Hotjar
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… averaged approximately 10,414 daily downloads while Hotjar averaged 89.
Recent Reviews
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
Hotjar Reviews
Used to be good
…Now it won’t even correctly verify the installation. The tracking script was in my website yet the HotJar control panel claimed over and over that it wasn’t when I tried to verify the installation. I
doesn’t work
the plugin states connection is verified on all pages I checked. The site says I need to complete the installation before continuing.
My favourite analytics application
I have already tried a few analytics applications. However, I never found the right one. hotjar is easy to use and provides considerable insights even in the free version. Super. I can only recommend
More Insights Worth Comparing
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… or Hotjar more popular?
Which has better ratings — WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… or Hotjar?
Are WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… and Hotjar free?
Which plugin has better support — WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly… or Hotjar?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.