GA Google Analytics vs Fathom for

At a glance

Plugin A

GA Google Analytics – Connect Google Analytics to WordPress

Adds Google Analytics tracking code to your WordPress site. Supports many tracking features.

Rating

4.9/5

Active Installs 400K+

Author Jeff Starr

Version v20260421

Last Updated Apr 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Plugin B

Fathom Analytics for WP

Fathom is a simple, GDPR compliant Google Analytics alternative.

Rating

4.8/5

Active Installs 10K+

Author Conva Ventures

Version v3.3.1

Last Updated Nov 2025

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

GA Google Analytics vs Fathom Analytics for WP: Key Statistics
Metric	GA Google Analytics	Fathom Analytics for WP
Requires WP	4.7+	4.5+
Requires PHP	5.6.20+	5.4+
Tested up to WP	7.0	6.8.5
Plugin age	14 yrs	8 yrs

Quick Verdict

Choose GA Google Analytics. It holds 40x more installs than Fathom Analytics for WP, which signals proven reliability for e-commerce setups. For developers needing accurate event tracking, Google Tag Manager support, and GDPR consent mode v2 compatibility, GA Google Analytics delivers the depth Fathom cannot match. Fathom prioritizes privacy simplicity, but it lacks the server-side tracking and WooCommerce purchase accuracy required for conversion attribution at scale.

Feature Comparison: GA Google Analytics vs Fathom Analytics for WP

Functional feature comparison for WordPress analytics plugins
Feature	GA Google Analytics	Fathom Analytics for WP
GA4 event tracking depth (pageview vs ecommerce vs custom)	Supports pageview, ecommerce events, and custom events via GA4 configuration	Pageview tracking only; no ecommerce or custom event support
Google Tag Manager support	Built-in GTM container integration	No GTM support; uses direct Fathom snippet
GDPR consent mode v2 compatibility	Native consent mode v2 integration with Google tags	GDPR-compliant by design (no cookies required), but no consent mode v2 API
WooCommerce purchase and add-to-cart tracking accuracy	Captures purchase events, add_to_cart, and checkout funnel steps via GA4	Does not track WooCommerce-specific events
Server-side tracking support	Compatible with Google Tag Manager server-side container	No server-side tracking capability
Admin reporting dashboard inside WordPress	Displays GA4 real-time stats and top metrics in WP admin	No admin dashboard; data viewed on Fathom's external platform
Custom dimension and metric support	Supports custom dimensions and metrics via GA4	No custom dimension or metric support
Multi-site network support	Network-wide tracking code management	Per-site snippet installation required

Who Should Use GA Google Analytics

Teams running WooCommerce stores who need accurate add-to-cart and purchase event attribution, 94% of reviewers give it 5 stars, confirming reliability for conversion tracking.
Developers who want to add google analytics tracking code wordpress without modifying theme files, while keeping Google Tag Manager access for custom triggers and variables.
Agency owners managing multiple client sites who require a single plugin to enable enhanced ecommerce tracking wordpress and server-side data streams for consent mode v2 compliance.

Who Should Use Fathom Analytics for WP

Sites where GDPR compliance is the primary constraint and page-level metrics suffice, Fathom processes data without cookies, eliminating consent banners entirely.
Content publishers who want a best google analytics alternative wordpress with a clean, external dashboard that shows visitors and top pages without any event configuration.
Developers testing privacy analytics wordpress workflows who need a drop-in snippet replacement and do not require WooCommerce funnel data or custom event definitions.

Community & Support

GA Google Analytics holds a 94% five-star rating from 158 reviews, with only 2% one-star ratings. Fathom Analytics for WP shows 96% five-star ratings from 24 reviews and 4% one-star ratings. Both plugins had zero open support threads in the last two months, indicating stable releases that require minimal troubleshooting.

Verdict: GA Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics for WP for GDPR-compliant ecommerce tracking and conversion attribution?

Pick GA Google Analytics if you need WooCommerce purchase funnel accuracy, server-side tracking, and consent mode v2 compliance. With 40x more installs than Fathom Analytics for WP and a 94% five-star rating, it handles the event depth required for conversion attribution. Pick Fathom Analytics for WP if you operate a content site where pageviews are your only metric and you want zero-cookie analytics by default. For e-commerce setups with revenue tracking requirements, GA Google Analytics is the data-backed choice.

How this comparison was made

This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Q How many people use GA Google Analytics compared to Fathom Analytics for WP?

GA Google Analytics has 400K+ active installs while Fathom Analytics for WP has 10K+, meaning GA Google Analytics is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — GA Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics for WP?

GA Google Analytics averages 4.9/5 from 158 reviews, while Fathom Analytics for WP averages 4.8/5 from 24 reviews — GA Google Analytics has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — GA Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics for WP?

GA Google Analytics was last updated on Apr 21, 2026 and Fathom Analytics for WP on Nov 18, 2025, so GA Google Analytics received the more recent update.

Q Are GA Google Analytics and Fathom Analytics for WP both free?

Yes — both GA Google Analytics and Fathom Analytics for WP are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.

Q Is GA Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics for WP better for GDPR-compliant ecommerce tracking and conversion attribution?

GA Google Analytics is better for detailed ecommerce tracking and conversion attribution because it integrates directly with Google's ecosystem, including Enhanced Ecommerce for WooCommerce. Fathom Analytics for WP is the stronger choice for GDPR compliance since it is privacy-friendly by design, stores no personal data, and requires no cookie consent banners. Most users running a WooCommerce store who need deep sales funnel data should pick GA Google Analytics, while those prioritizing privacy should pick Fathom Analytics for WP.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — GA Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics for WP?

Fathom Analytics for WP is easier for a beginner because it requires no Google account, no tracking code configuration, and works out of the box with a simple API key. GA Google Analytics forces you to create a Google Analytics property, find your tracking ID, and paste it into the plugin settings, which can confuse new users. Most beginners report getting Fathom Analytics for WP running in under two minutes.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between GA Google Analytics and Fathom Analytics for WP?

The biggest difference is that GA Google Analytics gives you unlimited, granular data like user-level session recordings, custom event tracking, and real-time reports, but it tracks everything including personal data. Fathom Analytics for WP deliberately limits data collection to only anonymous pageviews and events, making it fully GDPR-compliant without a cookie banner. You trade depth of data for simplicity and privacy.

Q Can you switch from GA Google Analytics to Fathom Analytics for WP (or the other way) without losing data?

No, you cannot migrate historical data between the two because they store data on completely separate servers with incompatible data structures. GA Google Analytics keeps your data in Google's cloud, while Fathom Analytics for WP stores it on its own EU-based servers. You will need to start fresh with the new plugin, though you can run both simultaneously for a transition period to compare new data.

Q Which type of site should choose GA Google Analytics, and which should choose Fathom Analytics for WP?

Choose GA Google Analytics if you run an ecommerce store, a large content site, or any site that needs detailed audience demographics, custom funnels, and integration with Google Ads. Choose Fathom Analytics for WP if you run a personal blog, a small business site, or any site where visitor privacy is a priority and you only need basic stats like pageviews and top referrers. Most privacy-conscious users and European site owners pick Fathom Analytics for WP.