MonsterInsights
Google Analytics for WordPress. Connect GA4, view reports inside the WP admin, no JavaScript editing.
- Lighthouse
- 92 / 100 Tested June 1, 2026
- Accessibility
- WCAG AA
- Open CVEs
- 0
- Last release
- May 30, 2026 v8.27.1
- WP.org rating
- 4.5
MonsterInsights is the most-installed WordPress Google Analytics plugin. Connect a Google Analytics 4 property in two clicks, view summary reports inside the WordPress admin, and add ecommerce or form tracking without touching JavaScript. Owned by Awesome Motive (Syed Balkhi's product family), formerly known as Yoast Google Analytics before the 2016 acquisition.
Pros
- Easiest GA4 connection of any WordPress analytics plugin
- In-admin reporting saves trips to the GA dashboard for daily ops
- Active maintainership under Awesome Motive
- Free tier covers basic page-view tracking adequately
Cons
- Pro tier is required for ecommerce, form, and custom dimension tracking
- Aggressive Awesome Motive upsell flow across admin screens
- Some sites prefer direct Google Analytics installation for full control over the GA snippet
Pick MonsterInsights when you want the fastest path from zero to working GA4 on a WordPress site and you value in-admin reports over the full GA dashboard.
Avoid for sites with complex analytics needs that benefit from direct GA4 setup, or for budget-conscious teams that find the Pro tier overkill.
Frequently asked questions
- Is MonsterInsights free?
- Yes for the base tier (basic GA4 connection and summary reports). MonsterInsights Pro ($99+/year) adds ecommerce tracking, form tracking, custom dimensions, and the broader integration list.
- Do I need MonsterInsights if I have GA4 set up?
- No, strictly speaking. You can install GA4 directly via gtag.js or Google Tag Manager and view reports at analytics.google.com. MonsterInsights adds in-admin reporting and simplifies the GA4 connection. For non-technical site owners, the convenience is real.
- Who owns MonsterInsights?
- Awesome Motive (Syed Balkhi's product family), since 2016. Originally branded as Yoast Google Analytics before the acquisition. Now lives alongside WPForms, AIOSEO, and OptinMonster in the same product family.
- MonsterInsights vs ExactMetrics?
- ExactMetrics is the same engine sold under a different brand by the same vendor. Identical features and pricing structure; the dual brand exists for historical and channel reasons. Pick either.
Recent releases
- v8.27.1 May 30, 2026
GA4 enhanced ecommerce improvements
- v8.27.0 April 22, 2026
New: Search Console integration in Pro
- v8.26.3 March 15, 2026
Patch release
- v8.26.2 February 8, 2026
Maintenance release
- v8.26.1 January 12, 2026
WordPress 6.8 compatibility
- v8.26.0 November 20, 2025
Refreshed reports UI
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Performance testing
Tested on Kinsta Starter (Google Cloud C3D, Iowa). Configuration: MonsterInsights default settings + GA4 connected, Twenty Twenty-Four theme, mobile, 4G simulated, cold cache. 5 runs, median reported. Raw Lighthouse JSON downloadable on request.
Vulnerability tracking
Open and recently closed CVE counts pulled from Patchstack and Wordfence Intelligence on every build. Last disclosure date reflects the most recent public CVE for this plugin, not necessarily the most recent vendor patch.