Head-to-head · October 2026
GA Google Analytics vs Universal Analytics
GA Google Analytics comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Universal Analytics.
GA Google Analytics
✨ Connects Google Analytics to WordPress ✨ Easily add Google Analytics 4 to your web pages
Universal Analytics
With Google’s Universal Analytics officialy out of beta, there is no better time to start using Universal…
| Metric | GA Google Analytics | Universal Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 400K+ | 50+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 43K | 86 |
| Download trend | -50.5% | +48.3% |
| Rating | 4.9/5 | 3/5 |
| Reviews | 158 | 2 |
| Health score | 89/100 | 26/100 |
| Last updated | 2 months ago | 11 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 4.4.34 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6.20+ | Any |
| First released | Nov 2012 | May 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
GA Google AnalyticsUniversal Analytics
Choose GA Google Analytics if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 400K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 158 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose Universal Analytics if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (50+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.4 (latest is 7.1)
FAQ
GA Google Analytics vs Universal Analytics: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 12, 2026
Which is better, GA Google Analytics or Universal Analytics?
GA Google Analytics comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Universal Analytics. Choose GA Google Analytics if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Universal Analytics if you care most about download trend.
Is GA Google Analytics more popular than Universal Analytics?
GA Google Analytics is the more popular of the two with 400K+ active installs, compared with 50+ for Universal Analytics.
Can I use GA Google Analytics and Universal Analytics together?
Both plugins cover analytics, google and tracking, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are GA Google Analytics and Universal Analytics free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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