ExactMetrics vs Site Kit by Google
Updated 10 Oct 2026. 27 features compared side by side.
Freemium Google Analytics dashboard plugin from Awesome Motive, a close sibling of MonsterInsights, adding GA4 tracking and reports to WordPress.
Google's free official plugin that connects Analytics, Search Console, Tag Manager, AdSense and PageSpeed Insights and shows their data in WordPress.
Choose ExactMetrics if…
- You need real-time stats
- You want the more complete feature set (82/100 vs 70/100)
Choose Site Kit by Google if…
- You need Google Tag manager
- You prefer the more widely used option
- You weigh user ratings (4.2 vs 2.5 on WordPress.org)
ExactMetrics includes 1 feature that Site Kit by Google lacks, including Real-time stats; Site Kit by Google has 1 that ExactMetrics lacks, including Google Tag Manager. Both include 23 of the 27 features we track.
At a glance
Feature comparison
Click a screenshot to see both plugins side by side.
ExactMetrics Site Kit by GoogleTracking setup4/74/7
Connects a GA4 property via Google sign-in and inserts the tracking code without editing files.
Creates or connects a GA4 property during setup and places the Google tag automatically.
Data is collected by Google Analytics and pulled back into WordPress; nothing stored locally.
Shows data from Google services; nothing is tracked or stored in your own database.
Relies on Google Analytics cookies; the EU Compliance add-on handles consent instead.
Uses Google Analytics, which sets cookies; consent mode can limit this until consent.
Realtime report requires the Plus plan or higher.
Docs state the dashboard does not include real-time data; use analytics.google.com for that.
Doesn't insert GTM containers; the vendor's own GTM guide uses the separate WPCode plugin.
Tag Manager module creates or connects a GTM container and inserts its snippet.
Paid eCommerce and form events go to GA4 through the Measurement Protocol; pageviews use gtag.
Google tag gateway serves measurement through a script on your own domain; tracking still starts in the browser.
Adds Google's gtag.js plus its own tracking script; no lightweight mode advertised.
Adds Google's standard gtag.js; no plugin-specific tracker, but the Google tag is not small.
Events & ecommerce7/77/7
Outbound, download, email and phone link clicks are tracked automatically; Publishers report needs Plus.
Relies on GA4 Enhanced Measurement for downloads and outbound clicks; custom events via GTM or GA4.
Forms add-on and report track WPForms, Gravity Forms, Formidable, CF7 and more.
Plugin conversion tracking records leads from CF7, WPForms, Ninja Forms, Mailchimp, OptinMonster and Popup Maker.
Enhanced eCommerce for WooCommerce, EDD and MemberPress with an eCommerce report.
Conversion tracking sends WooCommerce and EDD events to GA4/Ads; no dedicated revenue report in WordPress.
Campaigns and Source/Medium reports and a Smart URL Builder come with Plus.
Traffic widget breaks visits down by channel; there is no UTM campaign report in the dashboard.
Form conversion and eCommerce conversion reports are in the Pro plan.
Site goals and conversion key metrics summarise leads and sales from GA4 conversion events.
Custom Dimensions add-on tracks authors, categories, tags, post types, SEO score and focus keyword.
Key metrics for top authors and categories; Site Kit creates the needed GA4 custom dimensions.
Scroll tracking is listed under the Plus plan's standard tracking.
Only via GA4 Enhanced Measurement's scroll event; no scroll report in WordPress.
Reports in WordPress8/88/8
Overview report and dashboard widget in Lite; Traffic, Publishers and other reports need Plus.
Site Kit dashboard plus a WordPress dashboard widget show Analytics, Search Console and speed data.
Overview report includes top posts and pages; dedicated Pages report is a Plus feature.
Top content widget lists pages with pageviews, sessions and engagement rate.
Overview shows top referral sources; Source/Medium report requires Plus.
Shows traffic by channel (referral, organic, social, direct) rather than a list of referring sites.
Overview covers top countries and device breakdown; Technology report needs Plus.
Traffic chart splits visits by top countries and by desktop, mobile and tablet.
Page Insights add-on (admin bar and post list stats) requires Plus or higher.
Admin toolbar shows users, sessions, impressions and clicks for the page you are viewing.
Search Keywords report is listed in the Plus plan.
Search Console is a core module: impressions, clicks and top search queries in WordPress.
Lite users get a monthly summary email; weekly brandable summaries are listed in Plus.
Weekly, monthly or quarterly email reports for any user with dashboard access.
Brandable PDF exports are part of the Plus plan.
Export PDF from the dashboard header, choosing which sections to include; no CSV export documented.
Privacy & admin5/55/5
EU Compliance add-on and Privacy Guard are included from the Plus plan.
Built-in Google consent mode toggle and compatibility with consent plugins such as Complianz and CookieYes.
Admins and editors are excluded by default; more roles can be added under Permissions.
Logged-in users are excluded from Analytics tracking by default; this can be changed.
No plugin-level filter; GA4 automatically excludes known bots and spiders.
No plugin-level filter; GA4 automatically excludes known bots and spiders.
Permissions settings choose which roles can see reports or save settings; advanced control is Agency.
Dashboard sharing grants view-only access per service to roles with edit_posts.
WordPress Multisite support is listed on the Agency plan.
Multisite networks are not supported; it can be activated and set up on each site individually.
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Pricing compared
ExactMetrics Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Lite | Free per year, Unlimited |
| Plus | $199 per year, 1 site |
| Pro | $399 per year, 5 sites |
| Agency | $799 per year, 25 sites |
| More Sites | $1,399 per year, 100 sites |
Site Kit by Google Free
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Free | Free per year, Unlimited |
Downloads trend
ExactMetrics
16,605 downloads last week
Site Kit by Google
509,221 downloads last week
Verdict
ExactMetrics scores higher on our feature checklist (82/100 against 70/100) and includes real-time stats that Site Kit by Google does not. Site Kit by Google still has the edge on Google Tag manager. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Biggest differences
ExactMetrics: paid version (Plus). Site Kit by Google: not included. Realtime report requires the Plus plan or higher.
ExactMetrics: not included. Site Kit by Google: included. Tag Manager module creates or connects a GTM container and inserts its snippet.
Written from the feature, pricing and install data on this page, not from hands-on testing. How we compare.
Which would you choose?
0 votes so far. Vote to see the results.
Compare something else
FAQ
Which is better, ExactMetrics or Site Kit by Google?
ExactMetrics scores higher on our feature checklist (82/100 against 70/100) and includes real-time stats that Site Kit by Google does not. Site Kit by Google still has the edge on Google Tag manager. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Which has more features?
They are level: both include 24 of the 27 analytics plugins features we track.
Is ExactMetrics free?
ExactMetrics has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $199/yr.
Is Site Kit by Google free?
Site Kit by Google has a free version on WordPress.org.
Feature data last changed 10 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit to ExactMetrics or Site Kit by Google. Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you; it never affects our data or rankings.