Looking for a way to add Google Analytics tracking code to WordPress without a plugin?
Setting up Google Analytics on WordPress helps you track your website traffic and provides valuable insights about your visitors.
Let’s take a look at how to add your Analytics tracking code to WordPress without a plugin.
Table of Contents
- Video Walkthrough
- Why You Might Want to Add Google Analytics Without a Plugin
- Drawbacks of Adding Google Analytics Without a Plugin
- Recommended Method for Adding Analytics to WordPress (2 Steps)
- Add Google Analytics to WordPress Without a Plugin
Video Walkthrough
Why Add Google Analytics Tracking Code to WordPress Without a Plugin?
There are a few reasons why WordPress website owners might think they want to add Google Analytics to WordPress without using a plugin.
First, they might be concerned that they’re using too many plugins. Using too many plugins that aren’t optimized well can slow down your WordPress site (although properly optimized plugins shouldn’t slow it down).
Second, they might also be concerned about the price of using a Google Analytics plugin. Although there are definitely benefits to paying for a Pro version, a free version can help you get Google Analytics installed and running well, too.
Third, they might know how to install the Google Analytics code, so they feel like they don’t need a plugin to get set up. Even if you know how to install Google Analytics, though, that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from extra features in Google Analytics plugins.
Drawbacks of Adding Google Analytics Without a Plugin
If you’re planning on adding Google Analytics without a plugin, then here’s why it may not be the best choice for your site.
1. It’s Not as Easy as It Seems
Adding Google Analytics to your site without a plugin is not as easy as with a plugin. That’s because you’ll have to paste the tracking code in the header of your website. This means editing code, which can be a challenge for beginners.
Any mistake you make while adding the tracking snippet can mess up your analytics or even bring down your entire website.
Plus, if you want to enable additional tracking reports such as file download tracking or eCommerce tracking, again you’ll have to manually tweak your theme’s template. With a plugin, on the other hand, enabling such reports is a breeze.
2. You May Lose the Tracking Code
If you decide to switch your website themes or upgrade your existing one, you will have to add the Analytics tracking code again to your new theme.
More often than not, website owners forget to preserve the code while upgrading their theme.
This will leave gaps in the data and lead to inaccurate reporting. And you could be missing out on important user insights while the tracking code wasn’t present on your site.
3. You Miss Powerful Analytics Features
Adding Google Analytics without a plugin means you’ll miss powerful features like media tracking, custom dimensions, file download tracking, affiliate tracking, form conversions, outbound link clicks, and more.
Without a plugin, it’s very time-consuming to set up these features on your WordPress site.
Plus, if you have an online store or sell a product on your site, you’ll also miss out on eCommerce tracking (unless you go through a complicated setup via Google Tag Manager), meaning you won’t get to track your revenue or which products customers buy the most.
So, what’s the best way to add Google Analytics to your WordPress site?
Recommended Method for Adding Analytics to WordPress
The easiest method for adding Google Analytics to WordPress is through a plugin like MonsterInsights. It’s the best WordPress analytics plugin out there.
It makes it incredibly easy to set up tracking, and with MonsterInsights, you don’t have to worry about all the drawbacks of implementing Analytics without using a plugin.
Plus, MonsterInsights lets you set up advanced tracking features with just a few clicks, such as:
To start, just follow these simple steps to add Analytics to your website.
Step 1: Sign Up for Google Analytics
First, you will need to sign up for Google Analytics. You can use an existing Google account to sign up for Analytics or create a new one.
Step 2: Connect Analytics to WordPress with MonsterInsights
Next, you can install and activate MonsterInsights on your WordPress website.
Get started at the best license level for your site, or start with the free version of MonsterInsights.
Once the plugin is up and running, all you have to do is use its setup wizard to add Google Analytics to WordPress without editing code.
You can read how to properly set up Google Analytics in WordPress with MonsterInsights.
After you’ve added Google Analytics, MonsterInsights will bring all your important data inside your WordPress admin area. You can then use its dashboard reports to see how your site performs and uncover insights about your visitors.
Now, if you’d rather set up Google Analytics without a plugin, follow the step-by-step guide below.
Add Google Analytics to WordPress Without a Plugin: Tutorial
Before we get started, make sure to back up your WordPress theme, so that in case something goes wrong, you can easily revert it.
You’ll be directly editing the code that outputs your site, so a mistake as small as a misplaced comma could bring down your whole site. Be sure to make a backup just in case.
Step 1: Get Your Google Analytics Tracking Code
Log into your Google Analytics account and select the website for which you need the tracking code.
Click on the Admin Cog in the left taskbar.
Click Data Streams, then choose the one you need.
Head to Tagging Instructions » Global Site Tag to copy your Google Analytics script.
Step 2: Where to Add Google Analytics Tracking Code in WordPress
There are two options for where to add Google Analytics code in WordPress: header.php and functions.php.
Option 1 – header.php
The first place you can add your tracking code to your website is in your header file.
Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance » Theme Editor. Now click the Theme Header (header.php) file on the right-hand side below the Theme Files section.
Paste the tracking code you just copied from your Analytics profile before the closing tag.
Then click Update File.
Option 2: functions.php
Your other option for adding Google Analytics code to your site without a plugin is by inserting some code in your functions.php file:
add_action('wp_footer', 'add_googleanalytics');
function add_googleanalytics() { ?>
// Paste your Google Analytics code here
?>
Note: If you decide you could use a lightweight plugin for this step, check out WPCode, the most popular code snippets plugin for WordPress.
That’s it!
You’ve just learned how to add Google Analytics to WordPress without a plugin.
But if you’re looking for a simpler method, then MonsterInsights is the best solution. It’s one of the most popular Google Analytics WordPress plugins and makes it super simple to connect your site with Analytics.
Get Started with MonsterInsights Today!
If you’re still wondering whether it’s a good idea to install Google Analytics without a plugin, you should check out our post on whether MonsterInsights is worth it.
If you liked this guide, you might also want to check out:
MonsterInsights vs. Google Analytics – What’s the Real Difference?
How to Set Up Google Analytics Click Tracking
Google Analytics Reports: The Ultimate Guide (GA4)
Not using MonsterInsights yet? Get started today!
Finally, stay connected with us on YouTube for the latest Google Analytics and WordPress tips and tutorials.
