The strongest ExactMetrics alternative for most sites is Site Kit by Google, Google’s own plugin, which connects Analytics, Search Console, and PageSpeed in one free dashboard without the upsells ExactMetrics builds around. For privacy-first, cookieless stats, Burst Statistics and WP Statistics keep data on your own server, while MonsterInsights is the closest like-for-like. We ranked these from our index of 55,000+ WordPress plugins.

Why people switch from ExactMetrics

• ExactMetrics reserves many reports and features for paid tiers, so people move to Site Kit by Google for a fuller free dashboard.
• Teams wanting official, first-party Google data move to Site Kit by Google, which is built by Google itself.
• Sites that want to avoid sending visitor data to Google move to Burst Statistics or WP Statistics for privacy-friendly, self-hosted analytics.
• People who only need the tracking snippet added move to GA Google Analytics for a lightweight connection.

Site Kit by Google – Overall replacement, free

Site Kit by Google is Google’s official WordPress plugin, pulling Analytics, Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, and AdSense into one dashboard. Against ExactMetrics, it is entirely free and shows search and speed data alongside traffic without paywalled add-ons. What it does not do: its in-dashboard reports are fairly high level, so power users who want deep custom dimensions still spend time in the Google Analytics interface itself.

Choose Site Kit by Google if you want official Google data across Analytics and Search Console for free.

MonsterInsights – Closest like-for-like

MonsterInsights is MonsterInsights, the sister plugin to ExactMetrics from the same team, and the most direct equivalent here. Against ExactMetrics, it offers a more polished setup and a larger set of tracking add-ons. What it does not do: it follows the same freemium model, so e-commerce tracking, forms, and detailed reports sit behind its paid plans just as they do in ExactMetrics.

Choose MonsterInsights if you want a familiar, more refined take on the same Google Analytics dashboard.

Burst Statistics – Privacy-first stats

Burst Statistics from Really Simple Plugins is a self-hosted, privacy-friendly analytics tool that keeps visitor data in your own database. Against ExactMetrics, it avoids sending data to Google and can run cookieless, which simplifies consent. What it does not do: because it only measures your own site, it lacks the cross-property, audience, and acquisition depth you get from a full Google Analytics connection.

Choose Burst Statistics if you want clean, cookieless analytics that stay on your server.

WP Statistics – Self-hosted analytics

WP Statistics is a long-running, GDPR-conscious analytics plugin that stores all stats locally with no third-party service. Against ExactMetrics, it needs no external account and keeps data fully under your control. What it does not do: its reporting is more basic than Google Analytics, and heavy use on large sites can add load to your database since everything is recorded on your own hosting.

Choose WP Statistics if you want a mature self-hosted tracker with no Google account required.

GA Google Analytics – Lightweight tracking code

GA Google Analytics is a minimal plugin whose whole job is to insert your Google Analytics tracking code correctly. Against ExactMetrics, it is far lighter and adds no dashboard clutter or upsell prompts. What it does not do: it shows no reports inside WordPress at all, so you read every metric in the Google Analytics interface rather than on your own admin screens.

Choose GA Google Analytics if you just want the tracking snippet added cleanly and will read reports in Google.

When to stay on ExactMetrics

Stay on ExactMetrics if you are already invested in its dashboard and reports and the free tier covers what you check day to day. It surfaces your key Google Analytics numbers inside WordPress without needing a separate tab, and if you do not need the extra add-ons or a privacy-first setup, moving to another plugin means reconnecting accounts for little practical gain.

How we ranked these

Every plugin here is scored by the WPS Score, a single 0 to 10 rating built from 21 signals covering maintenance, support responsiveness, compatibility, performance, and ratings quality across our index of 55,000+ plugins. Rankings are derived from that data, not editorial preference, and no plugin author can pay to change a score. How the WPS Score works.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to ExactMetrics?

Site Kit by Google is the best free alternative, connecting Analytics, Search Console, and PageSpeed in one dashboard at no cost. Because Google builds it, the data is first-party and there are no paywalled reports, which is a common frustration with the free ExactMetrics tier.

Which analytics plugin is best for privacy and GDPR?

Burst Statistics and WP Statistics are the strongest privacy choices because they store data on your own server and can run without cookies, reducing consent requirements. Neither sends visitor data to Google, unlike ExactMetrics, Site Kit, or MonsterInsights, which all rely on Google Analytics.

Is MonsterInsights the same as ExactMetrics?

They are separate plugins from the same company and share much of their approach and freemium model. MonsterInsights is the more prominent product, while ExactMetrics is positioned as the lower-cost option, but both put advanced tracking and reports behind paid plans.

The verdict

The best all-round replacement is Site Kit by Google for its free, official Google data, with MonsterInsights the closest familiar alternative and Burst Statistics the pick for privacy-first, self-hosted stats. If ExactMetrics already gives you the in-dashboard numbers you rely on, staying on ExactMetrics is perfectly valid.