Exploring the Differences Between Google Analytics 4 and Universal Analytics
Are you interested in understanding the disparities between Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Universal Analytics? GA4 is the latest version of Google’s renowned analytics platform, offering new reports, metrics, tracking systems, and enhanced data privacy compared to its predecessor. In this article, we will delve into the contrasts between GA4 and Universal Analytics to provide you with a comprehensive comparison.
Google Analytics 4: The Next Generation
GA4 represents the cutting-edge in Google’s analytics lineup. Unlike Universal Analytics, which required separate tracking for apps and websites, GA4 provides a holistic view of your customer’s journey across multiple channels and devices. It also prioritizes data privacy for users, making it a powerful tool for tracking both your WordPress website and apps within the same property.
Universal Analytics: The Earlier Version
Universal Analytics (UA) is the previous version of Google Analytics, widely used by websites to track their traffic. However, as of July 1, 2023, Universal Analytics has been phased out. This means it will no longer track your visitors, and Google will cease support and the introduction of new features. Let’s now explore the significant differences between GA4 and Universal Analytics.
Reporting Interface: Fresh vs Traditional
The first noticeable difference between Google Analytics 4 and Universal Analytics is the reporting interface. With GA4’s different measurement model, most of the reports have been replaced or renamed. In GA4, you’ll encounter new reports such as Engagement, Monetization, and Retention. On the other hand, Universal Analytics adopts a distinct reporting interface, with all reports grouped into five main categories.
Simplify Data Analysis with the MonsterInsights Plugin
Understanding and extracting insights from these reports can be challenging, especially for beginners. Luckily, there’s a user-friendly solution called MonsterInsights, the leading Google Analytics plugin for WordPress. This plugin provides a simplified reporting interface within your WordPress dashboard, eliminating the need to navigate complex Google Analytics reports. If you haven’t set up analytics on your website, refer to our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.
Refined Data Collection and Processing
While Universal Analytics relied on sessions and pageviews as its measurement model, GA4 tracks data using an event-based system. GA4’s focus on event data allows for accurate tracking of complex buyer journeys across multiple devices. It also simplifies the setup of enhanced measurement features. In contrast, Universal Analytics linked data to individual users through sessions, tracking their specific interactions with your WordPress website.
New Metrics and Reports in GA4
GA4 introduces new metrics alongside its fresh array of reports. One notable change is the absence of the bounce rate metric in GA4 reports by default. However, you can customize the pages and screens report to access the bounce rate metric in GA4. Another new metric in GA4 is the “Engaged sessions per user,” which provides insights into the number of users interacting with your content.
Streamline Form Conversions with MonsterInsights
Forms are essential for business operations, allowing for user communication, feedback, and query resolution. Tracking WordPress forms using Google Analytics 4 requires custom code implementation, which can be daunting for non-developers. Fortunately, MonsterInsights offers out-of-the-box form tracking, eliminating the need for code editing or developer assistance. It provides comprehensive reports within your WordPress admin area, including impressions, conversions, and conversion rates for each form.
Goals vs Events
In Universal Analytics, goals were used to record different user interactions, while GA4 replaces these goals with events. For example, in an online store, you can enable events to track interactions such as entering payment and shipment details. Check out our guide on how to set up Google Analytics goal tracking in WordPress to learn more about events.
Advanced Analysis with Google Analytics 4
Universal Analytics allowed advanced analysis through custom reports and secondary dimensions, but GA4 takes it a step further with Exploration reports. These reports offer prebuilt templates for specific analyses or custom setups, making it easier to gain valuable insights from your data. For beginners, MonsterInsights simplifies the discovery of valuable insights by providing a user-friendly stats dashboard within the WordPress admin area.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google Analytics 4 and Universal Analytics differ in various aspects, including the reporting interface, data collection and processing, metrics, and advanced analysis capabilities. Understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision about which analytics platform is best suited for your website. Don’t forget to check out our guide on the best WordPress plugins and our ultimate guide to WordPress SEO.
