[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-add-wordpress-analytics-without-cookies-2-easy-methods\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-add-wordpress-analytics-without-cookies-2-easy-methods\/","headline":"How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (2 Easy Methods)","name":"How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (2 Easy Methods)","description":"When I first started building WordPress websites, tracking visitor data just meant installing Google Analytics and calling it a day. But times have changed. With ... Leer m\u00e1s<\/a>","datePublished":"2025-05-29","dateModified":"2025-05-29","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/author\/mitzamitza-es\/#Person","name":"adrimadise\u00f1o","url":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/author\/mitzamitza-es\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4f04015a3698191a873267b006e8e8789ce30b6ee841a5518a6033860d50fe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4f04015a3698191a873267b006e8e8789ce30b6ee841a5518a6033860d50fe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"adrimadise\u00f1o.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cropped-logo_adrima.png","url":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cropped-logo_adrima.png","width":450,"height":90}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/add-wordpress-analytics-without-cookies-og.png","url":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/add-wordpress-analytics-without-cookies-og.png","height":1080,"width":1920},"url":"https:\/\/xn--adrimadiseo-beb.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-add-wordpress-analytics-without-cookies-2-easy-methods\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":3230,"articleBody":"When I first started building WordPress websites, tracking visitor data just meant installing Google Analytics and calling it a day.But times have changed. With new privacy regulations, using cookies to collect personal information without user consent can lead to legal headaches and lost visitors.I\u2019ve helped several WordPress site owners transition to cookie-free analytics solutions that still provide powerful insights. After testing numerous options and implementing them across various types of websites, I\u2019ve identified the most effective approaches.In this guide, let me show you two ways to add analytics while respecting your visitors\u2019 privacy. One uses a privacy-first setup for Google Analytics (which uses first-party cookies), and the other is a cookieless option.Do I Really Need Cookieless Analytics?You\u2019ve probably heard a lot about cookies and privacy laws. But what does it all really mean for your WordPress website\u2019s analytics? Let me break it down.Cookies are small pieces of data that are stored on a user\u2019s browser when they visit a website.Traditional analytics tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4) use these cookies to track visitor behavior. This includes details like which pages they visit, how long they stay, and what actions they take.All this data helps site owners better understand their audience and improve their websites.\ud83d\udea8 Here\u2019s the challenge: New privacy laws, like the GDPR, CCPA, and ePrivacy, require websites to ask for explicit user consent before tracking with cookies. Because of this, many website owners think they must switch to cookie-free analytics to stay compliant.However, that\u2019s not actually true!You can still track important data while staying compliant with privacy laws. We\u2019ll show you some workarounds to set up cookieless analytics.Why \u201cCookieless\u201d Google Analytics 4 is the Best OptionWhen it comes to website analytics, Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is still the best and most powerful tool available \u2013\u00a0and that\u2019s true for all types of websites. So, if you want accurate insights into your visitors\u2019 behavior, GA4 is the way to go.But before we start, let\u2019s clear up a common misunderstanding: GA4 does not rely on third-party cookies. Instead, it uses first-party cookies, which are set by your own website to collect data about your visitors\u2019 activity on your WordPress site only.In contrast, third-party cookies are set by external services (like ad networks) and track users across multiple websites. Because of their broader tracking scope, they raise more privacy concerns and are being phased out by many browsers.Now, you might be wondering: \u201cSince GA4 still uses cookies \u2013 even if they\u2019re first-party \u2013 can it be used in a way that complies with privacy laws?\u201dThe answer is yes!However, do note that Google Analytics itself isn\u2019t automatically compliant or non-compliant. It\u2019s your responsibility to use it in a way that follows the rules that apply to you.Plus, whether you need cookie consent for Google Analytics depends on several factors. They can be where you and your visitors are located, and how you handle their data.Since cookie consent laws differ by country (even within the EU), some websites must ask users to consent to specific cookies, while others need a banner for any cookie use.To help with this, I\u2019ll show you how to pair GA4 with:\u2705 MonsterInsights with the EU Compliance addon \u2013 This helps ensure your data handling aligns with GDPR and other privacy regulations.\u2705 WPConsent cookie banners \u2013 These help you request and manage user consent the right way.With these tools in place, you can continue using GA4 in a way that supports compliance with privacy laws. This helps you gather valuable insights while reducing the risk of legal issues.How to Add WordPress Analytics Without CookiesNow that I\u2019ve covered what cookieless tracking is and whether you really need it, let\u2019s talk about how to set it up on your WordPress site.There are 2 solid options to do this:GA4 + MonsterInsights EU Compliance addon \u2013 Track user behavior with GA4 while staying compliant with privacy laws like GDPR. It uses first-party cookies and offers configurable settings for stronger privacy. Ideal for getting detailed insights with easy website integration.Burst Statistics \u2013 Let\u2019s you set up analytics without cookies. It stores data on your server and offers a hybrid mode with optional cookies.I will cover both methods in our tutorial, along with some extra tips and FAQs about cookieless tracking. Feel free to use the jump links below to go to your preferred method:Ready? Let\u2019s break it down.Method 1: How to Set Up WordPress Cookieless Analytics (Keep Using GA4 for the Best Insights)This method is for if you want access to powerful analytics while still respecting user privacy. I\u2019ll be using MonsterInsights alongside WPConsent to set up cookieless tracking.Step 1: Install MonsterInsights to Set Up Cookieless AnalyticsMonsterInsights is the most popular Google Analytics plugin for WordPress, and for a good reason: it makes viewing your Google Analytics data in WordPress incredibly easy.At adrimadise\u00f1o, we use it to track traffic sources, visitor demographics, and conversion rates on our forms, buttons, referral links, and more. Check out our complete MonsterInsights review for a deeper look at its features.\u270f\ufe0f Quick note: In this tutorial, I\u2019ll be using the MonsterInsights Pro version because it comes with the EU Compliance addon (we\u2019ll need it in step 3). But there\u2019s also a free MonsterInsights version that works great if you just need basic analytics reports.So, let\u2019s first install and activate the MonsterInsights plugin. For details, you can see this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.Step 2: Connect MonsterInsights to Google WordPress AnalyticsOnce you have MonsterInsights up and running, it\u2019s time to connect it to your site and your Google Analytics account.You can click the \u2018Insights\u2019 tab in the left-hand menu of your WordPress dashboard.Next, just click the \u2018Launch the Wizard\u2019 button to start the MonsterInsights setup process.On the next screen, you\u2019ll need to pick a category that best describes your website.This can be a WordPress blog, business site, or online store.Just hit \u2018Save and Continue\u2019 after you make your choice.After that, you\u2019ll need to connect MonsterInsights to your website\u2019s Google Analytics account.Simply click the \u2018Connect MonsterInsights\u2019 button to begin the process.In the next steps, you\u2019ll have to sign in to your Google Analytics account and select the website you want to track.MonsterInsights will then install Google Analytics on your site \u2013 easy as that!For details, you can see this guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.Step 3: Install the MonsterInsights EU Compliance AddonSince GA4 still uses first-party cookies, you need to make sure that your tracking complies with GDPR. The MonsterInsights EU Compliance addon makes this easier by automating key privacy settings in GA4.Some of its essential features include:Anonymizing IP addresses to prevent personal data storage.Disabling the tracking of user demographics, interests, and User IDs.To install the addon, you can navigate to Insights \u00bb Addons. Here, go ahead and click the \u2018Install & Activate\u2019 button to install the EU Compliance addon.After that, you can switch the toggle to activate the addon when it appears.Upon activation, let\u2019s go to the \u2018Settings\u2019 menu.In the \u2018Engagement\u2019 tab, simply toggle the \u2018Enable EU Compliance\u2019 setting to turn it on.We also recommend verifying the settings directly in GA4 to ensure your GA4 setup aligns with your MonsterInsights privacy settings.For example, to make sure your GA4 doesn\u2019t track demographics, you can navigate to your GA4 \u2018Admin\u2019 panel.\u200bNext up, you\u2019ll want to locate the \u2018Data collection and modification\u2019 setting. Then, simply click the \u2018Data collection\u2019 option. Now, in the \u2018Google signals data collection\u2019 settings, you should make sure it\u2019s disabled.Why does this matter? Google Signals collects extra user data, including:Demographics & Interests \u2013 Age, gender, and hobbies.Location & Engagement \u2013 User locations (from Google accounts).Cross-Device Tracking \u2013 Identifies users as they switch between devices.Cross-Platform Reports \u2013 How users interact across devices.Ad Personalization Data \u2013 Connects with Google Ads for remarketing.If it\u2019s already off, then you should see the option to \u2018Turn On\u2019 like this:You might also want to review your data retention settings.Data retention controls how long GA4 stores user-level and event-level data before automatically deleting it. A shorter retention period can help with GDPR compliance and privacy regulations.To do this, you can go to Data collection and modification \u00bb Data retention from the \u2018Admin\u2019 menu.On the next screen, you\u2019ll see options to set the event and user data retention period.You can click the \u2018Data retention\u2019 dropdown menus for both event and user data. Then, for stricter compliance, simply choose the \u20182 months\u2019 option.Don\u2019t forget to click \u2018Save\u2019 when you\u2019re done adjusting.To learn more about all things GA4, you can check out our beginner\u2019s guide on how to use Google Analytics 4.Step 4: Set Up the WPConsent Cookie Consent PluginUsing Google Analytics 4 while complying with laws like GDPR and CCPA means you need to get user consent before tracking. And that responsibility falls on you.Whether consent is required depends on where your business is based, where your users are located, what data you collect, and how it\u2019s used. Plus, rules vary widely across countries, even within the EU, with some requiring consent for specific cookies and others for any type.Instead of handling this manually yourself, you can use WPConsent to simplify compliance.This powerful plugin lets you display a cookie consent banner, log user choices, and control when tools like GA4 are allowed to run \u2014 all within WordPress.At adrimadise\u00f1o (and some of our partner brands), we use WPConsent, and it\u2019s been a reliable solution for managing privacy settings. Explore all of its features in our complete WPConsent review!So, let\u2019s start by installing the WPConsent plugin. If you need help, then you can see this beginner\u2019s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.\u270f\ufe0f Quick note: You can use the free WPConsent plugin to set up cookie banners. But for this article, I\u2019ll use the WPConsent Pro version because it provides access to cookie consent logs.Upon plugin activation, let\u2019s activate the license key.To do this, you\u2019ll need to go to WPConsent \u00bb Settings. After that, simply copy the license key from your WPConsent account and paste it into the \u2018License Key\u2019 field.Then, go ahead and click the \u2018Activate Key\u2019 button.With that done, let\u2019s navigate to \u2018Dashboard\u2019 to go through the setup wizard.Go ahead and click on the \u2018Let\u2019s Get Started\u2019 button.On the next screen, WPConsent will run a scan to see if your site is using cookies.First, it will ask you to check your site\u2019s email address.If everything looks good already, then you can click \u2018Scan Your Website.\u2019This will trigger the tool to start the cookie scan.Once done, you\u2019ll see a \u2018Scan completed\u2019 notification along with a short report on the tool\u2019s findings. For example, here it says that WPConsent found 4 services on our site that have set cookies.Let\u2019s click on \u2018OK\u2019 to continue the process.Next up, you\u2019ll see your WordPress site\u2019s scan results in more detail.On my demo site, the services that use cookies are WordPress login (this might be because of the \u2018Remember Me\u2018 option), WordPress Comments, Google Analytics, and Matomo.Make sure that you select all the services. Then, you should also check the box that says \u2018Prevent known scripts from adding cookies before consent is given.\u2019With that done, go ahead and click the \u2018Auto-Configure selected\u2019 button.After that, WPConsent will prompt you to set up your cookie banner.The process is super simple. You just need to choose a layout and pick a position.Then, you can scroll down the page to preview your cookie consent banner.If everything looks good to you, it\u2019s time to click the \u2018Save & Complete Setup\u2019 button.And you\u2019re done!Now, if you visit your website, you\u2019ll see your cookie consent banner in action.\ud83d\udc49 Expert Tip: Adding a link to your privacy policy page in the cookie banner helps build trust with your visitors and align with legal requirements. If you don\u2019t have one yet, then check out our tutorial on how to add a privacy policy page in WordPress.After setting it up, you can embed the link into your cookie banner from the WPConsent editor.Just navigate to WPConsent \u00bb Banner Design from your admin area. Then, you can edit the text in the \u2018Message\u2019 field to include the link to your Privacy Policy page.Don\u2019t forget to click the \u2018Save\u2019 button so you don\u2019t lose your progress.And here\u2019s your cookie banner:Step 5: Access Consent Logs to Verify Your Privacy SettingsWPConsent has a \u2018Consent Logs\u2019 section that provides a detailed record of how visitors interact with your site\u2019s cookie consent popup.To see your logs, go ahead and navigate to WPConsent \u00bb Consent Logs from your WordPress admin area.Here, you\u2019ll find a table with all your users\u2019 consent details.For example, I have a user who accepted all cookies \u2013 essential, statistics, and marketing.And that\u2019s it \u2013 you\u2019ve successfully set up Google Analytics with enhanced privacy settings while still using cookies.Method 2: How to Set Up WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (Free Option with Less Data Accuracy)If you\u2019re looking to track analytics without cookies, then Burst Statistics is a great option. This free plugin makes the process pretty simple. Keep in mind that Burst Statistics uses a technique called fingerprinting. It\u2019s a way to identify a computer or device based on its unique characteristics, like the browser, operating system, and installed fonts, even without using cookies.While it\u2019s generally considered less intrusive than cookies, it\u2019s still a form of tracking, so it\u2019s good to be aware of it.Now, let\u2019s take a look at how you can set it up on your WordPress site.Step 1: Install and Activate the Burst Statistics Plugin on WordPressTo get started, you need to install and activate the free Burst Statistics plugin. Simply navigate to Plugins \u00bb Add New Plugin from your admin area.After that, you\u2019ll want to use the search feature to quickly find the plugin. Then, go ahead and click the \u2018Install Now\u2019 button.\u270f\ufe0f Quick note: For this guide, I\u2019ll use the free Burst Statistics plugin to set up analytics without cookies. However, upgrading to Burst Statistics Pro will unlock lots of other cool features, including data archiving, multiple goal tracking, and advanced filters.Then, you should click once again on the \u2018Activate\u2019 button when it appears. If you need help, then you can check out this guide on\u00a0how to install a WordPress plugin.Step 2: Configure Settings for Optimal Performance and PrivacyUpon plugin activation, you can enable analytics without cookies straight away.All you have to do is navigate to Statistics \u00bb Settings from your WordPress admin area. Then, let\u2019s make sure you\u2019re in the \u2018General\u2019 tab.From here, simply switch on the \u2018Enable Cookieless tracking\u2019 option like this:And that\u2019s it \u2013 you\u2019ve successfully set up WordPress analytics without cookies on your website.Step 3: Verify if Your Analytics Are Working ProperlyUnlike the more traditional approach, analytics without cookies avoids storing personal data, like IP addresses or other user identifiers. Instead, it provides anonymized, aggregated data.That said, it\u2019s important to note that some methods still involve data collection. This may carry privacy implications depending on how they\u2019re implemented. To see if your analytics are working properly, you need to go to the \u2018Statistics\u2019 menu. On the next screen, you\u2019ll immediately find your visitors and pageviews graph for the last seven days.To see the statistics in detail, you can scroll down this page.Here, you might notice that your sessions are counted differently.In traditional analytics, cookies track when a visitor starts and ends a session. If the same person comes back within a certain time frame (usually 30 minutes), it\u2019s counted as the same session.In analytics without cookies, returning users cannot be recognized within that window. Instead, each visit is treated as a new session, even if it occurs shortly after the last one.\ud83e\udd14 What does this mean for your reports?\u00a0You may see a higher number of sessions than usual because visitors who leave and return within a short period won\u2019t be grouped into a single session.Further down the page, Burst Statistics provides a dedicated \u2018Pages\u2019 report that shows how pageviews are distributed across your site.For example, if your \u2018Compare\u2019 report shows 9 pageviews, then you can see that 3 views came from the \u2018Career\u2019 page, 2 views from the \u2018Login\u2019 page, and so on.FAQs About Cookieless WordPress AnalyticsStill have questions? Let\u2019s clear up some common concerns about tracking website data without cookies.Why do websites need cookies?Cookies store small amounts of data to remember user preferences, track user behavior, and improve the user experience. Many analytics tools use cookies to identify returning visitors and track interactions over time.How can I add analytics to my WordPress site?In short, you can add analytics to your WordPress site using tools like MonsterInsights, Matomo, or HubSpot.I recommend MonsterInsights because it makes installing Google Analytics in WordPress easy. It gives you all your GA4 data in easy-to-understand reports directly in your WordPress dashboard.For details, see this guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.Do all websites with analytics need cookie warnings?No. If your analytics solution doesn\u2019t store personally identifiable information (PII) or track users across sessions using cookies, then you don\u2019t need a cookie consent banner. This is why many site owners switch to analytics without cookies.For example, Burst Statistics is a privacy-focused analytics tool that uses fingerprinting techniques. Instead of storing cookies, it analyzes non-personal browser and device data to differentiate visitors.Keep in mind that while this approach is technically cookieless, it is still a form of data collection that may have privacy considerations.Will cookieless analytics affect data accuracy?It depends on the tool you use.Cookieless tracking may not capture user journeys in as much detail, but it still provides accurate insights into overall traffic, page views, and engagement.Many modern cookieless analytics tools use fingerprinting techniques or server-side tracking to improve accuracy. While these methods minimize cookie usage, they still collect data in other ways, which may raise concerns about privacy.Can I switch back to traditional analytics if needed?Yes, most analytics solutions allow you to switch between cookieless and traditional tracking. However, if you start using cookies again, then you may need to add a cookie consent banner to comply with privacy laws.Further Reading \ud83d\udcda: More WordPress Analytics GuidesI hope this article has helped you learn how to add WordPress analytics without cookies. Want to dive deeper into WordPress analytics? Check out these guides to track and understand your website\u2019s performance more effectively:If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube Channel\u00a0for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on\u00a0Twitter\u00a0and Facebook. 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