=== Independent Analytics ===
Contributors: bensibley, andrewmead
Tags: analytics, wordpress analytics, google analytics, analytics dashboard, statistics
Donate link: https://independentwp.com
Requires at least: 5.9
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 2.14.8
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A simple WordPress analytics plugin that is privacy-friendly, fast, and an alternative to Google Analytics.

== Description ==

Google Analytics is complicated!

**[Independent Analytics](https://independentwp.com/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt&utm_content=Top)** gives you simple, common-sense stats you can use to grow your website.

**This is a free plugin and doesn't require you to create an account on another site**. All features outlined below are included in the free plugin.

**Every Tool You Need to Analyze & Grow Your Website**

* Analytics dashboard inside your WP admin
* Popular posts and pages
* Top traffic sources
* Country & city data with interactive world map
* Device report with device types, browsers, and OS
* Save custom reports
* Export to CSV & PDF

**Fully Private for You and Your Visitors**

When it comes to privacy, just say, "No!"

- No communication with external servers
- No cookies
- No personal data

As a Google Analytics alternative, Independent Analytics runs entirely on your site so all of your data is created and stored on your server. No personal data is saved and no cookies are used to track visitors, making it easy to comply with regional privacy laws like the GDPR and CCPA.

**Loved by the WP Community** ❤️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2hK68OFLc

Independent Analytics has received renown from WP Tuts, Web Squadron, WP Weekly, WP Builds, and many more publications.

> <strong>Independent Analytics Pro</strong><br />
> Get more valuable insights with the Independent Analytics Pro plugin, which includes UTM campaign tracking, real-time analytics, click tracking, eCommerce sales tracking (WooCommerce, FluentCart, EDD, SureCart), user journeys, form submission tracking, HTML email reports, and a customizable Overview report.
> [Click here to get Independent Analytics Pro &rarr;](https://independentwp.com/pro/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt&utm_content=Intro)

**Who's it for?**

Independent Analytics is easy enough for a total beginner to use while offering plenty of depth for more advanced users to dig into their data.

* **Bloggers:** use Independent Analytics as a simple blog stats plugin. Find out how many views your posts get and how much traffic you get from search engines and social media.
* **eCommerce stores:** track views and visitors for your products and find out what your visitors are searching for.
* **News sites:** get same-day statistics for all your posts and filter by author to find your most successful writers.
* **Startups:** start tracking your visits right away and find out which early marketing tactics are driving results.
* **Non-profits:** track which campaigns get the most views and find out where your donors are coming from.

**How to Get Started**

1. Visit your **Plugins > Add New** menu
2. Search for “Independent Analytics”
3. Install and enjoy 🙂

Independent Analytics starts tracking visitors immediately without configuration. You don’t have to mess with any JavaScript or code snippets.

**Explore the Simple, Yet Powerful Features**

Our WordPress statistics plugin is more robust than a simple hit counter and includes all of the following features:

* [Pages report](https://independentwp.com/features/pages-report/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - discover your most visited pages.
* [Referrers report](https://independentwp.com/features/referrers/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - find the sites sending you traffic.
* [Geographic report](https://independentwp.com/features/geographic-data/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - see which countries and cities your visitors are from.
* [Devices report](https://independentwp.com/features/device-data/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - get a breakdown of traffic by device type, browser, and OS.
* [CSV exporting](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/your-data/import-export-data/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - export any report to CSV for additional analysis.
* [PDF exporting](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/download-pdf-report/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - export any report as a beautiful PDF to share with colleagues.
* [Saved reports](https://independentwp.com/features/saved-reports/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - create and save your own custom reports to the sidebar.
* [Share access with authors](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/give-users-permission-view-analytics/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - share access with any user role in a few clicks and optionally limit the stats to only content published by the author.
* [White-label the dashboard](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/give-users-permission-view-analytics/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - white-label the analytics for non-admins to remove any branding and external links.
* [View counts in the Posts menu](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/view-count-column-posts-menu/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - check how many views your recent posts have while browsing the Posts menu
* [Dashboard widget](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/dashboard-widget-reposition-hide/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - get a quick look at your stats when you login.
* [Admin toolbar stats](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/admin-bar-stats/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - see how many views each page has while viewing or editing it.
* [Public view counter](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/display-view-counter/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - show off how many views each post on your site has gotten.
* [Ignore user roles](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/tracking/block-user-roles/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - easily ignore activity from admins while recording traffic from Subscribers and Customers
* [Ignore IP addresses](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/tracking/block-ip-addresses/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - add any IP address to your ignore list in just two clicks.
* [Automatically delete old data](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/your-data/automatically-delete-old-data/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - delete data older than X days/years to limit the total data storage.
* [Filtering system](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/how-to-filter-your-data/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - segment your data with the powerful filters.
* [Essential metrics](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/data/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - find your views, visitors, sessions, bounce rate, session duration, and views per session metrics in the Quick Stats, chart, and data table.
* [Visitors Growth](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/insights/find-growing-pages/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - find your fastest-growing pages and referrers.
* [Author stats](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/insights/analyze-content-by-author/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - sort and filter your pages by author.
* [Post type stats](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/insights/stats-single-post-type/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - segment by post type to view stats for your posts, search results, custom post types, and more.
* [Landing page stats](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/data/what-are-entrances-exits-exit-percentage/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - Use the Entrances metric to find your top landing pages.
* [Developer API](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/developer/developer-api/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - the rudimentary developer API lets you get stats from any page on your site.
* [RTL support](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/common-questions/rtl-compatibility/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - Independent Analytics works just as well for right-to-left languages.
* [Mobile-friendly](https://independentwp.com/knowledgebase/dashboard/analytics-mobile-device/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) - the Analytics dashboard is fully compatible with mobile devices.
* **[Campaigns report](https://independentwp.com/features/campaigns/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - create and track UTM campaign links.
* **[Real-time analytics](https://independentwp.com/features/real-time/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - see how many visitors are currently on your site.
* **[Click tracking](https://independentwp.com/features/click-tracking/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - track clicks on any link without touching code.
* **[eCommerce analytics](https://independentwp.com/features/ecommerce-analytics/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - integration with WooCommerce, FluentCart, EDD, and SureCart lets you find your most profitable campaigns, landing pages, and referrers.
* **[User journeys](https://independentwp.com/features/user-journeys/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - explore every recorded session including a timeline for each one, so you can understand exactly how visitors use your website.
* **[Form tracking](https://independentwp.com/features/form-tracking/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - integration with 20+ top form plugins, like WPForms and Contact Form 7, lets you automatically track form submissions and discover where your leads are coming from.
* **[Overview report](https://independentwp.com/features/overview-report/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - find all your data in one place with the customizable Overview report.
* **[Solo reports](https://independentwp.com/features/solo-reports/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - view dedicated reports for individual pages and referrers.
* **[HTML email reports](https://independentwp.com/features/email-reports/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt) (Pro)** - schedule a beautiful daily, weekly, or monthly email report for yourself and your clients.

**[Explore every feature with screenshots here &rarr;](https://independentwp.com/features/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt)**

> <strong>Independent Analytics Pro</strong><br />
> Get more valuable insights with the Independent Analytics Pro plugin, which includes UTM campaign tracking, real-time analytics, click tracking, eCommerce sales tracking (WooCommerce, FluentCart, EDD, SureCart),user journeys, form submission tracking, HTML email reports, and a customizable Overview report.
> [Click here to get Independent Analytics Pro &rarr;](https://independentwp.com/pro/?utm_source=WordPress.org&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=ReadMe.txt&utm_content=Intro)

**Who Made This?**

Independent Analytics is designed and developed by Ben Sibley and Andrew Mead in the beautiful city of Philadelphia. Check out [our interview](https://wpbuilds.com/2025/06/26/426-why-independent-analytics-could-be-the-wordpress-alternative-to-google-analytics-youve-been-waiting-for/) on the WP Builds podcast if you’d like to hear our story.

== Installation ==

The easiest way to install Independent Analytics is by visiting your **Plugins > Add New** menu. Search for "Independent Analytics" and install the first result you see there.

To install with the zip file downloaded from this page:

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard
2. Visit the **Plugins > Add New** menu
3. Click the **Upload Plugin** button at the top
4. In the upload form that appears, click the **Choose file** button and select the **independent-analytics.zip** file you downloaded here
5. Click the **Install Now** button
6. Once the page reloads, click the blue **Activate** link

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= How do I install it? =
Download it from this page and upload via the Plugins > Add New menu of your website. Alternatively, visit your Plugins > Add New menu and search for "Independent Analytics" by name.

= Does it use Google Analytics? =
No, Independent Analytics is an alternative to Google Analytics. You do not need a Google account to use it.

= Can I use Independent Analytics and Google Analytics at the same time? =
Yes, you can run them both simultaneously without any issues or errors.

= Can I import data from Google Analytics or Jetpack Stats? =
No, it is not possible to import stats from other analytics tools at this time.

= Will it slow down my site? =
No, the tracking script makes a deferred request to your site's REST API to record the visit. This has no impact on the loading experience, and does not impact your Core Web Vitals, allowing you to achieve a perfect 100/100 Page Speed Insights score.

= Does tracking start right away? =
Yes, the moment you install Independent Analytics it will start tracking views. If you don't see any views right away, clear your site's cache and then visit your site in a private browser tab to record your first view.

= Do I need to use a cookie popup with it? =
No, Independent Analytics does not use cookies.

= How much space does it take in my database? =
Independent Analytics will store roughly 200-300MB per million sessions. We find this amount of data to be reasonable for the vast majority of websites. There is also an option to automatically delete old data, so you can store only the last 1-5 years of analytics.

= Are bot visits counted? =
Independent Analytics ignores all self-identifying bots, such as search engine crawlers and uptime checkers. If you are getting visits from malicious bots that disguise themselves as human visitors, we recommend using Cloudflare or the Shield Security plugin to block these bots from accessing your website.

= Is there a tracking code? =
Yes, but you don't have to add it yourself. It gets included on all of your site's pages automatically once Independent Analytics is activated.

= Does it work with multisite installs? =
Yes, Independent Analytics works well with multisite installs. Each sub-site will get its own Analytics menu with its own stats.

= What metrics does it track? =
The primary metrics it tracks are views, visitors, sessions, session duration, bounce rate, and average session duration.

= Does it work if I use Matomo? =
Yes, Independent Analytics will run smoothly and won't create any errors even if you're already using Matomo or any other analytics plugin.

== Screenshots ==
1. Beautiful analytics dashboard inside your WP admin
2. Analyze your traffic sources with the Referrers report
3. The Geographic report shows traffic from each country and city
4. Find which devices and browsers your visitors use the most
5. Customize your reports, then save them in the sidebar
6. Filter your reports to analyze specific groups of pages
7. View any metrics you want in the chart
8. Customize the columns in the data table
9. Export any report to PDF or CSV in one click
10. Find stats in the admin toolbar when viewing a page
11. Check your stats at a glance with the dashboard widget
12. Share access with other users and limit the stats to their own posts only
13. Check your post view counts in the Posts menu

== Changelog ==

= 2.14.7 - March 30th, 2026 =

* **Feature:** Added integration with the Complianz plugin
* **Enhancement:** Allow read-only users to set a default report
* **Fix:** Changing the grouping in the data table was resetting the columns
* **Fix:** Fixed chart display in Safari for RTL websites
* **Fix:** White-labeling wasn't working for non-admins with manage_options permission

= 2.14.6 - March 16th, 2026 =

* **Fix:** Fixed an error when viewing analytics with the "View analytics for authored content" permission

= 2.14.5 - March 16th, 2026 =

* **Fix:** Stopped showing Getting Started popup for white-labeled users
* **Fix:** Fixed external referrer links in Referrers report

= 2.14.4 - February 17th, 2026 =

* **Fix:** Fixed errors triggering for non-admin analytics viewers
* **Fix:** Fixed errors for some Solo Reports

= 2.14.3 - February 16th, 2026 =

* **Fix:** Clicks report could fail if no click data was present

= 2.14.2 - February 16th, 2026 =

* **Fix:** The Overview report wouldn't load in some server environments
* **Fix:** Prevent User Journeys reports from being selected in Overview modules
* **Fix:** Clicks were not getting tracked if the server used a timezone other than UTC+0
* **Fix:** Tracking clicks on form submission buttons could lead to form submission events getting overcounted
* **Fix:** Pausing email delivery could break the status message in the data deletion setting
* **Fix:** Favicons generation didn't work for sites without the imagick PHP extension
* **Fix:** Fixed edge cases where Quick Stats might not show filtered values

= 2.14.1 - January 27th, 2026 =

* **Fix:** User Journey cron job would fail
* **Fix:** Visitors growth and views growth could be inaccurate in Solo Reports
* **Fix:** Loading Solo Reports was much slower on Firefox
* **Fix:** Favicons added to /wp-content/uploads/ weren't getting removed via the option to delete all plugin data

= 2.14.0 - January 19th, 2026 =

* **Feature:** Added User Journeys to Independent Analytics Pro! View full timelines for each session, including clicks, form submissions, and eCommerce orders.
* **Feature:** Added form tracking for the following plugins: MailChimp for WordPress (MC4WP), Kadence Blocks forms, Newsletter, and Everest Forms.
* **Enhancement:** Added favicons to the Referrers report.
* **Enhancement:** Added options to refresh the salt token once per week or month.
* **Enhancement:** Updated the geolocation to IP address database.
* **Enhancement:** Updated the device detection library.
* **Enhancement:** Added compatibility notices for the Falcon and HTML Minify plugins

View all changelog updates here: https://independentwp.com/changelog/