MonsterInsights vs Matomo Analytics (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Analytics Plugins top 10: MonsterInsights at #2 and Matomo Analytics at #17. MonsterInsights leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy)
The best free Google Analytics plugin for WordPress. See how visitors find and use your website so you can grow your business with powerful analytics.
Matomo Analytics
Matomo Analytics – Powerful, Privacy-First Insights for WordPress
Privacy friendly, GDPR compliant and self-hosted. Matomo is the #1 Google Analytics alternative that gives you control of your data. Free and secure.
Who leads on what
MonsterInsights leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
MonsterInsights ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #17 in Analytics Plugins.
MonsterInsights has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Matomo Analytics is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 178 reviews, against 4.5 from 3,156 reviews.
MonsterInsights has more reviews behind its score: 3,156 against 178.
MonsterInsights was updated more recently, on September 16, 2026; Matomo Analytics on September 15, 2026.
MonsterInsights was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 645,980 times against 29,404.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
MonsterInsights
Pick MonsterInsights if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Matomo Analytics
Pick Matomo Analytics if the review score matters most to you.
MonsterInsights vs Matomo Analytics side by side
| MonsterInsights | Matomo Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics Plugins ranking | #2 | #17 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 3,156 | 178 |
| Active installs | 2 million+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 281,806,524 | 3,298,474 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 645,980 | 29,404 |
| Last updated | Sep 16, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| First published | Sep 14, 2007 | Feb 13, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.0 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.2.5 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
MonsterInsights ratings
Matomo Analytics ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither MonsterInsights nor Matomo Analytics can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Analytics Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MonsterInsights vs Matomo Analytics: common questions
Is MonsterInsights better than Matomo Analytics?
MonsterInsights leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. MonsterInsights ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #17 in Analytics Plugins.
Which has more users, MonsterInsights or Matomo Analytics?
MonsterInsights ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #17 in Analytics Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MonsterInsights or Matomo Analytics?
MonsterInsights has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are MonsterInsights and Matomo Analytics free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MonsterInsights may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Matomo Analytics may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MonsterInsights and Matomo Analytics
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Independent Analytics
100,000+ installs · 4.8 from 166 reviews
-
WP Statistics
500,000+ installs · 4.1 from 759 reviews
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Burst Statistics
200,000+ installs · 4.9 from 186 reviews
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ExactMetrics
200,000+ installs · 2.5 from 1,546 reviews
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Google Analytics for WooCommerce
100,000+ installs · 2.8 from 119 reviews
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.