Site Kit by Google vs Independent Analytics (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Analytics Plugins top 10: Site Kit by Google at #1 and Independent Analytics at #7. Site Kit by Google leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Site Kit by Google
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed
Site Kit is a one-stop solution for WordPress users to use everything Google has to offer to make them successful on the web.
Independent Analytics
Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin
A simple, yet powerful WordPress analytics plugin that gives you privacy-friendly stats to grow your website. A Google Analytics alternative.
Who leads on what
Site Kit by Google leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Site Kit by Google ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Analytics Plugins.
Site Kit by Google has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Independent Analytics is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 167 reviews, against 4.2 from 1,009 reviews.
Site Kit by Google has more reviews behind its score: 1,009 against 167.
Site Kit by Google was updated more recently, on August 24, 2026; Independent Analytics on August 20, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Site Kit by Google
Pick Site Kit by Google 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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Independent Analytics
Pick Independent Analytics if the review score matters most to you.
Site Kit by Google vs Independent Analytics side by side
| Site Kit by Google | Independent Analytics | |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics Plugins ranking | #1 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,009 | 167 |
| Active installs | 5 million+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 278,404,415 | 3,087,226 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 24, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 31, 2019 | May 31, 2022 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 8.0.30 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Site Kit by Google ratings
Independent 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 Site Kit by Google nor Independent Analytics can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Analytics Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Site Kit by Google vs Independent Analytics: common questions
Is Site Kit by Google better than Independent Analytics?
Site Kit by Google leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Site Kit by Google ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Analytics Plugins.
Which has more users, Site Kit by Google or Independent Analytics?
Site Kit by Google ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Analytics Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Site Kit by Google or Independent Analytics?
Site Kit by Google has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Site Kit by Google and Independent Analytics free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Site Kit by Google may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Independent Analytics may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Site Kit by Google and Independent Analytics
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Analytics Plugins comparisons
- Burst Statistics vs Site Kit by Google
- Burst Statistics vs Independent Analytics
- GA Google Analytics vs Site Kit by Google
- GA Google Analytics vs Independent Analytics
- ExactMetrics vs Site Kit by Google
- ExactMetrics vs Independent Analytics
- MonsterInsights vs Site Kit by Google
- MonsterInsights vs Independent Analytics
- Site Kit by Google vs Koko Analytics
- Site Kit by Google vs Google Analytics for WooCommerce
- Site Kit by Google vs SlimStat Analytics
- Site Kit by Google vs WP Statistics
Weekly · free
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.