Independent Analytics is WordPress-native analytics designed for people who found Google Analytics overkill: it installs in minutes, requires no account or external service, and shows sessions, page views, referrers, and geo data in a dashboard inside your WP admin. Data lives in your own database, tracking is cookie-free (no consent banner needed in most configurations), and the Pro layer adds the reports businesses actually miss from free tools — WooCommerce revenue attribution per product and referrer, SEO-focused reports showing which pages earn which search traffic, and real-time stats with switchable 5-minute and 30-minute chart windows (2.15.2). Against cloud alternatives like Fathom Analytics, the differentiator is ownership: no subscription, no external data flow, one license.
The WooCommerce integration is the practical hook — orders paid outside the checkout page via “Pay with PayPal” now record correctly (2.15.5), and a workaround for a WooCommerce bug misidentifying the Shop page shipped in the same release. That’s the maintenance rhythm you want from an analytics tool tracking revenue: fixes for the edge cases that actually cost you numbers.
Competitive Features
- WordPress-native storage — analytics data in your own database, no external service
- Cookie-free tracking — no consent banner for most configurations
- WooCommerce revenue reports — sales attributed per product and referrer
- SEO reports — search-traffic performance per page and keyword
- Real-time report (2.15.2) — 5-minute and 30-minute chart windows
- Geo and device data — visitor location and technology breakdowns
- One-time license — no monthly subscription scaling with traffic
Key Features
- Dashboard inside WP admin — no third-party login required
- Referrer reports — which sites and campaigns bring visitors
- Page-level performance — views and engagement per post
- Device and browser breakdowns — audience technology profile
- Automatic data pruning — hardened old-data deletion (2.15.3)
- Strict data sanitization — security hardening (2.15.1)
- Multisite support — network-wide analytics
Comparison with Competitors
Independent Analytics Pro vs Fathom Analytics
| Aspect | Independent Analytics Pro | Fathom Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Data location | Your WordPress database | Fathom’s cloud |
| Pricing | One-time license | Subscription by traffic |
| Dashboard location | WP admin | usefathom.com |
| WooCommerce revenue | Built in | Basic event tracking |
| Multi-site portfolio | Per-site | Unified management |
| Maintenance | None (plugin updates only) | None |
Bottom line: Both are cookie-free and privacy-first. Fathom excels for multi-site portfolios and zero-maintenance; Independent Analytics wins on data ownership, WooCommerce revenue attribution, and long-term cost — the self-hosted value pick.
Independent Analytics Pro vs Matomo
| Aspect | Independent Analytics Pro | Matomo |
|---|---|---|
| Complexity | Plugin-simple | Full analytics platform |
| Setup time | Minutes | Hours (self-hosted) |
| Feature depth | Focused reports | Extensive (funnels, heatmaps via paid) |
| Database footprint | Lightweight | Heavy |
| Best for | Site owners | Analytics teams |
Bottom line: Matomo is the full platform for teams that will use advanced analysis; Independent Analytics is the site-owner tool that answers “how is my site doing” without becoming a project.
Recommended Stack — analytics and SEO are a measurement pair. Combine Independent Analytics with Rank Math SEO — Rank Math handles the search side, Independent Analytics reports which pages the search traffic actually lands on.
Official Changelog
Version 2.15.5
Release Date: August 20, 2026
- Fix: WooCommerce orders paid using “Pay with PayPal” outside of the Checkout page are correctly recorded.
- Fix: Added a workaround for a WooCommerce bug causing the Shop page to be unidentified.
Version 2.15.4
Release Date: August 10, 2026
- Enhancement: Minor edits to the sidebar menu.
Version 2.15.3
Release Date: August 6, 2026
- Fix: Hardened the system for automatically deleting old data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a cookie banner with Independent Analytics?
In most configurations, no — tracking is cookie-free and doesn’t collect personal data, which removes the consent trigger under GDPR for typical setups. Always confirm against your specific privacy configuration.
Does it track WooCommerce revenue?
Yes, with Pro: orders attribute to products and referrers, giving you revenue-per-source reporting inside WordPress. The 2.15.5 release fixed PayPal-off-checkout orders and Shop page identification.
Where is the data stored?
In your own WordPress database. No external service receives your analytics data, and there’s no subscription tied to traffic volume — a one-time license covers the Pro features.
Is there a real-time view?
Yes. The real-time report shows current visitors with switchable 5-minute and 30-minute chart windows, added in 2.15.2.
How does it compare to Google Analytics?
It replaces GA for the metrics most site owners use — sessions, pages, referrers, geo, devices — without the complexity, account requirements, or consent overhead. Advanced segmentation and ad-platform integration remain GA’s territory.
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