Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed vs Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin (2026): PluginCheck
Quick Verdict
Pick Site Kit by Google if you live inside the Google ecosystem and want Search Console, AdSense, and Speed data alongside your analytics in one dashboard. Pick Independent Analytics if you want a faster, cookie-free stats solution that does not require connecting a Google account.
Both plugins answer the same core question: how do I get traffic and audience data into my WordPress dashboard without juggling multiple tabs? Site Kit pulls in a suite of Google services (Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, PageSpeed), while Independent Analytics focuses on a single job: giving you privacy-friendly stats without sending anything to Google. The choice really comes down to whether you want Google's ecosystem or a lightweight, independent alternative.
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.
- Active installs 5M+
- Rating 4.2/5 (1,006)
- Last updated Jul 13, 2026
- Support resolved 78%
- Tested to WP 7.0.1
- Requires PHP 7.4
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.
- Active installs 100k+
- Rating 4.8/5 (161)
- Last updated May 19, 2026
- Support resolved 100%
- Tested to WP 7.0
- Requires PHP 7.4
Where Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed Wins
Ecosystem depth
Site Kit bundles four Google services (Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, and PageSpeed) into one plugin, which Independent Analytics does not attempt to match since it is analytics only.
Massive user base
With 5,000,000 active installs versus 100,000, Site Kit has 50 times the adoption, which generally means more community tutorials and edge-case testing.
Maturity signals
Site Kit's 1,006 ratings give a much larger sample of real-world feedback than Independent Analytics' 161, even though its 84/100 score is lower than its rival's 96/100.
Where Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin Wins
Higher user satisfaction
Independent Analytics scores 96/100 on ratings from 161 reviews, beating Site Kit's 84/100, which suggests users who try it tend to love it.
Perfect support track record
Independent Analytics reports a 100.0% support resolution rate compared to Site Kit's 78.0%, a meaningful gap if you expect to need help.
Privacy-first positioning
As a Google Analytics alternative that does not require connecting a Google account, Independent Analytics sidesteps consent-mode complexity and cookie banners that Site Kit users still have to configure.
Score-by-Score Comparison
Site Kit dominates with a 100/30 popularity score from 5 million installs, while Independent Analytics sits at 75/30 with 100,000 installs. The gap is real but mostly reflects Site Kit's first-party Google distribution advantage.
Both plugins score 100/25 on maintenance, with Site Kit updated 2026-07-13 and Independent Analytics on 2026-05-19. Neither plugin shows any maintenance red flags.
Independent Analytics leads on ratings at 96/15 versus Site Kit's 84/15, but Site Kit's 1,006 reviews give a far more reliable signal than 161 reviews. Treat the gap as a real but modestly weighted data point.
Independent Analytics scores 100/15 with a 100.0% resolution rate, ahead of Site Kit's 78/15 at 78.0%. If responsive support matters to you, Independent Analytics has the clearer record here.
Both plugins score 100/15 on compatibility, indicating no reported conflicts or compatibility issues with current WordPress core.
The Bottom Line
Site Kit wins on overall PluginCheck quality score (94.31 vs 91.79) and on raw reach with 5 million installs, making it the safer default for users who already use or want Google's tools. Independent Analytics wins decisively on user satisfaction (96 vs 84) and support resolution (100% vs 78%), making it the better pick for privacy-conscious site owners who do not need AdSense or Search Console. For the most common use case (a WordPress site owner who just wants straightforward traffic stats without handing data to Google), Independent Analytics is the recommendation we would make first.