Flying Analytics: Self-Host Google Analytics v4 with Speed Optimization

78 Quality Score

Active Installs

16/30

Popularity scores 55/30 with only 5,000 active installs, putting this in niche territory compared to the 200,000+ install alternatives listed above.

Update Freshness

25/25

Maintenance is perfect at 100/25, reflecting a recent update on May 20, 2026 and full compatibility with WordPress 7.0.

User Rating

15/15

Ratings are exceptional at 98/15, though the sample is small with only 14 ratings so the confidence interval is wide.

Support Health

8/15

Support health is middling at 50/15, with zero support threads opened or resolved, which could mean either no problems or simply that users go elsewhere for help.

WP Compatibility

15/15

Compatibility scores 100/15, covering WordPress 4.5 through 7.0 and PHP 5.6, an unusually broad support matrix.

Scores higher than 67% of indexed plugins

About

Self-host Google Analytics v4 or use Minimal Analytics, a lightweight gtag.js alternative, to improve site speed and enhance privacy.

Active Installs 4k+

Rating ★★★★½ 4.9/5

Last Updated 2026-05-20 11:01am GMT

Requires WordPress 4.5+

Tested Up To 7.0.4

Requires PHP 5.6+

✓ No known vulnerabilities

What It Does

Flying Analytics lets WordPress site owners serve the Google Analytics 4 gtag.js script from their own server rather than directly from Google's CDN, which reduces third-party requests and can improve Core Web Vitals. It also offers Minimal Analytics, a stripped-down alternative that sends only essential tracking data without the full GA4 payload. The net effect is GA tracking with less front-end weight and fewer external connections.

Who It's For

This plugin is a good fit for site owners who already use or want Google Analytics 4 but are specifically chasing page speed gains by removing render-blocking third-party scripts. It also suits privacy-conscious publishers and EU-based businesses who want fewer external requests touching their visitors' browsers. Small businesses and independent publishers running on shared or eco-friendly hosting will appreciate the reduced outbound traffic.

Who Should Skip It

If you need a full analytics dashboard inside WordPress with on-site reporting, this is the wrong tool because it does not store or display any data locally. Anyone wanting cookieless or cookieless-by-default analytics will also be disappointed, since it still funnels data through GA4. Larger sites already running a heavier GA dashboard plugin will not see meaningful wins from switching.

The Bottom Line

Flying Analytics delivers a focused, well-maintained solution for a very specific job: serving GA4 faster and with fewer privacy footprint concerns. With only 5,000 installs and 14 ratings, the social proof is thin, but the maintenance signals and compatibility range are strong. It is worth installing if you specifically need self-hosted GA4 and care about Core Web Vitals, but it is not a GA replacement and not for users wanting built-in reporting.

Pick Burst if you want a fully self-hosted, cookieless analytics dashboard inside WordPress with no Google account required.

Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 92/100

Choose Independent Analytics when you want Google Analytics-style event tracking and reports stored locally for privacy compliance.

WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 91/100

WP Statistics is the right call for sites that need detailed on-site reports, geo data, and zero external tracking calls.

MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 89/100

Pick MonsterInsights if you want Google Analytics reporting surfaced directly in the WordPress dashboard rather than only in the GA interface.

GA Google Analytics – Connect Google Analytics to WordPress 87/100

GA Google Analytics suits sites wanting a lightweight, no-frills connection to GA4 without the self-hosting focus this plugin provides.