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Understanding What MonsterInsights Free Version Tracks (And What It Doesn't)

31 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Monsterinsights

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Many WordPress users install the MonsterInsights plugin to simplify Google Analytics integration. A common point of confusion, however, is understanding exactly what the free version of the plugin can and cannot track. This guide clarifies the capabilities of the free version based on common user inquiries.

What the Free Version Tracks

The free MonsterInsights plugin, also known as the "Lite" version, provides a foundational connection between your WordPress site and Google Analytics. It handles the basic implementation of the Google Analytics tracking code on your site.

Once connected, the plugin's dashboard widget displays a summary of your Google Analytics data. According to the sample threads, this widget shows data for the last 30 days (excluding the current day) and includes metrics like sessions and bounce rate. The data is updated once per day via an API call and is cached in your WordPress database to improve performance; it does not rely on the WordPress Heartbeat API.

Since the plugin sends data to your standard Google Analytics property, you can access all the reports available there. For example, to see what browsers and devices your visitors use, you would navigate to the Audience -> Technology report within your Google Analytics account. The free version also supports tracking setup via UTM parameters for campaign tracking, which is useful for identifying traffic from specific sources like affiliate links.

Common Features Not Included in the Free Version

Based on numerous user questions, several advanced tracking features are reserved for the paid Pro version of MonsterInsights. The free version does not include:

  • eCommerce Tracking: This includes tracking sales, revenue, transactions, and refunds for platforms like WooCommerce. Attempting to use eCommerce features with the free version can sometimes cause issues, such as double-counting transactions.
  • Custom Dimensions Tracking: Tracking user visits by WordPress categories or tags requires the Pro version's Dimensions addon.
  • User Tracking: Identifying individual users by username or email is a Pro feature.
  • Real-time Dashboard Data: The free dashboard widget does not include data from the current day.
  • Email Summaries: Scheduled email reports are a feature of the Pro version.
  • Form Conversion Tracking: Advanced tracking for forms is part of the paid offering.
  • Support for Segments: The plugin's reports do not support applying Google Analytics-style segments to isolate traffic.

Furthermore, the free version does not natively track video plays or provide shortcodes to display visitor counts on the front end of a site.

Troubleshooting a Common Free Version Issue

Problem: The dashboard widget shows outdated data or doesn't refresh.

Why it happens: The Lite version is designed to update its data cache only once every 24 hours. It also intentionally excludes the current day's data, showing a fixed 30-day period that is always one day behind.

Solution: This is the expected behavior of the free version. To see real-time or current-day data, you must view your reports directly at analytics.google.com.

Where to Get Help

For specific questions about the free MonsterInsights plugin, the team provides a dedicated support channel at monsterinsights.com/lite-support/. Questions regarding the features, pricing, or functionality of the Pro version are typically directed to the company's main contact page.

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