Jetpack is a popular WordPress plugin that offers a wide range of features to enhance the functionality and performance of your website. One of the features that Jetpack offers is its Stats module, which provides valuable insights into the traffic and engagement on your site. Today, it’s forced to a Paid Only feature for all the Commercial Sites, most commonly the e-Commerce platforms, service providers or any potential site that is generating revenues. Technically, if your website can escape their algorithm that is intent to “Making Money from a WordPress Site” then its a Personal Site Stats & FREE forever (that too only time will tell).
Let’s quickly check the downsides and alternative to Jetpack Statistics feature.
Downsides of the New Jetpack Statistics
While the free version of Jetpack Stats can be useful, the paid feature comes with its own set of downsides that are worth considering.
Limited Data and Insights
One of the main criticisms of the Jetpack Stats paid feature is its limited data and insights. While the free version provides basic information about your site’s traffic, the paid feature offers more detailed analytics and metrics. However, these insights are still not as comprehensive as those provided by dedicated analytics tools like Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity.
With the Jetpack Stats paid feature, you may find yourself missing out on important data points that could help you make informed decisions about your website. For example, you may not have access to detailed demographic information about your visitors or the ability to track specific user actions on your site. Or if you need a detailed segmented report of organic traffic vs the demographic region & technology.
Costly Subscription Model
Another drawback of the Jetpack Stats paid feature is its costly subscription model. While the free version of Jetpack is available to all WordPress users, the paid features, including the Stats module, require a monthly or yearly subscription. This can be a significant expense for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets.
Furthermore, the cost of the Jetpack Stats paid feature may not be justified for many website owners. As mentioned earlier, there are other analytics tools available, such as Google Analytics, that offer more comprehensive features and insights for free. Paying for the Jetpack Stats feature may not be a wise investment when there are better alternatives available at no cost.
Lack of Customisation Options
One of the limitations of the Jetpack Stats paid feature is the lack of customisation options. While the module provides some basic insights, it may not allow you to tailor the data to your specific needs. This can be frustrating for website owners who want to track and analyse specific metrics that are relevant to their business or industry.
Additionally, the Jetpack Stats paid feature may not integrate seamlessly with other analytics tools or plugins that you may be using. This lack of compatibility can make it difficult to get a complete picture of your website’s performance and may require additional time and effort to manually consolidate data from different sources.
Alternatives to Jetpack Stats
While Jetpack is a popular plugin with many useful features, the paid version of its Stats module has its downsides. The limited data and insights, costly subscription model, and lack of customisation options make it a less attractive option compared to other analytics tools available in the market.
Before deciding to invest in the Jetpack Stats paid feature, it is recommended to explore other alternatives and evaluate their features, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with your website. It’s important to choose an analytics solution that provides comprehensive insights and meets your specific needs without putting a strain on your budget.
Google Analytics & Site Kit by Google (Recommended)
Site Kit by Google is a WordPress plugin that provides insights from various Google services directly in your WordPress dashboard. It seamlessly integrates with the services like Google Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, and PageSpeed Insights, offering website owners a comprehensive overview of their site’s performance, audience behaviour, revenue generation, and SEO insights.
We have already recommended most of our clients that are having issues with Jetpack Stats subscription model and do not wish to pay heavy subscriptions. This is the best alternative along with enough website statistical information.
Criticism over Jetpack Stats
Jetpack is bloatware, f**k them. If you analyse a basic WordPress site and one with jetpack, like a static comparison you will see a huge difference on how they behave and much resources the jetpack one eats up (ram/cpu).
Ah yeah, you will be back soon. Everything out there nowadays are paid and subscription stuffs.
At least Hello Dolly is still free. The day they start charging for it is the day I’m leaving WP.
That’s pretty much it. In case you have any questions to ask, do leave a comment below.