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Independent Analytics alternative
Independent Analytics vs Hitsteps for WordPress
Independent Analytics is a useful choice when you want traffic reports and self-hosted data inside WordPress. Its free plugin lists unlimited sites and pageviews, while its Pro plan adds Real-time Analytics, User Journeys, eCommerce analytics, and form tracking. Hitsteps' Free offer includes a live visitor view within its limits.
For a response during a visit, Hitsteps chat starts on Starter. Click heatmaps start on Growth. The pricing periods and plan limits matter as much as the feature lists.
Product proof
Understand your visitors. Take action with confidence.
Use it when you need live visitor context, practical installation routes, and action tools around the traffic you already have.
Works where your site already lives
WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Google Tag Manager, HTML, CMS, commerce, browser, and desktop setup paths are documented from one hub.
From tracking hit to next action
Live dashboard, visitor profiles, heatmaps, chat, Segments, uptime, reports, and alerts stay connected after tracking is installed.
What Independent Analytics includes for free in WordPress
The free plugin gives you Pages, Referrers, Geographic, and Devices reports, plus CSV exports, PDF downloads, and saved reports. Independent Analytics says you can use Free on unlimited sites with unlimited pageviews and visitors, and retain the data without a time cap. Its reports appear in WordPress admin, and the plugin listing says its analytics data is stored in your WordPress database without a separate account. (Independent Analytics features; pricing; WordPress.org listing; homepage, checked 18 Oct 2026.)
That makes the free plugin a strong fit if you mainly need content and traffic trends in your own WordPress setup. Independent Analytics also gives its paid product clear depth: Pro adds eCommerce analytics and form tracking, including integrations with more than 20 form plugins. Those features deserve attention if orders or lead forms drive your reporting. (Independent Analytics features; WordPress.org listing, checked 18 Oct 2026.)
Hitsteps keeps its main visitor workspace in a hosted account connected to WordPress. Explore WordPress analytics with live visitors to see the workflow, or install the Hitsteps WordPress plugin and connect a website API key. Its Free plan has a live visitor view for 1 site, up to 2,000 pageviews per month, and 14 days of history.
Real-time visitors and User Journeys: what each view answers
Independent Analytics labels Real-time Analytics as Pro. Its features page says that view shows how many people are on the site now, the pages they are viewing, and where they came from. Hitsteps includes a live visitor view on Free within its stated limits. In Hitsteps, you can open an active or recent visit and follow its observed page path. See real-time visitor tracking for that view. The two products' live views should not be read as identical visit detail. (Independent Analytics features, checked 18 Oct 2026.)
Independent Analytics Pro also has User Journeys, a per-visit timeline. The User Journeys page says it shows which pages were viewed, the time spent on each page, and conversion events such as form submissions and eCommerce orders. It also describes filtering visits by clicks, forms, orders, and UTM parameters. That gives a WordPress owner a concrete way to inspect how a visit led to an action. Hitsteps' live path answers the related question of which observed pages an active visitor has opened so far. (Independent Analytics User Journeys, checked 18 Oct 2026.)
Hitsteps does not record or replay sessions. Its visitor path is a sequence of observed pages.
| Question | Independent Analytics | Hitsteps |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the main analytics workspace? | Reports and stored analytics data are in WordPress. | A hosted Hitsteps account connected to WordPress; the plugin also offers WordPress admin widgets. |
| What is available on Free? | Pages, Referrers, Geographic, and Devices reports; unlimited sites and pageviews as stated by Independent Analytics. | A live visitor view with up to 2,000 pageviews per month, 1 site, and 14 days of history. |
| How do I inspect activity now? | Real-time Analytics is Pro and describes current visitors, pages, and sources. | Open an active visitor and follow the observed page path, including on Free. |
| How do I inspect a past visit? | Pro User Journeys is a per-visit timeline with page order, time on each page, and conversion events. | Review the available observed page path for a recent visitor. |
| What about orders and forms? | Pro lists eCommerce analytics and form tracking with 20+ form plugin integrations. | Hitsteps Commerce, included from Pro ($21.99) and during the trial, links shopping steps with verified orders from Shopify, WooCommerce or your own store server (ecommerce analytics). Form submits can be sent as custom JavaScript Actions. |
Chat, click heatmaps, uptime, and funnels by Hitsteps plan
When someone needs help during a visit, Hitsteps website live chat can put a conversation beside the available page and visitor context. Starter is $4.99/month and includes 1 chat agent and 3 goals. Growth is $9.99/month and includes 3 chat agents and click heatmaps for seeing which page elements receive clicks. Pro is $21.99/month and includes uptime monitoring and funnels. These prices are monthly; the plan allowances are in the table below.
Visitor chat, click heatmaps, and uptime monitoring are not listed on Independent Analytics' public pages (checked 18 Oct 2026), including its pricing page. That statement describes the checked pages, not every possible capability of the product. Independent Analytics does list Pro click tracking, which tracks clicks on links, and its User Journeys timeline can include recorded click events. Those are useful capabilities to compare with the job you need done; they are not the same claim as a click heatmap. (Independent Analytics features; User Journeys, checked 18 Oct 2026.)
Independent Analytics annual pricing and Hitsteps monthly pricing
Independent Analytics lists its paid Pro packages in USD billed yearly. Standard costs $49/year for 1 site, Hobbyist $79/year for 3 sites, and Agency $199/year for unlimited sites. Its pricing page says each Pro package includes all Pro features. It says there is no free Pro trial and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. (Independent Analytics pricing, checked 18 Oct 2026.)
| Independent Analytics, USD billed yearly | Hitsteps, USD billed monthly |
|---|---|
| Free $0, unlimited sites and pageviews. Pro Standard $49/year, 1 site. Pro Hobbyist $79/year, 3 sites. Pro Agency $199/year, unlimited sites. Independent Analytics pricing. | Free $0, up to 2,000 pageviews per month, 1 site, 14 days of history. Starter $4.99/month. Growth $9.99/month. Pro $21.99/month. Business $49.99/month. Scale $99.99/month. Higher tiers up to Enterprise $449.99/month. Hitsteps plans. |
These columns show each vendor's own billing period and product ladder. Rows do not pair equivalent plans. The saved Independent Analytics pricing toggle also shows Standard $147 lifetime, Hobbyist $237 lifetime, and Agency $597 lifetime.
The Hitsteps USD billed monthly plan limits are:
| Hitsteps plan | Price per month, USD | Pageviews per month | Sites | History | Selected plan features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | up to 2,000 | 1 | 14 days | Live visitor view |
| Starter | $4.99 | 10,000 | 2 | 30 days | 1 chat agent, 3 goals |
| Growth | $9.99 | 50,000 | 5 | 60 days | Click heatmaps, 3 chat agents |
| Pro | $21.99 | 500,000 | 30 | 180 days | Uptime monitoring, funnels |
| Business | $49.99 | 1,000,000 | 100 | 360 days | Higher allowances |
| Scale | $99.99 | 12,000,000 | 400 | 360 days | Higher allowances |
There are higher tiers beyond Scale, up to Enterprise at $449.99 a month.
Review current plans and trial terms. New Hitsteps accounts get a 7-day Pro trial with no card needed.
Which option fits your WordPress site?
Choose Independent Analytics if you want reports and stored analytics data inside WordPress, especially when unlimited free traffic and retention are deciding factors. Its Pro eCommerce, form tracking, and per-visit timeline give site owners a meaningful path beyond aggregate reports. The Standard, Hobbyist, and Agency packages vary by site count, with all Pro features listed for each. (Independent Analytics pricing; User Journeys, checked 18 Oct 2026.)
Choose Hitsteps if you want to inspect an active visitor's observed page path within the Free limits. The WordPress plugin connects your site to a hosted visitor workspace. Paid plans add chat, click heatmaps, uptime monitoring, and funnels at the tiers shown above. Create a Hitsteps account to try Pro for 7 days without a card.
For other approaches to analytics, read the Plausible comparison, Fathom comparison, or Clicky comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is Independent Analytics free for unlimited WordPress traffic?
Yes. Its homepage and pricing page say the free plugin allows unlimited sites and pageviews, with no visitor or retention cap. Hitsteps Free has up to 2,000 pageviews per month, 1 site, and 14 days of history, per its Hitsteps plans.
Does Independent Analytics show visitors in real time?
Yes, on Pro. Its features page labels Real-time Analytics as Pro and describes current visitors, pages, and sources. Hitsteps Free includes a live visitor view within its stated limits.
What is Independent Analytics User Journeys?
It is a Pro per-visit timeline of pages viewed, time on each page, and conversion events, as described on the User Journeys page. You can use it to review the sequence behind a form submission, click, or order.
Which plans include chat, heatmaps, and uptime in Hitsteps?
Chat starts on Starter at $4.99/month, click heatmaps on Growth at $9.99/month, and uptime monitoring on Pro at $21.99/month, per the Hitsteps plans. These features are not listed on Independent Analytics' public pages (checked 18 Oct 2026).
Can I try Hitsteps before choosing a plan?
Yes. New accounts get a 7-day Pro trial with no card needed. After the trial you can stay on Free, which includes the live visitor view, as long as your email is verified and your site fits Free's limits (up to 2,000 pageviews a month, 1 site), or choose a paid plan.