=== Page Visit Counter Analytics – Website Statistics & Google Analytics Alternative for WordPress ===
Contributors: ankitmaru, siapanchal, freemius
Tags: analytics, statistics, google analytics, visitor counter, visitor tracking
Requires at least: 5.5
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 4.0.1
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Plugin URI: https://pluginstack.dev
Author URI: https://pluginstack.dev

Lightweight, privacy-first WordPress analytics & visit counter. Track visitors, page views, bounce rate & traffic sources. No cookies. GDPR-ready.

== Description ==

= Simple WordPress analytics you'll actually use =

Google Analytics is overkill for most WordPress sites. You don't need tracking codes, GA4 properties, or a data science degree just to see how many people visit your website.

**Page Visit Counter Analytics** is a lightweight, privacy-first **WordPress analytics plugin** and **visit counter** that shows your website statistics right inside your WordPress dashboard. Track visitors, page views, sessions, bounce rate, traffic sources, devices, and countries — with **no cookies, no external scripts, and no third-party accounts**.

Install, activate, and see your site stats instantly. No configuration required.

Perfect for bloggers, small businesses, marketers, WooCommerce stores, agencies, and anyone who wants actionable **website traffic insights** without relying on Google Analytics or external services.

> **Get more WordPress tools** — Check out the [PluginStack Bundle](https://pluginstack.dev/?utm_source=page-visit-counter-analytics&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=pluginstack_bundle): AI, WooCommerce, Gravity Forms, Analytics & more. All current + upcoming plugins. **One-time payment, no subscription.**

= Why choose Page Visit Counter Analytics? =

* **Privacy-first analytics** – no cookies, no PII, GDPR/CCPA-ready out of the box
* **100% self-hosted** – all statistics stay in your own WordPress database, nothing is sent to third-party servers
* **Real-time visitor stats** – see who's on your site right now
* **Session analytics** – page views, bounce rate, session duration, and pages per session
* **Traffic source tracking** – referrers, search engines, UTM campaigns, and direct visits
* **Lightweight & fast** – zero impact on page load times or Core Web Vitals
* **No account needed** – no external dashboards, no API keys, no signup

= Track every metric that matters =

* 📊 **Visitor Analytics** – daily visits, unique visitors, top pages, top posts, devices, browsers, and countries
* ⚡ **Real-Time Stats** – live view of visitors currently on your site
* 🔍 **Traffic Sources** – discover how visitors find your site (referrers, UTM, direct)
* 🧭 **Session-Level Insights** – session duration, bounce rate, and pages per session
* 🌍 **Geographic Reports** – country-level visitor stats powered by a local GeoIP database
* 🖥️ **Device & Browser Reports** – see which devices, browsers, and platforms your audience uses
* 🎯 **UTM Campaign Tracking** – measure marketing campaigns with full UTM summaries (Pro)
* ✅ **Goal & Conversion Tracking** – set goals and monitor conversions (Pro)
* 🔥 **Click Heatmaps** – visualize where visitors click on each page (Pro)
* 🔒 **Privacy First** – cookieless tracking, hashed IPs, compliant with privacy laws
* 🚀 **Fast & Lightweight** – optimized tracking with no external requests
* 🧩 **Easy to Use** – activate and get insights instantly, no setup wizard required

= Who is this WordPress statistics plugin for? =

* **Bloggers** – see which posts get the most views and where your readers come from, without wading through GA4 menus
* **Small businesses & startups** – simple site stats and traffic sources in plain language, right in your WP admin
* **WooCommerce stores** – understand which products and pages attract the most visitors
* **Agencies & freelancers** – give clients a clean analytics dashboard inside WordPress they can actually understand
* **News & content sites** – real-time stats show you what's resonating right now
* **Privacy-conscious site owners** – GDPR-compliant, cookieless analytics with no data sent to Google

= Privacy-friendly, GDPR-compliant analytics =

Unlike Google Analytics, Page Visit Counter Analytics is built for privacy compliance by design:

* No cookies and no tracking pixels — cookieless analytics by default
* No personally identifiable information (PII) is stored
* IP addresses are hashed for anonymous visitor tracking
* All data is created and stored on your own server — full data ownership
* No data shared with Google, Facebook, or any third party
* Designed to support GDPR, CCPA, DSGVO, and PECR compliance

Because no cookies are set and no personal data is collected, in most cases you won't need a cookie consent banner for your analytics.

= A lightweight Google Analytics alternative =

If GA4 feels too complex — or you simply don't want to send your visitor data to Google — Page Visit Counter Analytics is a clean **Google Analytics alternative for WordPress**:

* **Google Analytics / GA4 alternative** – no Google account, no tracking codes, no sampling. Real numbers in a simple dashboard.
* **MonsterInsights alternative** – MonsterInsights still sends your data to Google Analytics. This plugin keeps everything on your own server.
* **Jetpack Stats alternative** – no WordPress.com connection required, and your stats never leave your site.
* **Matomo alternative** – far lighter and simpler, with no separate application to maintain.
* **Plausible / Fathom alternative** – the same privacy-first philosophy, but free and fully self-hosted with no monthly fee.

Also comparing WP Statistics, Koko Analytics, Burst Statistics, or Independent Analytics? Page Visit Counter Analytics focuses on being the simplest way to count page visits and understand your traffic — a clear dashboard, session analytics, real-time stats, and privacy by default, without the clutter.

= Free vs Pro =

The **free version** includes everything you need to track your website traffic: visitor counter, page view tracking, real-time stats, top pages, traffic sources, sessions, bounce rate, devices, browsers, and country reports.

**Pro** adds advanced insights for marketers and growing sites:

* **UTM Campaign Tracking** – full campaign summaries with source grouping
* **Goal & Conversion Tracking** – measure the actions that matter
* **Click Heatmaps** – see exactly where visitors click on every page

= Built for speed =

Page Visit Counter Analytics is a lightweight analytics plugin that won't slow down your site:

* No external scripts or third-party requests
* Optimized, cache-friendly tracking system
* Zero impact on page load times and Core Web Vitals

= Migration from Advanced Page Visit Counter =

Upgrading from **Advanced Page Visit Counter**? Your data is migrated automatically when you activate Page Visit Counter Analytics:

* All existing page visit counts and historical analytics are preserved
* Your settings, configurations, and custom tracking rules are transferred
* No manual steps required — just activate and verify your dashboard

**Migration steps:**

1. Install and activate Page Visit Counter Analytics
2. Deactivate Advanced Page Visit Counter
3. Your data is migrated automatically
4. Review your settings and check the new analytics dashboard

== Installation ==

1. Go to **Plugins → Add New** in your WordPress dashboard
2. Search for **Page Visit Counter Analytics**
3. Click **Install Now**, then **Activate**
4. Visit **Visit Counter → Dashboard** to see your website statistics
5. Optionally configure tracking under **Visit Counter → Settings**

Tracking starts immediately after activation — no accounts, no tracking codes, no configuration needed.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Is Page Visit Counter Analytics a good Google Analytics alternative? =

Yes. It's a self-hosted, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative built specifically for WordPress. You get the metrics that matter — visitors, page views, sessions, bounce rate, traffic sources, and real-time stats — in a simple dashboard, without sending any data to Google.

= Is this plugin GDPR-compliant? =

Yes. We take privacy seriously. The plugin:

* Doesn't use cookies
* Doesn't send data to third-party services
* Uses hashed IP addresses
* Collects only essential analytics data
* Is fully self-hosted

= Do I need a cookie consent banner? =

The plugin uses cookieless tracking and stores no personal data, so in most cases a cookie consent banner is not required for your analytics. Always review your local privacy regulations for your specific setup.

= Will it slow down my website? =

No. The plugin uses a lightweight, optimized tracking system with no external scripts or third-party requests, so it has no measurable impact on your page load times.

= How does the tracking work? =

The plugin uses a lightweight tracking system that:

* Tracks sessions and pageviews in real-time
* Uses session and IP hashes for anonymous visitor tracking
* Doesn't impact your site's performance
* Works without external scripts or cookies

= Where is my analytics data stored? =

All statistics are stored in your own WordPress database. Your data never leaves your server, and no third party — including us — has access to it.

= Do I need to create an account? =

No. There are no external accounts, API keys, or connections required. Install the plugin and your website statistics appear in your WordPress dashboard.

= Can I use it alongside Google Analytics? =

Yes. You can run Page Visit Counter Analytics and Google Analytics at the same time without any conflicts — many users do this during a transition period.

= Can I customize what gets tracked? =

Yes! You can:

* Exclude specific user roles
* Block specific IPs
* Track only logged-in users
* Select which post types to track
* Enable/disable specific metrics

= Does it support custom post types? =

Yes, you can choose which post types to track through the settings panel.

= How does the GeoIP feature work? =

The plugin uses MaxMind's GeoLite2 database for country-level geolocation:

* Database is stored locally
* Updates automatically
* Only determines country of origin
* No personal data is sent to third parties

= Is there a limit on how many visitors I can track? =

No. There are no tracking limits — the only limiting factor is your own server and database.

= Can I migrate from Advanced Page Visit Counter? =

Yes. Migration is automatic: your visit counts, historical data, and settings are transferred when you activate Page Visit Counter Analytics. No manual steps required.

== Screenshots ==

1. Analytics dashboard with traffic summary, real-time visitors, sessions, and bounce rate
2. Top pages report with filters
3. Top countries and devices report
4. Settings page with privacy and tracking controls
5. UTM campaign analytics and goal conversions (Pro)

== Changelog ==

= 4.0.0 = 13th August 2026
* Improved overall performance and security
* Redesigned the UI of the plugin

= 3.1.1 = 30th June 2026
* Improved overall performance and security
* Compatibility check with 7.0

= 3.1.0 = 24th Feb 2026
* Improved overall performance and security
* Enhanced session tracking accuracy
* Updated Freemius SDK integration

= 2.0.0 = 25th Nov 2025
Improved overall performance and security.

= 1.0.5 = 17th June 2025
* Added migration support from Advanced Page Visit Counter
* Improved real-time tracking accuracy
* Fixed session duration calculation
* Enhanced dashboard performance
* Added new traffic source filters

= 1.0.4 = 20th May 2025
Fixed: Realtime chart issue & pro widget issues fixes.

= 1.0.1 = 20th May 2025
Fixed: Dashboard statistics display issue resolved.

= 1.0.0 = 19th May 2025
* Initial release
* Realtime stats, tracking engine
* Dashboard charts & cards
* List pages: top pages, posts, countries, devices, sessions
* Settings panel with exclusions
* GeoIP database auto-download
* Performance & caching ready

== Upgrade Notice ==
