Do I need a plugin or can I edit header.php directly?

Both work. A plugin is safer — direct header.php edits get wiped when you update your theme. We recommend 'Insert Headers and Footers' by WPBeginner or 'WPCode' (both free). If you're using a child theme and know what you're doing, header.php is fine too.

Does SBA work on WordPress.com (the hosted version)?

Yes, but only on the WordPress.com Business plan ($25/mo) or higher — that's the lowest plan that allows custom JavaScript via plugins. Free, Personal, and Premium WordPress.com plans don't allow third-party scripts. If you self-host WordPress (.org), every site works.

Will SBA conflict with my caching plugin (W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket, etc.)?

No. SBA's tracker loads async and doesn't depend on WordPress state. Caching plugins generally exclude header-injected scripts from minification by default — if yours doesn't, exclude 'tracker.js' from JS minification in the plugin settings.

Does SBA work with WooCommerce?

Yes — same install, no special setup. SBA tracks visitor behavior on WooCommerce stores like any other WordPress site. For order/revenue data, you'd still use WooCommerce's built-in reports — they complement each other.

WordPress Analytics: A Simpler Alternative to Google Analytics (2026)

Why WordPress users need a separate analytics tool

WordPress doesn't ship with real visitor analytics. The Jetpack stats panel is basic. Most owners install Google Analytics via the MonsterInsights plugin and then struggle with the GA4 interface. SBA solves both halves:

Plain-English explanations on every metric. No "what is engagement rate" googling.
Alfred AI assistant. Ask traffic questions in conversation.
Auto social tracking. Which Instagram post drove the spike to your latest blog post? SBA knows.
WooCommerce-friendly. Tracks visitor journey alongside WooCommerce's revenue data.
No cookie banner. SBA uses no cookies — pairs well with the rest of WordPress's privacy story.

How to install SBA on WordPress (2 minutes)

Easiest option: Our official one-click plugin is live in the WordPress plugin store. In your WordPress dashboard go to Plugins → Add New, search "Alfred Website Analytics," install and activate, then paste your site ID — about 30 seconds. Prefer to do it by hand? The header-injection method below works too.

Option A — via a header-injection plugin (recommended for now)

Safer than editing theme files because it survives theme updates.

Sign up for SBA at app.smallbusinessanalytics.io and copy your tracking snippet.
In WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New.
Search for "Insert Headers and Footers" by WPBeginner (or "WPCode" by WPBeginner — same team, newer version). Both free.
Click Install Now, then Activate.
Go to Settings → Insert Headers and Footers (or WPCode → Header & Footer).
Paste SBA's snippet into the "Scripts in Header" box.
Click Save.
Return to SBA and click "Run a test visit" to verify.

Option B — direct header.php edit (advanced)

Only recommended if you're using a child theme; otherwise theme updates will wipe your changes.

WordPress admin → Appearance → Theme File Editor.
On the right, find and click header.php.
Find the </head> tag and paste SBA's snippet on the line just before it.
Click Update File.

<script src="https://app.smallbusinessanalytics.io/tracker.js?tid=YOUR_ID" async></script>

WordPress.com note: SBA works on WordPress.org (self-hosted) on any plan. On WordPress.com (hosted by Automattic), you need at least the Business plan ($25/mo) — that's the lowest tier that allows third-party JavaScript via plugins. Free, Personal, and Premium WordPress.com tiers block custom scripts entirely.

WordPress analytics that doesn't require a degree

Why WordPress users need a separate analytics tool

How to install SBA on WordPress (2 minutes)

Option A — via a header-injection plugin (recommended for now)

Option B — direct header.php edit (advanced)

WordPress-specific questions

Try SBA on your WordPress site