Switching analytics tools sounds scarier than it is. You can run HitCounters and GA4 side by side for as long as you want before turning off GA4 — the two don't conflict. Here's the practical path.
Sign up at hitcounters.com, add your domain, and grab the tracking code. Drop it in your site's <head> — right next to your existing GA4 / GTM tag is fine. They don't interfere.
If you use Google Tag Manager, add HitCounters as a separate Custom HTML tag with an All Pages trigger. Detailed steps: GTM install guide.
Open your site in a private window. Within seconds:
If both register the same visit, you're done with the install side.
Don't panic when the numbers don't match exactly. They won't — ever. Reasons they differ:
Generally HitCounters reports more real visits and fewer bot visits than GA4. That's healthy.
GA4 calls them "Conversions" or "Key Events." Same idea, different syntax:
| GA4 event | HitCounters equivalent |
|---|---|
page_view on /thank-you | URL goal: contains /thank-you |
Custom event sign_up | Event goal: signup — fire hcEvent('signup') |
Custom event purchase with value | Event goal: purchase — fire hcEvent('purchase', 49.99) |
| "Engaged session" auto-event | Built in: see Engagement card on Summary page |
Set up goals on the Goals page. Full goals guide.
Existing campaigns that used GA4-style UTM parameters work as-is in HitCounters. The utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_term, utm_content fields all surface on the Reports → Campaigns tab.
For new campaigns, use our UTM builder — same syntax Google uses.
Once you're confident:
Optionally, in GA4 you can go to Admin → Property → Property Settings and stop data collection. Existing data stays accessible until July 2027 (Google's announced retention).
For most websites — bloggers, indie SaaS, agencies, content sites — nothing in that list matters. For an e-commerce store running paid Google Ads campaigns, dual-track and use both.