SEO & Analytics

How to Check Site Traffic on WordPress

Track and grow WordPress traffic

To check site traffic on WordPress, you need simple tools that show which posts get visits, where visitors come from, and what content performs best. When you regularly check site traffic on WordPress, it becomes much easier to decide what to publish and how to grow your audience.

In this guide, you will see several easy ways to check WordPress site traffic. We will cover built in stats, Google Analytics with plugins, hosting analytics, and tools like Google Search Console.

What You Need Before You Start

  • A working WordPress site (self hosted or WordPress.com).
  • Administrator access to the WordPress dashboard.
  • Access to your email inbox for confirming plugin or Google accounts.
  • Optional: a Google account if you plan to use Google Analytics or Search Console.

Method 1: Use Built In WordPress Stats (Fastest Option)

The quickest way to check site traffic on WordPress is with built in stats. WordPress.com sites have traffic reports by default. Self hosted sites can use the Jetpack plugin for similar stats.

Check stats on WordPress.com

  1. Log in to your WordPress.com account.
  2. Open My Site in the top left menu.
  3. Click Stats in the sidebar.
  4. Review views, visitors, countries, and popular posts for the selected date range.

Check stats on self hosted WordPress with Jetpack

  1. In your dashboard, go to Plugins » Add New.
  2. Search for Jetpack, then click Install Now and Activate.
  3. Connect Jetpack to your WordPress.com account when prompted.
  4. Go to Jetpack » Site Stats or look at the Site Stats widget on your dashboard home screen.
  5. View chart lines for daily views and your top posts and pages.

These stats are perfect when you want a quick way to check site traffic on WordPress without complex setup. For deeper marketing reports, Google Analytics is the next step.

Quick comparison of traffic methods

Method Best For What You See
WordPress.com / Jetpack Stats Beginners who want simple numbers inside WordPress Basic views, visitors, top posts, referrers, and clicks.
Google Analytics via Plugin Site owners who need detailed reports and goals Sessions, bounce rate, engagement, events, conversions, and more.
Hosting or CDN Analytics Technical users who track bandwidth and performance Requests, bandwidth, unique IPs, and sometimes bot traffic.
Google Search Console SEO focused owners who care about search traffic Search queries, average position, clicks, and CTR from Google.

Method 2: Use Google Analytics to Check Site Traffic on WordPress

Google Analytics gives the most detailed way to check site traffic on WordPress. It tracks page views, user paths, devices, and conversions, all in one dashboard.

Step 1: Create a Google Analytics property

  1. Sign in to Google Analytics with your Google account.
  2. Create a new account and property for your website.
  3. Select Web as the platform and enter your site URL.
  4. Copy or note the measurement ID (for example, G-XXXXXXX).

Step 2: Connect Analytics with a plugin

Instead of adding code by hand, install a plugin that links WordPress to Google Analytics.

  1. In WordPress, go to Plugins » Add New.
  2. Search for a Google Analytics plugin, such as Site Kit by Google or a dedicated GA4 connector.
  3. Click Install Now, then Activate.
  4. Follow the setup wizard. Grant permission to your Google account and select the Analytics property you created.
  5. Finish the steps so the plugin can insert the tracking code on every page.
WordPress Site Kit setup screen showing how to connect Google Analytics to check site traffic on WordPress.
The Google Site Kit setup interface in WordPress, prompting to connect Google Analytics for site traffic data.

Step 3: Check traffic inside WordPress or in the GA dashboard

  1. Open Site Kit or your Analytics plugin menu in WordPress.
  2. View the summary for users, sessions, and top content for the last 7–28 days.
  3. Click through to the full Google Analytics interface for detailed reports.
  4. Use reports like Pages and screens and Acquisition to find best traffic sources and pages.

After setup, you can check site traffic on WordPress in a few clicks. Analytics will continue to collect data automatically while you focus on content.

Method 3: Use Hosting or CDN Analytics

Many managed WordPress hosts and CDNs show basic traffic stats. These tools are not as detailed as Google Analytics, but they help you spot spikes, bots, or attacks.

Check stats from your host

  1. Log in to your hosting control panel.
  2. Look for sections named Analytics, Traffic, Visitors, or Statistics.
  3. Open the report for your domain.
  4. Review total visits, bandwidth use, and traffic by hour or day.

Check stats from your CDN or firewall

  1. Sign in to your CDN or security provider dashboard.
  2. Select your site and open the Analytics or Traffic tab.
  3. View total requests, cached vs uncached traffic, and top paths.
  4. Check for unusual spikes that might be bots or attacks.

Use these numbers as a sanity check. Then rely on Google Analytics or WordPress stats when you want to check site traffic on WordPress for content decisions.

Method 4: Use Google Search Console for Search Traffic

Google Search Console does not show all visitors. It shows search traffic from Google only. That data is vital if you care about SEO and want to grow organic visits.

Connect your WordPress site to Search Console

  1. Go to the Google Search Console website and sign in.
  2. Add a new property for your domain or URL prefix.
  3. Verify site ownership. You can use a DNS record, HTML tag, or your Google Analytics or Site Kit connection.
  4. Wait a few days for search data to start appearing.

Check search traffic reports

  1. Open your site in Search Console.
  2. Click Performance » Search results.
  3. Review total clicks, impressions, average position, and click through rate.
  4. Scroll down to see search queries and pages that attract traffic.

Combine Search Console with Google Analytics to check site traffic on WordPress from both SEO and user behavior angles.

Tips to Read Your Traffic Numbers Correctly

Traffic numbers only help when you know what to do with them. Use these simple habits to turn WordPress stats into real action:

Look at trends, not single days

  • Compare this week to last week and this month to last month.
  • Expect some daily spikes from email campaigns or social shares.

Watch your best pages

  • Find the top 5–10 posts that bring most traffic.
  • Improve these pages with better calls to action, internal links, and updated content.

Check where traffic comes from

  • Use Analytics to see which channels drive visitors: search, social, email, or direct.
  • Focus your marketing time on the channels that already work.

Conclusion You Can Now Check Site Traffic on WordPress

You have seen four main ways to check site traffic on WordPress. Built in stats and Jetpack give quick numbers. Google Analytics adds deep insights. Hosting tools and Search Console fill in gaps for performance and SEO.

Pick one method to start today. Once tracking runs for a few weeks, review the reports, keep what works, and adjust content so your WordPress traffic grows in the right direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Google Analytics to check site traffic on WordPress

No. You can check basic traffic with WordPress.com stats or Jetpack Site Stats. Google Analytics is still recommended if you want detailed reports, conversion tracking, and advanced segments.

Will checking traffic slow down my WordPress site

Simple stats plugins and a single Analytics script have almost no visible impact on speed. Problems usually appear when you add many tracking scripts or heavy advertising tags. Keep your setup lean and test your site with a speed tool after adding new trackers.

How often should I check my WordPress traffic

Once or twice a week is enough for most sites. Daily checks can create stress without adding value. Focus more on improving content and less on chasing small day to day changes.

Can I see real time visitors in WordPress

Yes, some Analytics plugins and Google Analytics itself offer real time views. These show how many people are on your site right now and what pages they are browsing. Real time data is useful during product launches or campaigns but not required every day.

What is a good number of visitors for a WordPress site

There is no fixed “good” number that works for every site. A local service business may grow with a few hundred targeted visits per month. A content site might need thousands. Focus on steady growth and conversions, not only raw traffic.

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