PulseTrack vs Google Analytics 4
Google Analytics 4 is free and built into the Google Ads ecosystem. PulseTrack works without cookies, ties revenue to its source and bundles heatmaps, session replay and A/B tests. Here is where each one wins — including where GA4 does.
No cookies
GA4 sets _ga cookies that last up to two years by default. PulseTrack stores nothing on the visitor's device.
Revenue, not just traffic
PulseTrack connects to Stripe and splits revenue by source. GA4 needs purchase events implemented on your site.
Where GA4 wins
It is free, exports raw events to BigQuery at no cost up to 1M events a day, and integrates natively with Google Ads.
Side by side
| Criterion | PulseTrack | Google Analytics 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Works without cookies | No cookie, no local storage: a daily-rotating anonymous identifier computed on the server | Sets _ga and _ga_<id> first-party cookies, 2-year default expiry; Consent Mode can send cookieless pings used for modeling |
| Revenue per traffic source from Stripe | Connect a read-only Stripe key; payments are matched to the sessions that brought them | Ecommerce purchase events must be implemented; no native Stripe connection |
| Funnels | Multi-step funnels with drop-off, time to convert and revenue lost per step | Funnel explorations |
| Real-time | Visitors in the last 5 minutes and the pages they are on | Realtime report |
| Heatmaps and session replay | Click, scroll and rage-click maps; recorded sessions (Starter plan and above) | Not included |
| A/B tests and feature flags | Experiments with a significance verdict, and feature flags | Not included since Google Optimize was discontinued in 2023 |
| AI assistant in plain language | Built-in assistant (Starter plan and above) | Ask Advisor (Gemini), launched in beta in June 2026, English first |
| MCP server for AI assistants | Hosted, OAuth sign-in, read-only by default, changes only with your permission | Official server, labelled experimental, runs on your own machine, read-only |
| Raw data export | Daily signed export to your own URL, and an API (Growth plan and above) | Free BigQuery export, up to 1M events a day on standard properties |
| Google Ads integration | Not available | Native |
| Data retention | 30 days to 12 months depending on plan | Explorations: 2 or 14 months on standard properties; standard reports are not affected |
| Base script weight | 3.7 KB gzipped; heatmaps and replay load extra code only when enabled | gtag.js: 144 KB compressed, measured on 17 September 2026 |
| Price | Free plan; paid plans from €9 per month | Free; Analytics 360 is a paid enterprise edition |
Choose PulseTrack if…
- You want to know which channels bring paying customers, not just visits.
- You would rather not set cookies on your visitors' devices.
- You want heatmaps, session replay and A/B tests in the same tool as your analytics.
- You want your data hosted in the European Union.
Choose Google Analytics 4 if…
- You run Google Ads campaigns and rely on the native integration.
- You need a free tool and are comfortable managing cookie consent.
- You want raw event data in BigQuery at no extra cost.
How PulseTrack counts visitors without cookies
Each request is attributed to an identifier computed on our servers from the request and a salt that changes every day. Nothing is written to or read from the visitor's device. The trade-off is deliberate: the same person returning tomorrow counts as a new visitor, so PulseTrack reports visitors per day rather than people followed over months. To follow customers over time, you identify them yourself when they sign up.
Cookies and consent
GA4 relies on first-party cookies. When a visitor refuses them, Consent Mode can still send cookieless pings that Google uses to model the missing data. PulseTrack sets no cookie at all. Whether your site needs a consent banner also depends on the other tools it uses, so check with your own advisor.
Where the data lives
PulseTrack stores its data in Ireland and runs its servers in Dublin, inside the European Union.
Frequently asked
Can I run PulseTrack alongside Google Analytics?+
Yes. The two scripts are independent, so you can compare figures side by side before deciding. Expect different visitor counts: GA4 follows a browser across days with its cookie, while PulseTrack counts visitors per day.
Can I import my Google Analytics history?+
Not yet. An import is planned; until then, PulseTrack measures from the day you install it.
Is PulseTrack free like GA4?+
There is a free plan: one site, 5,000 events a month and 30 days of history. Heatmaps, session replay and the AI assistant start with the Starter plan at €9 per month.
Sources, checked on 17 September 2026
- Google Analytics Help — [GA4] Cookie usage on websites
- Google Analytics Help — [GA4] Data retention
- Google Analytics Help — [GA4] BigQuery Export
- Google Analytics Help — About consent mode
- Google for Developers — Google Analytics MCP server
- GA4 Optimizer — Google Analytics Ask Advisor tested
- gtag.js, measured by PulseTrack (compressed transfer size)
Products change: something looks out of date? It was accurate on the date above, and we correct it as soon as it is reported. Google Analytics 4 is a trademark of its owner, not affiliated with PulseTrack.