Should I use GA3 or GA4?

Am I using GA3 or GA4

Look in Google Tag Manager

In there you'll find a list of all the tags running on your site and there should be one or more “Google Analytics: Universal Analytics” tag, a “Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration” tag or both. Click on the tags and you'll see how they're configured.

Why is GA4 better than GA3

In the case of GA4, both the web and app data use the same schema. Whereas in the case of GA3, this is not the case. Because of this reason, GA4 provides much more robust and reliable cross-device and cross-platform tracking than GA3.

What is the major difference between GA3 and GA4

You probably know that Universal Analytics (GA3 or UA) and Google Analytics 4 (GA4) use different data models. GA3's data model is based on sessions and page views. In contrast, GA4's is based on events and parameters. This means that the two analytics platforms collect, process, and report the same data differently.

Is it worth upgrading to GA4

GA4 makes it easier to follow a visitor's journey without having to implement Google Tag Manager. So, while the data model is changing, GA4 makes cross-device tracking easy and the data points are more precise.

Do I need GA4

“The main reason to move your data and set up GA4 now, if you plan to remain on Google Analytics, is the ability to make use of your historical data in the future. Like it or not, Google Analytics will be migrating to GA4 as default in 2023, so you'll have to do it eventually.

Why is Google switching to GA4

Privacy has been a big concern for consumers over the last few years and users' awareness of their privacy online has been increasing. The result of this has been changes in the law like GDPR in Europe and ITP. As we move into a cookieless world, Google has created GA4 with privacy front-of-mind.

What are disadvantages of GA4

What are the limitations of Google Analytics 4Sampled data.Whole-view of users.Removal of attribution models.Data collection limits.GA4 isn't fully GDPR compliant.No dedicated support.

Why is GA4 so complicated

GA4 has an entirely different data model as compared to UA. Instead of being based on sessions and pageviews like in Universal Analytics, the GA4 measurement model is based exclusively on events. Since the data is collected and processed differently, some once-familiar metrics are now gone.

Can GA3 and GA4 be used together

If you have an existing website that already has the old GA3, then you can have GA4 version added to your site and run both your existing GA3 and the new GA4 together. This will enable GA4 to start collecting the data you need, and help you become familiar with the new reports and insights GA4 provides.

Why is GA4 better than Google Analytics

Mobile App and Website Tracking

While you could achieve this in Universal Analytics, you needed to create a separate Property. With GA4, everything can be tracked in one platform. As a result, site owners get a significantly more detailed and comprehensive picture of how customers navigate across your website.

What happens if you don’t switch to GA4

By not upgrading to GA4, you'll miss out on the platform's real-time reporting feature, which allows you to see up-to-the-minute data on user behavior and site performance. This could make it harder for you to react quickly to changes and optimize your site accordingly.

What happens if I don’t switch to GA4

Google will officially sunset Universal Analytics on July 1, 2023. This means if you use Google Analytics and haven't switched over to GA4 by that time, you will no longer receive any website data and could lose access to your historical data for good.

What is the disadvantage of GA4

Limited Metrics and Reports

One of the drawbacks of GA4 is that it has a different way of handling data compared to UA. While UA focused on sessions and page views, GA4's measurement model is purely event-based.

Is GA4 banned in Europe

In a significant development, Google Analytics 4 is deemed legal in Europe following the recent adoption of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework by the European Commission. The news comes amid warnings from the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) concerning potential surveillance risks associated with GA4.

Can you migrate GA3 data to GA4

#10 Transfer GA3 (Universal Analytics) data into GA4.

Both GA3 and GA4 use different data schemas. Because of that, it is impossible to transfer your GA3 data into your GA4 property directly. But there is a workaround. You can transfer both your GA3 and GA4 data into BigQuery and then manipulate it there.

Why should I switch to GA4

Switching to GA4 can offer valuable insights and improved tracking capabilities for businesses looking to enhance their online analytics. The enhanced user journey tracking, cross-device and cross-platform tracking, and machine learning capabilities make GA4 a powerful tool for data-driven decision-making.

What happens if I don’t migrate to GA4

If you want to keep using Google Analytics to measure your website traffic, you must migrate to the next version of Analytics, Google Analytics 4. If you do nothing, a new GA4 property will automatically be created for you, and your Universal Analytics configurations will be copied to the new GA4 property.

Can you run GA3 and GA4 at the same time

You can run both GA3 and GA4 simultaneously on the same website. This is a very good idea for existing websites as you can get new AI-based insights from GA4 reports and get comparison reports with GA3 that include historical data. The sooner you add GA4 to your website, the better.

What is the difference between GA3 and GA4 script

The primary distinction between GA3 and GA4 is the shift from session-based tracking to event-based tracking.