What is the difference between GA and GA4?

What is GA vs GA4

Universal Analytics measures screenviews in separate mobile-specific properties, whereas GA4 combines both web and app data in the same property. If you are tracking both web and app data in your GA4 property, be sure to take the additional app traffic into consideration when comparing pageview metrics between the two.

Why GA4 is better than GA

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.

Why did Google change 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 the key differences 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 GA4 replacing Google Analytics

360 Universal Analytics properties with a current 360 order (Google Analytics 4 or Universal Analytics) will receive a one-time processing extension ending on July 1, 2024.

What is the difference between GA4 360 and GA 4

If you are using a GA4 standard property, you can send up to 25 parameters per event. But if you are using a GA4 360 property then you can send up to 100 parameters per event. Thus when you use GA4 360, you can send a lot more additional information about an event.

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.

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.

What are the benefits of GA4 over GA3

GA4 roll-up reporting is much more accurate than the one provided by GA3. GA4 provides much more accurate cross-device insight than GA3. GA4 provides much more robust cross-device and cross-platform tracking than GA3. GA4 provides automatic tracking for certain types of events.

What is the difference between GA4 and GA360

In GA4 you can only define 100 audiences; in GA360 that number becomes 400. Those higher data-capture thresholds absolutely will allow for more nuanced, granular audience definitions which, in turn, open up the possibility of some really cool and detailed user behaviour insights.

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 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.

Is GA4 better than GA3

GA3 primarily focused on pageviews and sessions, while GA4 aims to provide a more complete picture of user behavior by collecting data from multiple sources, such as online and offline events, interactions with emails, and data from Google's advertising and measurement products.

Which countries is GA banned in

Where is Google Analytics illegal So far, three DPAs have ruled against GA: the Austrian DSB, the French CNIL, and the Italian GPDP. This means that Google Analytics is practically banned in Austria, France, and Italy.

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 GA3 data different from GA4

GA3 primarily focused on pageviews and sessions, while GA4 aims to provide a more complete picture of user behavior by collecting data from multiple sources, such as online and offline events, interactions with emails, and data from Google's advertising and measurement products.

Is Google Analytics illegal in EU

Google Analytics is illegal because the CLOUD Act allows US authorities to demand personal data from Google, Facebook, Amazon and other US providers, even when they're operating (or hosting that data) in another jurisdiction such as the EU.

Is Google Analytics 4 GDPR compliant

No. Google Analytics 4 is not fully compliant with GDPR. There are more safeguards in place and ways to control data/anonymize data in GA4 than any other version of Google Analytics, but Google has never declared GA4 GDPR compliant.

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.

Is Google Analytics 4 GDPR compliant 2023

As of end of 2022, GA4 isn't fully GDPR compliant.

GA4 has no mechanism for guaranteeing intra-EU data storage or even selecting a designated regional storage location. Google also does not inform users about data storage locations or data transfers outside of the EU.

Is Google Analytics 4 Legal in Europe

It is illegal for European companies to use Google Analytics "as is". By applying technical measures like pseudonymisation it is still possible to use Google Analytics in compliance with the GDPR.

Why is GA4 not GDPR compliant

To comply with most privacy laws, including the GDPR, Google doesn't allow users to collect personally identifiable information (PII) in GA4. It is considered a violation of Google's Terms of Service to collect PII using GA4, and Google has the right to delete all the data of a user if PII is found.

Is Google Analytics 4 GA4 GDPR compliant

Conclusion. Google Analytics 4 offers robust features and capabilities for businesses to gain insights into their digital customers' behavior. GA4 has implemented several extra privacy features to ensure compliance with GDPR, such as data retention durations, data anonymization, and data sharing controls.

Does Google Analytics 4 replace Universal analytics

360 Universal Analytics properties with a current 360 order (Google Analytics 4 or Universal Analytics) will receive a one-time processing extension ending on July 1, 2024.