SlimStat vs Matomo
Both can keep analytics on your WordPress hosting. SlimStat brings traffic, campaigns and WooCommerce reports into WordPress, with visual heatmaps, funnels and scheduled sharing in Pro. Matomo also offers a tag manager and historical-data imports. Choose by the reports and integrations you need, then check your hosting requirements.
| Dimension | SlimStat | Matomo |
|---|---|---|
| Where analytics are stored | Your WordPress database; Pro can use a separate database | Your WordPress database |
| Free starting point | Traffic, campaigns, one goal and opt-in WooCommerce reports in Free 6 | Traffic, campaigns, segmentation and Ecommerce |
| Visual tools | Click and scroll heatmaps in Pro 3; no session videos | Heatmaps and session recordings are paid extensions |
| Funnels | Three funnels, with two to five steps, in Pro | Paid extension |
| Google Analytics history import | Not included | Supported |
| Hosting considerations | Usage depends on traffic, retained records and enabled features | 128 MB minimum PHP memory; 256 MB recommended |
Start with the question you need to answer
Both products offer analytics on your own hosting. That alone does not decide which one fits. Make a short list of the answers you need: which pages attract visitors, which campaigns bring sales, or where people leave before completing a task.
SlimStat Free 6 includes traffic reports, campaign and channel breakdowns, saved filters and an opt-in WooCommerce dashboard. You do not need Pro simply to see your store’s sales or popular products. These are release-preview features; check the current release status before installing.
What Pro adds to the everyday reports
SlimStat Pro 3 helps you investigate what happens between arrival and an important action. Visual click and scroll heatmaps show where people interact with a page. Up to five goals and three funnels help you examine recorded steps toward a signup or sale.
Store reports add campaign, landing-page and device breakdowns, coupons and refund details. Scheduled email and spreadsheet downloads make it easier to share findings with a team or client. Explore the Pro features to see the workflows and their limits.
Matomo’s free and paid tools are packaged differently. Its official feature list distinguishes included reports from extensions such as heatmaps and funnels. Compare the specific tools you need before comparing prices.
Plan for your hosting and privacy choices
Both plugins use your hosting resources. A fixed memory figure is not a fair prediction of how either will perform on your site. For SlimStat, traffic, enabled features and the amount of retained data all matter. Review retention settings and the measured v6 performance changes.
Storing data yourself also means taking responsibility for it. Configure consent, access and retention. SlimStat’s additional heatmap recording starts off, samples visits when enabled and records no typed text. Review the heatmap guide before enabling it.
Which one should you choose?
Choose SlimStat if you want WordPress traffic and store reports, with an optional Pro add-on for visual click insights, funnels and automatic sharing. The same Pro features are included in each plan; the license changes how many sites you can use it on.
Consider Matomo if its historical imports, tag manager or extension ecosystem fit your existing workflow. Check its requirements and extension costs before deciding.
If you are still deciding whether to leave Google Analytics, start with the WordPress alternatives guide.
Where Matomo is the better choice
- Matomo supports importing historical data from Google Analytics and WP Statistics. SlimStat does not offer that import.
- Matomo includes a tag manager, which may fit an existing tagging workflow.
- Matomo offers session recordings as a paid extension. SlimStat heatmaps do not record session videos.
What each one costs
| Plan | SlimStat | Matomo |
|---|---|---|
| Free WordPress plugin | $0 | $0; paid extensions available |
| Additional tools | Pro from $49 a year for one site | Check extension prices for the tools you need |
What SlimStat Free gives you, and what Pro adds
Free covers your everyday analytics. Get traffic reports, campaign tracking with the top two channels and campaigns, WooCommerce sales reports, the Shortcode Playground and one goal. Pro adds tools to act on what you learn: visual heatmaps, every campaign and channel, deeper store reports, more goals, funnels, Pro shortcodes, CSV downloads and automatic email reports.
This comparison covers Free 6 and Pro 3. Store reports need WooCommerce and setup; heatmap recording is optional.
| What you can do | FreeIncluded at no cost | Pro Everything in Free, plus the extras below |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic reports & privacy controls | Included | Same as Free |
| Heatmaps | Page list and top 5 clicked links or buttons | Spot frustrating clicksVisual click and scroll maps, filters and downloads |
| Ecommerce | Sales, products, traffic sources and recorded purchase steps | See what drives salesSales by campaign, device and coupon; downloads and scheduled emails |
| UTM Campaigns & Channels | Top two channels and campaigns in each report; UTM link builder | Compare every campaignEvery channel and campaign, with paging and links to their sales |
| Goals & Funnels | 1 active goal; no funnels | Find where visitors leave5 active goals; 3 funnels |
| Email Reports | Preview a weekly email; send yourself a sample | Keep your team informedDaily, weekly or monthly emails; choose recipients and attach CSV files |
| Real-Time Report | Live counters and Access Log | Watch activity liveLive chart and report controls |
| Admin Bar Widget | Toolbar shortcuts | Check stats as you workLive quick stats |
| Data Export | Report downloads not included | Share spreadsheet reportsSpreadsheet downloads (CSV or tab-delimited) |
| Pro Shortcodes | Shortcode Playground with Free reports and live counters | Publish Pro reportsAdds Funnels, Heatmap insights, User Overview and Pages by User |
| User Overview | Registered-user reports not included | Understand member activityRegistered-user reports |
| Custom Database | WordPress database | Separate analytics storageSeparate MySQL-compatible database |
| Advanced Whois | External lookup link | Look up IP locationsLocal lookup panel |
| Network Analytics | Individual site reports | See your whole networkMultisite network reports |
Both tables above describe the free plugin unless a row says otherwise. Pro is a one-year licence on top of it. See Pro pricing.
Ready to decide?
SlimStat Pro is $49 billed annually for one site, with all Pro features included. 816 reviews on wordpress.org, rated 4.8 out of 5.
See SlimStat Pro pricingNot ready to buy? Install the free plugin and upgrade later — the licence activates on the site you already have.