How to Add Privacy-Friendly Analytics to WordPress (No Cookie Banner Needed)

WordPress powers 43% of all websites, and most of them are either using Google Analytics (requiring a cookie banner) or have no analytics at all. Cookie-free analytics is the better middle path.

Option 1: Add the script directly to your theme

Edit your theme's footer.php and paste just before the closing </body> tag:

<script defer src="https://stats.yourdomain.com/t.php?site=YOUR_SITE_CODE"></script>

Option 2: Use a header/footer plugin

Install Insert Headers and Footers by WPBeginner. Go to Settings → Insert Headers and Footers, paste the tracking script in the Footer section, and save. Your tracking persists through theme changes.

Option 3: Add via functions.php

function add_analytics_script() {
    echo '<script defer src="https://stats.yourdomain.com/t.php?site=YOUR_CODE"></script>';
}
add_action( 'wp_footer', 'add_analytics_script' );

Removing your cookie banner

With cookie-free analytics installed, deactivate and remove your cookie consent plugin. No cookies are set, so no consent is needed under GDPR or PECR. That's typically a 40–80KB page weight saving and a dramatically better first impression for new visitors.

Verifying the installation

Visit your WordPress site in a private/incognito window. In your analytics real-time tab, you should see your visit within 5 seconds. Use browser DevTools (Network tab, filter by "t.php") to confirm it returns HTTP 200.