Import Google Analytics

What can be imported

Matomo imports aggregated GA4 reports, such as reports on the pages people visited. Some GA4 reports have no equivalent in Matomo. Before the import, we check which reports you need to keep using.

The import contains no individual visits or actions. There is therefore no visitor log for that historical period, and new segments cannot be applied to the imported data. When comparing figures, account for the different ways GA4 and Matomo calculate some metrics.

Why the import needs planning before you switch

Matomo keeps each website’s statistics in a separate area, which it also calls a “website”. A GA4 import creates a new area of this kind. The imported reports cannot be merged with data in an existing Matomo website.

To keep historical reports and future tracking in the same area, the import must therefore be created first. You can then add its tracking code to your website. The final imported day must come before new tracking begins.

If speo is already collecting data for your website, the GA4 import remains a separate set of reports. We discuss how you can access both sets and which date range is available with your plan.

What to prepare

Send us your GA4 property ID and the date range you want to import. You can find the ID in the Google Analytics administration. You also need a Google account with permission to read that property. We agree with you how to authorise access for the import.

We configure the Google connection and start the agreed import. Larger histories can take several days because Google limits API requests. Afterwards, we check the imported reports and the recording of new visits. Events or goals you want to measure in future must also be configured in Matomo; the import does not replace that setup.

What about Universal Analytics?

Google closed access to Universal Analytics and its API in July 2024. A new direct import of that data is no longer possible. If you exported reports at the time, we can review how those backups can still be used.