Title: Headless GA4 Author: jakubkanna Published: April 13, 2026 Last modified: April 13, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/headless-ga4.svg) # Headless GA4 By [jakubkanna](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jakubkanna/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/headless-ga4.0.1.1.zip) * [Details](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/headless-ga4/#description) * [Reviews](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/headless-ga4/#reviews) * [Installation](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/headless-ga4/#installation) * [Development](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/headless-ga4/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/headless-ga4/) ## Description Headless GA4 adds a compact Google Analytics 4 widget to the main WordPress dashboard. It is designed for sites where: * the frontend is not rendered by WordPress * GA4 tracking already happens on the frontend * WordPress only needs to read and display GA4 reporting data for admins The plugin uses the Google Analytics Data API and a Google service account. It does not inject frontend tracking code. Features: * settings page for GA4 configuration * dashboard widget with core traffic metrics * last 7 days trend chart * top pages and top traffic sources * transient caching * manual refresh action ### Privacy Headless GA4 does not track visitors or inject analytics scripts. The plugin only sends server-side requests to Google when an administrator configures a GA4 property and opens the dashboard or tests the connection. Those requests use the service account credentials you provide in the plugin settings. ### External services This plugin connects to Google services to authenticate requests and fetch Google Analytics 4 report data. These requests are only made after an administrator configures the plugin and then opens the dashboard widget, refreshes the data, or uses the Test connection button. #### Google OAuth token service (`oauth2.googleapis.com`) Used to exchange the configured Google service account credentials for a short-lived access token. Data sent: a signed JWT assertion containing the service account email, requested scope, token endpoint, issued-at time, and expiration time. Terms of service: https://developers.google.com/terms Privacy policy: https://policies. google.com/privacy #### Google Analytics Data API (`analyticsdata.googleapis.com`) Used to request GA4 report data for the configured GA4 property. Data sent: the GA4 property ID, report request parameters such as date ranges, dimensions, metrics, and limits, plus the OAuth access token in the request headers. Terms of service: https://developers.google.com/terms Privacy policy: https://policies. google.com/privacy ## Installation 1. Upload the `headless-ga4` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`. 2. Activate the plugin through the WordPress Plugins screen. 3. Go to `Settings > Headless GA4`. 4. Enter your GA4 property ID. 5. Paste your service account JSON credentials. 6. Save the settings. 7. Use the `Test connection` button. 8. Open the main Dashboard screen to view the widget. ## FAQ ### What is a service account? A service account is a Google Cloud machine identity used by the plugin to read your GA4 reporting data without requiring a human Google login inside wp-admin. ### Does this plugin install tracking on my site? No. This plugin only reads GA4 report data. Your frontend must already send data to GA4. ### What do I need from Google? You need: * a Google Cloud project * the Google Analytics Data API enabled * a service account * the full service account JSON credentials * Viewer access for that service account email in your GA4 property * your GA4 numeric property ID ### How do I set it up? 1. Create a Google Cloud project. 2. In Google Cloud Console, open `APIs & Services`, click `Enable APIs and Services`, search for `Google Analytics Data API`, open it, and click `Enable`. 3. Create a service account. 4. Open the service account, go to `Keys`, click `Add key`, choose `Create new key`, then select `JSON` and download the file. 5. Copy the service account email address. 6. In GA4, open `Admin`, then `Property access management`, add that service account email, and grant it `Viewer` access. 7. In GA4, open `Admin`, then `Property settings`, and copy the numeric `Property ID`. 8. Paste the property ID and the full service account JSON into the plugin settings. 9. Save the settings and test the connection. ### Why do I not see any data? Possible reasons: * the frontend is not sending GA4 events * the wrong property ID was entered * the service account email was not added in `GA4 > Admin > Property access management` * the service account JSON is invalid * the property has not received enough recent traffic ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “Headless GA4” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ jakubkanna ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jakubkanna/) [Translate “Headless GA4” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/headless-ga4) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/headless-ga4/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/headless-ga4/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/headless-ga4/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/headless-ga4/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 0.1.1 * Replace inline admin CSS with an enqueued stylesheet * Move admin screen markup into template files * Remove deprecated OpenSSL cleanup call * Add external service disclosures for Google services #### 0.1.0 * Initial release * Settings page with service account configuration * Dashboard widget with traffic summary * GA4 Data API integration using a service account ## Meta * Version **0.1.1** * Last updated **1 month ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 6.4 or higher ** * Tested up to **6.9.4** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Language * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/headless-ga4/) * Tags * [admin](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/admin/)[analytics](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/analytics/) [dashboard](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/dashboard/)[ga4](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/ga4/) [headless](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/headless/) * [Advanced View](https://test.wordpress.org/plugins/headless-ga4/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/headless-ga4/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/headless-ga4/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ jakubkanna ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jakubkanna/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/headless-ga4/)