Google Analytics 3 Discontinued: Is It Time to Switch to Google Analytics 4 or Look at Another Tool?

Google has said goodbye to a lot of legacy with the switch from Google Analytics 3 (GA3) to Google Analytics 4 (GA4). It has more or less completely rebuilt the new tool from the ground up. The new tool is built around so-called ‘events’, not so much around sessions and page views. This means it has a different effect and can also become more interesting for other uses than GA3 already was.
However, the radically different architecture and operation of GA4 from GA3 also means that there is no compatibility between GA3 and GA4. That is, in principle, you cannot take anything from the old to the new environment. Google is making a fresh start with this and demands the same from GA4 users.

Stay or Transfer?

The central question that many end users have asked themselves recently is whether they should stay with Google and therefore go to GA4, or whether they should look at another solution. Within many organizations, this decision may have already been made (at least we hope so). To help organizations with this, we wrote an article earlier this year about the considerations that play a role in making this decision.
Now that we are a week after the farewell to GA3, we think it would be good to discuss whether or not to switch to GA4 again. The smoke has cleared and the new reality has set in. A good time to go through everything again. In this episode of Techzine Talks, we not only discuss the differences between GA3 and GA4, but also take a closer look at some of the alternatives. Think of Piwik Pro, Matomo, Clicky, Fathom, Plausible, among others.

Techzine Talks Season 3

Techzine Talks is already in its third season. Coen and Sander started this enterprise IT podcast in mid-2021 and informed listeners every week in 2022 about the latest IT news, information about tech events or through in-depth information about IT trends. Also in 2023 we will continue with this business enterprise IT podcast. You can expect a new podcast from us every week, the goal is every Monday afternoon around lunch, sometimes a little later.
The decision to switch to GA4 or look at another tool is an important one. It is important to consider all the options before making a decision. With the switch from GA3 to GA4, Google has completely rebuilt the new tool from the ground up. It is built around events, not sessions and page views. This means it has a different effect and can also become more interesting for other uses than GA3 already was.
However, the radically different architecture and operation of GA4 from GA3 also means that there is no compatibility between GA3 and GA4. That is, in principle, you cannot take anything from the old to the new environment. Google is making a fresh start with this and demands the same from GA4 users.
When making the decision to switch to GA4 or look at another tool, it is important to consider all the options. There are many alternatives to GA4, such as Piwik Pro, Matomo, Clicky, Fathom, and Plausible. Each of these tools have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to do research and find the one that best fits your needs.
It is also important to consider the cost of switching to GA4 or another tool. Depending on the size of your organization, the cost of switching may be significant. It is important to weigh the cost of switching against the potential benefits of the new tool.
Finally, it is important to consider the timeline for switching to GA4 or another tool. Depending on the size of your organization, the timeline for switching may be significant. It is important to plan ahead and make sure that the switch is done in a timely manner.
Making the decision to switch to GA4 or look at another tool is an important one. It is important to consider all the options before making a decision. With the switch from GA3 to GA4, Google has completely rebuilt the new tool from the ground up. It is important to do research and find the one that best fits your needs, consider the cost of switching, and plan ahead to make sure that the switch is done in a timely manner.