Websites, analytics and code

How to move from Google Analytics 4 to Plausible, including your historical data

SwitchTo HQ · Updated 18 October 2026 · Websites, analytics and code · How we write

Plausible is a lightweight analytics service that can import your historical Google Analytics 4 (GA4) data, so your charts don't start from zero when you switch. The import works through a connection to your Google account. There are a few differences between imported and native data that are worth understanding before you remove GA4 for good. This guide follows Plausible's Google Analytics import documentation.

Step 1: Add Plausible to your site first

Plausible imports GA data from your first Google Analytics visitor until your first Plausible visitor, to avoid counting anything twice. So the order matters. Install the Plausible script, let it start collecting, and then run the import.

Add the site in your Plausible account and install the script snippet it gives you, following Plausible's script documentation. You can leave GA4 running alongside it for now.

Step 2: Decide whether you need an import at all

Plausible's documentation makes the point that importing is optional. If you don't need to compare against historical trends, you can skip it and let Plausible build its own dataset from the first day. An import is most useful when you need year-on-year comparisons or have reports that rely on older figures.

Also check your GA4 data retention setting. Plausible notes that GA4 properties keep detailed data for up to 14 months. For periods outside your retention limit, Plausible can only show the top-level chart metrics, because Google has already deleted the detailed stats. How much history you can import may also depend on your Plausible plan.

Step 3: Run the GA4 import

In Plausible, open the site settings for the website.
In Imports & Exports, find the Import Data panel.
Click the Google Analytics button and link your Google account.
Choose the GA4 property from the drop-down list and click Continue.
Click Confirm import.

Plausible says most imports take no more than a few minutes, but sites with a lot of history can take up to a couple of hours because of Google's API limits. You get an email when the import is finished. The imported data then appears alongside native data. You can hide it with the Include imported data toggle in the chart's options menu (the ⋮ icon).

Importing more than one property

If your site moved between GA properties over the years, you can import up to five properties into one Plausible dashboard. Plausible fills the gaps between them without double-counting. Each import brings in the whole property, though. It can't be split by hostname. So if one GA property tracked several sites, all of that data goes into the single Plausible site you import it into.

How imported data differs from native data

Plausible imports GA data as day-level aggregates, which creates some limitations:

Area	What to expect with imported data
Filtering	Simple filters work, but advanced segmenting is limited. Plausible shows a warning when imported data is excluded by a filter
Unique visitors	Totals over longer periods are the sum of daily figures, so they may not match GA's own totals
UTM sources	Not available, because GA's API doesn't expose them separately
Goals	GA4 goal conversions can be imported, but you must add the goals in Plausible's settings to see them. Ecommerce revenue can't be imported
Browsers	The browser split is imported, but not exact versions
Exit pages and scroll depth	Not available for imported data
Time of day	No hourly view for imported days
Consolidated view	Imported data isn't included in the consolidated dashboard

Set your expectations, and those of anyone else who reads the reports, accordingly. Numbers before the switch date are a summary, not a like-for-like copy of GA.

Step 4: Recreate goals and events

GA4 events and conversions don't become Plausible goals automatically. List the events you rely on, such as signups, purchases, outbound link clicks and file downloads. Then set them up using Plausible's goals and conversions guide. Some, such as outbound link clicks and file downloads, are handled by optional script features. Others need custom events.

Step 5: Review your privacy notice and consent setup

Plausible states in its data policy that it measures website usage without cookies and without collecting personal data that could identify individual visitors. If GA4 was the only reason for your cookie banner, you may be able to simplify it. That depends on what else your site uses, such as advertising, embeds and other scripts. Update your privacy policy to name Plausible as your analytics provider, and take advice if you are unsure about your obligations.

Step 6: Remove GA4

Once Plausible has been collecting for a while and the import has finished:

Remove the GA4 tag from your site, or from Google Tag Manager if you use it.
Keep GA4 if Google Ads or other Google products depend on it. Analytics data is often linked to advertising conversions.
Plausible says it no longer needs access to your Google Analytics account once the import has succeeded, and your imported data stays in Plausible even if you delete the GA account.

If you ever need to redo the import, imported data can be deleted from the Imports & Exports page using the bin icon, without affecting native Plausible data.

Checklist

Install Plausible first, so the import has a clean end date.
Check GA4 retention, and decide whether an import is worth it.
Import each GA4 property (up to five per dashboard).
Explain the limits of imported data to anyone using the reports.
Rebuild goals and custom events in Plausible.
Review your privacy notice and cookie banner, then remove the GA4 tag.