Key Differences from GA4
If you’re coming from Google Analytics 4, this guide will help you get oriented in Ghost Metrics. While both platforms provide web analytics, there are important differences in terminology, data models, and features.
The Good News
If you’ve used Google Analytics, you’ll find Ghost Metrics familiar. The core concepts — tracking visitors, measuring conversions, analyzing traffic sources — work similarly. The learning curve is gentle, and most users feel comfortable within a few hours.
Terminology Differences
Ghost Metrics uses slightly different terms for some concepts:
| GA4 Term | Ghost Metrics Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Property | Website | Each tracked site is a “Website” |
| Data Stream | — | Ghost Metrics doesn’t use this concept |
| Key events (formerly Conversions) | Goals | Set up in Goals → Manage Goals |
| Sessions | Visits | GA4’s “engaged sessions” is a filtered subset; Visits count every session |
| Events | Events | Works similarly |
| Explorations | Custom Reports | Build custom reports in the Custom Reports section |
| User ID | User ID | Similar concept for cross-device tracking |
Data Model Differences
Session-Based vs Event-Based
GA4 uses an event-based model where everything (including pageviews) is an event.
Ghost Metrics uses a more traditional session-based model:
- Visits (sessions) are the primary unit
- Pageviews are tracked within visits
- Events are additional interactions you define
This often makes Ghost Metrics reports more intuitive, especially for marketers familiar with earlier versions of Google Analytics.
Data Processing
GA4 samples exploration queries once they exceed a per-query event quota (10 million events on standard properties), silently withholds low-count rows via data thresholding you can’t turn off, limits explorations to 2 or 14 months of event history on the free tier, and fresh data can lag hours behind.
Ghost Metrics processes 100% of your data with no sampling and no thresholding. Real-time reports appear within seconds, historical reports are always based on complete data, and your full history stays queryable.
Report Differences
Where to Find Things
| What You Want | In GA4 | In Ghost Metrics |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time visitors | Reports → Realtime | Visitors → Real-time |
| Traffic sources | Acquisition → Traffic acquisition | Acquisition → All Channels |
| Page performance | Engagement → Pages and screens | Behavior → Pages |
| User demographics | Demographics | Visitors → Locations, Devices |
| Conversions | Engagement → Key events | Goals → Overview |
| Campaign data | Traffic acquisition (session campaign dimension) | Acquisition → Campaigns |
Report Layout
GA4 uses a card-based interface with data visualizations.
Ghost Metrics uses a more traditional layout with data tables, graphs, and the ability to drill down into details. Many users find this more straightforward for day-to-day reporting.
Features You’ll Gain
Ghost Metrics includes premium features that GA4 either doesn’t offer or charges extra for:
Heatmaps
See exactly where visitors click and how far they scroll on your pages. GA4 doesn’t have built-in heatmaps.
Session Recordings
Watch recordings of real visitor sessions, with sensitive input masked in the browser before anything is sent. Understand exactly how people use your website.
→ Learn about Session Recordings
Form Analytics
Get detailed insights into form performance — see which fields cause problems and where users abandon.
No Data Sampling
Every visit is tracked and reported. You’ll never see sampled data or estimates in Ghost Metrics.
Features That Work Differently
Audiences / Segments
GA4 has “Audiences” for grouping users.
Ghost Metrics has “Segments” that work similarly but are applied at report time rather than for targeting.
Attribution
GA4 offers multiple attribution models (data-driven, last click, etc.).
Ghost Metrics credits conversions to the last non-direct source by default — a later direct visit doesn’t steal credit from the campaign that drove it. And with Multi Channel Attribution, you can compare six models (first interaction, linear, position based, time decay, and more) side by side.
Machine Learning Features
GA4 includes predictive metrics and automated insights powered by machine learning.
Ghost Metrics focuses on deterministic reporting — you see exactly what happened, and you draw the conclusions.
Privacy & Compliance
This is the biggest difference and likely why you’re here.
GA4
- Data is processed on Google’s servers
- No BAA available — Google states HIPAA-regulated entities must not expose PHI to Google Analytics
- Data can feed Google’s advertising products when data sharing or Google signals is enabled
- Retention and query limits constrain what you can do with your own history
Ghost Metrics
- Data stays in secure, dedicated infrastructure
- BAA included — designed for HIPAA compliance
- Your data is never shared with third parties
- Full data ownership and control
Tracking Code Differences
GA4 Tracking
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-XXXXXXXX"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'G-XXXXXXXX');
</script>Ghost Metrics Tracking
<!-- Ghost Metrics Tag Manager -->
<script>
var _mtm = window._mtm = window._mtm || [];
_mtm.push({'mtm.startTime': (new Date().getTime()), 'event': 'mtm.Start'});
(function() {
var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
g.async=true; g.src='https://example.ghostmetrics.cloud/js/container_XXXXXXXX.js'; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s);
})();
</script>
<!-- End Ghost Metrics Tag Manager -->Event Tracking Syntax
GA4:
gtag('event', 'sign_up', {
method: 'email'
});Ghost Metrics:
_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Form', 'Submit', 'Sign Up Form']);Making the Switch
Can I Run Both?
Yes. Many organizations run Ghost Metrics alongside GA4 during a transition period. The tracking codes don’t conflict.
Data Migration
Ghost Metrics tracking starts fresh from installation. If you need your historical GA4 report data available for comparison, contact support to discuss import options — and plan to run both platforms in parallel during the transition either way.
Team Training
Most teams familiar with GA4 can get comfortable with Ghost Metrics in a single training session. The core concepts are the same — the interface and terminology just need some adjustment.
Getting Help
If you need assistance during your transition:
- Review this documentation
- Contact Support for personalized help
- Ask about training sessions for your team