The best Google Analytics 4 dashboards for small sites
The main ways to get a simple Google Analytics 4 dashboard: GA4's own reports, Looker Studio, SimpleDash and others, with honest trade-offs for each.
If GA4's interface feels like too much, there are three main ways to get a simpler dashboard: customise GA4's own reports, build one in Looker Studio, or use a ready-made dashboard like SimpleDash. The right pick depends on whether you'd rather build or just read.
1. GA4's own reports, customised
GA4 lets you edit its report collections, hide reports you don't use, and pin a few cards to the home page.
- Best for: people who already know GA4 and want fewer clicks.
- Trade-offs: still GA4's words and menus; customising takes time.
- Cost: free.
2. Looker Studio
Google's free report builder, with a GA4 connector and many templates.
- Best for: custom reports, blending GA4 with other data, agency reports.
- Trade-offs: you build and maintain it; busy reports can hit GA4's API limits.
- Cost: free (a paid Pro version exists).
- SimpleDash vs Looker Studio
3. SimpleDash
A ready dashboard on top of GA4: sign in with Google and your numbers are on one page.
- Best for: founders and small sites who want answers in seconds, plain words, a Monday email and a public stats page.
- Trade-offs: fixed cards; no funnels or custom reports.
- Cost: free for all your sites; Pro $9 a month for full history, the Monday email, Search Console and Stripe.
- SimpleDash vs Google Analytics
4. Other dashboard tools
Business dashboard tools (many connect to GA4 among dozens of sources) suit teams that want marketing, sales and finance in one place. They're usually more than a small site needs, and priced for teams.
How to choose
| You want | Pick |
|---|---|
| Full control and don't mind building | Looker Studio |
| Answers now, no building | SimpleDash |
| To stay inside GA4 | Customised GA4 reports |
| To leave Google entirely | A tracker with its own script: compare them |
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