Why a number can differ from Google Analytics
SimpleDash and GA4 read the same data, so numbers should match. When they don't, here's why, and exactly where to compare each number in Google Analytics 4.
SimpleDash reads the same data as Google Analytics 4, so the same number for the same days should match. When it doesn't, it's almost always the dates, the time zone, a different metric with a similar name, or numbers from a few minutes apart.
Compare the same thing
Use the same dates in both (in GA4, the date picker at the top right of a report), then look here:
| SimpleDash | Where to find it in GA4 |
|---|---|
| Visitors | Active users (Reports → Acquisition overview, or any report's "Active users") |
| Page views | Views in Reports → Engagement → Pages and screens |
| Avg. time | Average engagement time per active user |
| Signups | Event count of that event in Reports → Engagement → Events |
| Sources | Active users by Session source in Reports → Acquisition → Traffic acquisition |
| Countries | Active users by Country in Reports → User attributes → Demographic details |
| Devices | Active users by Device category in Reports → Tech → Tech details |
Common reasons they differ
Different days
"Last 7 days" in SimpleDash includes today. GA4's own "Last 7 days" preset ends yesterday. Pick custom dates in both to compare exactly.
A different time zone
SimpleDash uses your GA4 property's time zone. If you compare with another tool that uses your computer's time zone, days start and end at different hours.
Similar names, different metrics
- Users vs active users. GA4's "Total users" counts everyone with any event; SimpleDash shows active users, GA4's main user number.
- Average engagement time per session is a different number from per active user. SimpleDash shows the per active user one.
- Key events vs event count. GA4's key event totals start on the day an event was marked as a key event. SimpleDash counts every time the event happened. More on this.
Numbers from a few minutes apart
SimpleDash keeps a copy of each report so pages open fast. For a range that includes today, the copy is at most 30 minutes old. Google is still adding to today and yesterday, so two checks a few minutes apart can differ. How fresh the numbers are.
Rows outside the top of a list
Lists show the top rows that Google returns. A source or page outside that list shows "—" (unknown) in some views, never a made-up zero.
Still different?
Email [email protected] with the site, the dates, the number in SimpleDash and the number in GA4 (a screenshot helps). We'd rather fix a real difference than leave it.
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The summary line
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