SQMViews

Fast tracking endpoint bypasses WordPress load (~5ms response time).
Conventional API endpoint uses WordPress REST API (~250ms response time).
Asynchronous JavaScript doesn't block page rendering.
File-based storage during tracking (zero database write regarding of your traffic).
Background processing via WP-Cron through batch writes into a separate table (minimal impact on the database performance and visitors).

Most sites should see no noticeable performance impact.
Is it GDPR compliant?
The plugin is GDPR-friendly by default:

No personal data collected (IP present in the raw log files to prevent abuse and removed from aggregated data, no cookies)
No data sent to external services
All data stored on your server
You control data retention policies

Implementing proper consent mechanisms if required
Updating your privacy policy
Handling data subject access requests

Can I track custom post types?
Yes! Go to SQMViews → Tracking Settings and select any registered post types. The plugin automatically detects all public post types on your site, or use hook sqm_views_trackable_post_types
Does it work with caching plugins?
Yes! The JavaScript tracker should work seamlessly with most of the caching plugins and services including:

WP Super Cache
W3 Total Cache
WP Rocket
LiteSpeed Cache
Cloudflare
Cloudfront

The tracking code runs on the client-side, so cached pages are tracked properly.
Can I exclude certain users from tracking?
Yes! Use the sqm_views_should_track filter hook:

add_filter( 'sqm_views_should_track', function( $should_track, $data ) {
// Exclude logged-in administrators
if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
return false;
}
return $should_track;
}, 10, 2 );

And adjust your CDN and caching plugins to exclude logged-in users from caching.
How much disk space does it use?
Storage requirements depend on traffic (YMMV):

Low traffic (1,000 views/day): ~50 MB/month
Medium traffic (10,000 views/day): ~500 MB/month
High traffic (100,000 views/day): ~5 GB/month
TBD based on actual usage

Raw files are automatically archived into daily files and can be safely deleted after processing.
We recommend storing archived files in a cold storage in case you want to replay the processing and aggregation, to remove bot traffic or extend data with more information.
Can I import/export the data?
Planned functionality.
What's the difference between "active time" and "time on page"?

Time on Page: Total time from page load to exit (includes idle time)
Active Time: Time when user is actively engaging (scrolling, clicking, typing), checked every 10s.

Active time gives you better insight into actual engagement vs. just having a tab open.
Can I track non-WordPress pages?
It is possible, see the setup used to track Home page and Search results.
Where is the data stored?
Analytics data is stored in two places:

Raw files: wp-content/uploads/sqm-views/raw/*.jsonl (temporary)
Database: Four WordPress database tables (sqm_views*)

Raw files are automatically processed and archived by WP-Cron.
How do I uninstall the plugin?
Deactivation keeps all data intact.

Deletion removes all plugin files, database tables, and settings permanently. Make sure to export any data you want to keep before deleting.