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Switch from Google Analytics

You can run Fathom alongside Google Analytics while you check the numbers, then take GA off your site when you’re ready. Your visitors don’t need a cookie banner for Fathom, and you keep a copy of your GA4 history on your dashboard.

1. Create your site and add the Fathom script

  1. Create a Fathom account (or log in) and add a site.
  2. Copy your embed script and paste it into the <head> of your site. Leave Google Analytics in place for now.
  3. If you use WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, or another CMS, use the matching integration guide instead of pasting the script by hand.

Visit a page on your site, then check the realtime count on your Fathom dashboard. If your visit shows up, the script is installed.

2. Import your Google Analytics history

The importer copies GA4 data into Fathom so you’re not starting from a blank chart.

  1. Go to your site settings and click Imports.
  2. Click New import, choose Google Analytics (GA4), and sign in with Google.
  3. Pick the property, map it to your domain, choose a timeframe, and click Start Import.

Large imports can take up to 48 hours. We email you when it finishes. For the full walkthrough, including what to do if an import fails, see the Google Analytics importer.

Universal Analytics data is gone from Google’s side, so only GA4 can be imported.

3. Compare the two dashboards

Give it a few days of overlapping data. Fathom’s numbers won’t match Google Analytics exactly, and that’s expected. We block bots more aggressively, we don’t use cookies, and we count things differently. See why stats differ between analytics tools if you want the detail.

If you want a side-by-side of two periods inside Fathom itself, use comparison mode.

4. Remove Google Analytics

When you’re happy with Fathom:

  1. Remove the Google Analytics / gtag / GTM tags that fire GA from your site.
  2. If you added Fathom via a plugin or CMS integration, you can leave that in place.
  3. Update your privacy policy. You can use our sample privacy policy if you want a starting point.

You don’t need a cookie consent banner for Fathom. We don’t use cookies in the embed script.

5. Optional extras once you’re on Fathom