Pavel Khloponin

SQMViews is a simple and lightweight tracking and analytics plugin that helps you understand how visitors interact with your WordPress content—without sending data to third-party services. 
Plugin adds very little overhead, capable of tracking millions of page views per day on a moderately sized website. 
Plugin includes sqm-views-pages.php drop-in script installation (Fast endpoint) to collect pageviews without loading WordPress core, reducing pageview request from 250 ms to 5 ms. If drop-in installation is not possible, the plugin falls back to the WordPress call (API endpoint).
<h4>Key Features</h4>
Tracking & Analytics:
<ul>
<li>Near real-time page view tracking</li>
<li>Engagement metrics (time on page, active time)</li>
<li>Shows user activity (clicks, scrolls, etc.) with privacy-friendly event counting</li>
<li>Interactive analytics dashboard with D3.js visualizations</li>
<li>Historical data with daily aggregation</li>
<li>Filter by date range, content type, and more</li>
</ul>
Performance:
<ul>
<li>Ultra-fast tracking endpoint (bypasses a core load)</li>
<li>Minimal overhead (~5ms per request with the drop-in script)</li>
<li>File-based batch processing (no database requests during the pageview event collection, only during cron processing)</li>
<li>Efficient data storage with automatic archiving</li>
<li>Configurable background processing via WP-Cron</li>
</ul>
Drop-in script 
* Created to minimize overhead 
* Uses exactly the same code as the API endpoint except two hooks for config modification (sqm_views_ping_interval, sqm_views_session_timeout) 
* Run strict JSON request schema validation to minimize attack surface. 
* Receives request, run validation, add it to a file for the later batch processing. Very low memory and CPU footprint.
Pageview lifetime 
JS code will send an <code>init</code> event, followed by <code>ping</code> events and completed by <code>exit</code> or <code>timeout</code> events. Unique ID is returned during <code>init</code> used for all the following events. During cron processing all the events with the same IDs are combined into a single pageview and stored in the database.
Privacy & Control:
<ul>
<li>100% privacy-focused (no external services)</li>
<li>All data stays on your server</li>
<li>Encrypted tracking payloads (you don’t need to reveal everything you track)</li>
<li>Full control over what gets tracked</li>
<li>GDPR-friendly (no personal data collected by default), we focus on pageviews</li>
</ul>
Flexibility:
<ul>
<li>Track custom post types and taxonomies</li>
<li>30+ developer hooks for customization</li>
<li>WP-CLI commands for automation</li>
<li>Translation-ready (i18n)</li>
<li>REST API for integrations</li>
</ul>
<h4>What Gets Tracked?</h4>
Content Types: 
* Posts and pages (configurable) 
* Custom post types 
* Category and tag archives 
* Custom taxonomy archives 
* Author archives 
* Date archives 
* Home page 
* Search results
Engagement Metrics: 
* Count – Total number of views 
* Time on Page – Total time spent on page 
* Active Time – Time user was actively engaged 
* High-Frequency Events – User browsing on the page (scrolling, mouse movement) 
* Low-Frequency Events – Deliberate actions (clicks, touches, typing)
<h4>Perfect For</h4>
<ul>
<li>Publishers monitoring content performance</li>
<li>Marketers analyzing user engagement</li>
<li>Developers needing custom analytics</li>
<li>Privacy-conscious site owners</li>
<li>Anyone wanting Google Analytics alternative</li>
</ul>
<h4>How It Works</h4>
<ol>
<li>Lightweight JavaScript tracker injected on tracked pages (inline or external)</li>
<li>Fast endpoint receives tracking data</li>
<li>File-based storage for raw data writes data to JSONL files (no database overhead)</li>
<li>Background processing via WP-Cron aggregates data hourly/daily and put them in the database</li>
<li>Interactive dashboard displays charts and metrics</li>
</ol>
<h4>Extensibility</h4>
30+ Developer Hooks:
<ul>
<li>Frontend Hooks – Control what gets tracked and how</li>
<li>Processing Hooks – Modify data before database storage</li>
<li>REST API Hooks – Customize chart data and permissions</li>
<li>Activation Hooks – Adjust default settings and storage</li>
</ul>
<h4>WP-CLI Support</h4>
<pre><code># Process statistics manually
wp sqm-views process
</code></pre>
<h4>Multisite Compatible</h4>
Planned
<h4>Why Choose SQMViews?</h4>
vs. External Analytics: 
* No external JavaScript libraries 
* No tracking cookies required 
* No data sent to Google servers 
* Faster page loads (no external requests) 
* Complete data ownership
<h4>Requirements</h4>
<ul>
<li>WordPress 6.0 or higher</li>
<li>PHP 8.1 or higher (PHP 8.2+ recommended)</li>
<li>PHP Sodium extension (for encryption)</li>
<li>MySQL 5.6 or higher / MariaDB 10.0 or higher</li>
<li>Write permissions for <code>wp-content/uploads/sqm-views</code> directory</li>
</ul>
<h4>Credits</h4>
SearchQueryMaster.com team
Powered by: 
* D3.js for visualizations 
* WordPress CMS 
* Sodium crypto library
<h3>Privacy Policy</h3>
SQMViews is designed with privacy in mind. The plugin:
Does NOT collect: 
* Personal information 
* Cookies not required for tracking 
* Sessions – there is no session tracking at the moment, only pageviews tracking 
* Usernames or emails 
* Browser fingerprints
IP address and user agents are: 
* collected in raw log files for troubleshooting, spam, bot, and system abuse prevention 
* removed from aggregated data and not used anywhere else
Does collect: 
* Page URLs being viewed 
* Tags and categories on the current page 
* Timestamps of visits 
* User interaction metrics (scrolls, clicks) counter 
* Browser user-agent string (for bot filtering) 
* Referrer URL (if available)
Data storage: 
* All data stored on your WordPress server 
* No data sent to external services 
* You control data retention and deletion
Your responsibilities: 
* Update your site’s privacy policy to mention analytics tracking 
* Implement cookie consent if required in your jurisdiction 
* Handle data subject access requests per GDPR/CCPA requirements 
* Configure the plugin to exclude personal data if necessary
<h3>Support</h3>
Free Support: 
* <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/sqm-views/" rel="ugc">WordPress.org Support Forum</a>
<h3>Developer Notes</h3>
Architecture: 
* Namespaced PHP code (<code>SQMViews\</code>) 
* PSR-4 autoloading via Composer 
* REST API endpoints for integrations 
* File-based queueing system
Database Tables: 
* <code>sqm_views_trackables</code> – Catalog of tracked content 
* <code>sqm_views_events</code> – Event type definitions 
* <code>sqm_views_records</code> – Individual tracking records 
* <code>sqm_views_daily</code> – Daily aggregated statistics
Hooks:
Hooks Reference:
Filters (apply_filters):
Tracking & Frontend: 
* <code>sqm_views_should_track</code> – Control whether tracking should occur (2 params: $should_track, $data) 
* <code>sqm_views_tracking_data</code> – Modify tracking data before encryption (1 param: $tracking_data) 
* <code>sqm_views_trackable_post_types</code> – Customize which post types can be tracked (1 param: $post_types) 
* <code>sqm_views_trackable_taxonomies</code> – Customize which taxonomies can be tracked (1 param: $taxonomies) 
* <code>sqm_views_data_taxonomies</code> – Modify taxonomies included in tracking data (1 param: $taxonomies) 
* <code>sqm_views_encryption_key</code> – Override the encryption key (1 param: $key) 
* <code>sqm_views_tracker_endpoint</code> – Customize tracking endpoint URL (2 params: $endpoint, $saved_endpoint) 
* <code>sqm_views_minified_js</code> – Control whether to use minified tracker JS (1 param: $use_min) 
* <code>sqm_views_tracker_script_path</code> – Customize the tracker script file path (2 params: $path, $use_min) 
* <code>sqm_views_tracker_script_url</code> – Customize tracker script URL (2 params: $url, $use_min) 
* <code>sqm_views_inline_js</code> – Control whether to inline tracker JS (1 param: $use_inline) 
* <code>sqm_views_show_debug_comment</code> – Show debug HTML comment (1 param: $show)
Processing: 
* <code>sqm_views_raw_record</code> – Filter raw record data during processing (1 param: $data) 
* <code>sqm_views_calculated_metrics</code> – Modify calculated metrics (2 params: $metrics, $records) 
* <code>sqm_views_session_timeout</code> – Customize session inactivity timeout (1 param: $timeout) 
* <code>sqm_views_ping_interval</code> – Customize the ping interval for session tracking (1 param: $interval)
Dashboard: 
* <code>sqm_views_dashboard_minified_js</code> – Control minified JS for dashboard (1 param: $use_min) 
* <code>sqm_views_dashboard_script_path</code> – Dashboard script file path (2 params: $path, $use_min) 
* <code>sqm_views_dashboard_script_url</code> – Dashboard script URL (2 params: $url, $use_min) 
* <code>sqm_views_dashboard_inline_js</code> – Control inline JS for dashboard (1 param: $use_inline) 
* <code>sqm_views_dashboard_default_filters</code> – Customize default dashboard filters (1 param: $defaults)
REST API: 
* <code>sqm_views_rest_permissions</code> – Customize REST API permissions (1 param: $capability) 
* <code>sqm_views_rest_chart_data</code> – Modify chart data in REST response (2 params: $data, $request) 
* <code>sqm_views_chart_cache_expiration</code> – Customize chart cache expiration time (1 param: $seconds) 
* <code>sqm_views_rest_chart_filters</code> – Customize available chart filters (1 param: $filters)
Activation & Settings: 
* <code>sqm_views_enable_dropin</code> – Enable/disable drop-in file creation (1 param: $enable) 
* <code>sqm_views_default_settings</code> – Customize default plugin settings (1 param: $settings) 
* <code>sqm_views_data_directory</code> – Customize data storage directory (1 param: $directory)
Actions (do_action):
Activation & Upgrade: 
* <code>sqm_views_activated</code> – Fires after plugin activation (0 params) 
* <code>sqm_views_upgraded</code> – Fires after plugin upgrade (2 params: $from_version, $to_version) 
* <code>sqm_views_before_upgrade</code> – Fires before the upgrade process (2 params: $from_version, $to_version) 
* <code>sqm_views_after_upgrade</code> – Fires after the upgrade process (2 params: $from_version, $to_version) 
* <code>sqm_views_uninstalled</code> – Fires during plugin uninstallation (0 params)
Tracking: 
* <code>sqm_views_before_tracker_output</code> – Before tracker script output (2 params: $tracking_data, $tracker_config) 
* <code>sqm_views_after_tracker_output</code> – After tracker script output (1 param: $tracking_data)
Processing: 
* <code>sqm_views_before_processing</code> – Before statistics processing starts (1 param: $verbose) 
* <code>sqm_views_after_processing</code> – After statistics processing completes (1 param: $processor_instance) 
* <code>sqm_views_record_processed</code> – After individual record processed (1 param: $record) 
* <code>sqm_views_daily_aggregated</code> – After daily aggregation completes (1 param: $result)
Cache: 
* <code>sqm_views_chart_cache_invalidated</code> – When chart cache is cleared (0 params)
Examples 
Frontend Hooks – Control Tracking Behavior:
Exclude logged-in administrators from tracking (will not work properly if you cache pages or use CDN):
<pre><code>add_filter( 'sqm_views_should_track', function( $should_track, $data ) {
 if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
 return false;
 }
 return $should_track;
}, 10, 2 );
</code></pre>
Modify tracking data before sending:
<pre><code>add_filter( 'sqm_views_tracking_data', function( $data ) {
 // Add custom metadata
 $data['custom_field'] = get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'my_field', true );
 return $data;
} );
</code></pre>
Customize which post types are tracked (overrides UI settings):
<pre><code>add_filter( 'sqm_views_tracked_post_types', function( $post_types ) {
 // Add custom post type
 $post_types[] = 'portfolio';
 return $post_types;
} );
</code></pre>
Processing Hooks – Modify Data Before Storage:
Calculate custom engagement metrics:
<pre><code>add_filter( 'sqm_views_calculated_metrics', function( $metrics, $records ) {
 // Calculate engagement score
 $metrics['engagement_score'] = ( $metrics['active'] / max( 1, $metrics['on_page'] ) ) * 100;

 // Calculate bounce rate indicator
 $metrics['likely_bounce'] = $metrics['on_page'] < 5 ? 1 : 0;

 return $metrics;
}, 10, 2 );
</code></pre>
Filter records before processing:
<pre><code>add_filter( 'sqm_views_before_process_record', function( $record ) {
 // Exclude specific URLs
 if ( strpos( $record['url'], '/test-page/' ) !== false ) {
 return null; // Skip this record
 }
 return $record;
} );
</code></pre>
REST API Hooks – Customize Chart Data:
Modify chart permissions:
<pre><code>add_filter( 'sqm_views_rest_permissions', function( $has_permission ) {
 // Allow editors to view analytics
 return current_user_can( 'edit_posts' );
} );
</code></pre>
Activation Hooks – Adjust Default Settings:
Set custom default settings on activation:
<pre><code>add_action( 'sqm_views_activated', function() {
 // Set default processing interval
 update_option( 'sqm_views_cron_interval', 'hourly' );

 // Enable external JavaScript by default
 update_option( 'sqm_views_js_mode', 'external' );
} );
</code></pre>
Cron Hooks – Custom Processing Schedules:
Run custom tasks after processing:
<pre><code>add_action( 'sqm_views_after_process', function( $processed_count ) {
 // Send notification if processing high volume
 if ( $processed_count > 10000 ) {
 wp_mail(
 get_option( 'admin_email' ),
 'SQMViews High Volume Alert',
 sprintf( 'Processed %d records', $processed_count )
 );
 }
}, 10, 1 );
</code></pre>
REST API: 
* <code>POST /wp-json/sqm-views/v1/track</code> – Submit tracking data through WordPress API endpoint 
* <code>POST sqm-views-pages.php</code> – Submit tracking data through Fast endpoint 
* <code>GET /wp-json/sqm-views/v1/charts</code> – Retrieve chart data
WP-CLI: 
* <code>wp sqm-views process</code> – Process pending statistics
License:
GPLv3. See LICENSE file for details.

SQMViews

Lightweight, privacy-focused plugin for real-time page view analytics. All data stays on your server. Focuses on PageViews tracking.

Adam Greenwell

The Hits List keeps post view tracking on your own WordPress site and gives you block, widget, and template-tag tools for displaying popular content.
Key features:
<ul>
<li>Local view tracking stored in WordPress database tables</li>
<li>Overall and daily popular-post counts</li>
<li>Popular Posts block and widget support with public post type selection</li>
<li>WordPress dashboard cards for daily top posts, all-time top posts, and views over time</li>
<li>Top 10 migration compatibility with resumable rerun-safe imports, WP-CLI tools, legacy widget support, native widget conversion, cleanup for old Top 10 leftovers, and optional Top 10 plugin removal</li>
<li>REST-based tracking with AJAX fallback</li>
<li>Privacy-policy integration for site owners</li>
</ul>
<h3>Privacy</h3>
The Hits List stores post view counts locally in the <code>hits_list</code> and <code>hits_list_daily</code> database tables (table prefix may vary).
It does not send tracking data to a third-party analytics service.
Daily tracking buckets are retained for 180 days by default and older rows are removed automatically.
You are responsible for describing your use of visitor analytics on your own site as needed.
<h3>Source Code and Build Tools</h3>
The compiled block assets in <code>blocks/popular-posts/build/</code> are generated from the human-readable source files included in <code>blocks/popular-posts/src/</code>.
To rebuild the block assets:
<ol>
<li>Go to <code>blocks/popular-posts/</code>.</li>
<li>Run <code>npm install</code>.</li>
<li>Run <code>npm run build</code>.</li>
</ol>
The block build uses <code>@wordpress/scripts</code>. Runtime PHP, vanilla JavaScript, and CSS assets outside the block build are maintained directly in the plugin source.

The Hits List

Track post views locally, display popular posts, and migrate Top 10 data into a completely free, drop-in replacement.

SQMViews vs The Hits List