Google Analytics 4 is the new version of Google Universal Analytics. It is the next level of measurement protocol. GA4 is not just an amelioration of Google Universal Analytics, but rather a completely new tool for tracking users across websites and applications. Instead of measuring “hits” on the session level like the old Universal Analytics, Google Analytics 4 measures “events” on the user property level. The current version is expecting to be retired in 2022.


Another significant difference is that the monthly hit limits do not exist for GA4. The free version of Universal Analytics had a monthly limit of 10 million visits. This will soon be out of date.  There are only limits to the number of different events that can be captured in GA4 to 500. But, there is no limit to the number of hits that can be accumulated while writing.  


Some of the main features of GA 4 are:

  • More detailed data control   
  • Customer-oriented measurements and customer life cycle reports
  • More precise AI-powered Insights and Predictions
  • Deeper integration with Google Ads  



CloudCart will support both versions until Google Universal Analytics is still in use. And if you are currently using the old version it is advisable to use both versions together. If you are new to Google Analytics you will receive directly the new GA4.

Merchants who use Universal Analytics

If you are currently using Google Universal Analytics and want to upgrade to a new one - GA4, you have to go to Google Analytics Page > Admin and create a brand new property from the corresponding button. Enter the property name, it will help you find later which property you are working with, select your location (this will make measurement more accurate), and choose your currency.

From the Advanced options, you can create a Universal Analytics property as well.


It isn't recommended for new Analytics users, and it won't support app measurement. Turn this on if you'd like to create a Universal Analytics property.

Once you are ready with this part click on the Next button. In this section, you can give some more information about your business. It is not mandatory but is good for but it is good to get more detailed measurement data.

Once you are ready click on the Create button at the bottom.


On the next step choose Web, because your store is a web application.


 Then set up your web stream by filling in your domain name and stream name:

From the settings wheel, you can add more events for measuring:

When you finish with the settings just create the stream from the corresponding button. 

In the next window, you will see your measurement ID you need to copy and paste in your store's admin panel.

Open the Google Analytics app in your store and paste it directly here:

Do not forget to enable the Debug option. When debug mode is enabled on your device, your data will be sent in GA in real-time only (without processing it). This data will be filtered out and isolated from other devices (regular users) who are also generating events on your website and hence your actual data (dimensions and metrics in analytics) is not inflated.

Test the Integration

Open an incognito window and go to your website in order to test the integration. Then go to Google Analytics, select the bug icon at the bottom of the menu (Debug view) wait for a while and check if your events are coming in the analytics.

As you can see in the picture below our integration is successful and all the events are coming to Google Analytics.

If you click on the View item event, for example, you will actually see which exactly is the concerned product.

You can make a test purchase and check all the information which CloudCart is passing to Google - taxes, transaction ID, the total value of the order, the selected shipping method, the prices, the product name, the affiliation, the ID of the user and any other non-GDPR information.