Add Google Analytics to Nuxt JS

Once your Nuxt JS app is ready, you will want to monitor user behavior and optimize the user experience. Google Analytics can help with that and is easily integrated with Nuxt.js. Here is how to add GA, step by step.

Let's dive in!

Before we dig in I want to show you something. I promise it's worth it...

Google Analytics is great, but also complex and a bit clunky. If you just want a straightforward dashboard with the insights you need, GA is not a great place to start. Additionally, Google doesn't care about privacy and GA requires an annoying cookie banner.

That's why I built Simple Analytics, a privacy-friendly and simple analytics tool - no personal data, no cookies, just the insights you need in a straightforward dashboard.

Here is how it looks vs GA. Feel free to check our live analytics to get an idea for your project. (It is free btw)

All right, enough about us. Now let's get into answering your question!

Can you spot the difference between the dashboards?

Integrating Google Analytics

Set up Google Analytics

Log into your GA profile (or create one, if you haven't already).
Create a GA property for your app.
Inspect the property and note down your Measurement ID. You will need it later.

Install the Analytics Module

Nuxt.js has a specific module for Google Analytics which simplifies the integration process. Install the @nuxtjs/google-analytics module using npm or yarn:

npm install --save @nuxtjs/google-analytics

Configure the Module in `nuxt.config.js`

In your nuxt.config.js file, include the Google Analytics module and configure it with your Measurement ID:

export default {
  // Other configurations...

  modules: [
    // Other modules...
    '@nuxtjs/google-analytics'
  ],

  googleAnalytics: {
    id: 'YOUR_MEASUREMENT_ID' // Replace with your Google Analytics Measurement ID
  }
}

Implement Event Tracking (Optional)

If you want to track specific events like button clicks or form submissions, you can do so using the GA API in your components:

export default {
  methods: {
    trackEvent() {
      this.$ga.event('category', 'action', 'label', value)
    }
  }
}

Replace 'category', 'action', 'label', and value with your specific event details.

Test and Verify

Once your application is deployed, test to ensure that page views and events are being tracked correctly. You can use tools like the Google Analytics Debugger for Chrome to help with this.

(Optional) Create New Properties

To track multiple apps, create more GA properties and use the corresponding Measurement IDs. This prevents GA from conflating the data.

Final Thoughts

Adding Google Analytics to your apps can give you great insights. However, ask yourself: is Google Analytics the right tool for you?

GA is an overpowered solution for straightforward analytics. If you're looking for a simple and intuitive dashboard with the insights you need, there are better alternatives. Yes, I’m talking about my own product (Simple Analytics), but there are others out there as well.

I hated using Google Analytics for my projects. It's clunky, there are hundreds of dashboards and it doesn't look appealing. Also Google doesn't care about privacy or ethics. That's why I decided to build my own and more intuitive web analytics tool.

If this resonates with you, feel free to give Simple Analytics a spin. You just need to add the script to your app and off you go. This takes about one minute- and there is a free version as well!

Enjoy!

Google Analytics Glossary