# Google Analytics MCP: connect GA4 to Claude and ChatGPT > A setup guide to Google Analytics MCP: three ways to connect GA4 to your agent (the official Google server, hosted vendors, and Manifold), when to use each, what prompts work well, and how to pair Analytics with Search Console for organic traffic analysis. By Jesse Sibley, Founder of Manifold. Published 9 Oct 2026, updated 9 Oct 2026. Filed under [SEO](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/topics/seo.md). ## Key takeaways - Three realistic options: the official Google Analytics MCP server (Google Cloud project, two APIs, credentials, GA4 access), hosted vendors such as Stape, Composio and Windsor.ai, or Manifold (hosted, connect Google, Analytics tools cost 0 credits). - The official server is free and runs locally, but needs Google Cloud setup and does not work from ChatGPT without a tunnel. Hosted vendors handle the setup on their own terms. Manifold puts GA4 next to Search Console, Bing, SEO, AI visibility and social. - Pair GA4 organic sessions with Search Console clicks for the same dates to find pages where Google delivered traffic but visitors bounced, often a sign of title and snippet mismatch. - One Data API report takes at most 10 metrics and 9 dimensions, and GA4 data can take a day or more to settle, so end comparison ranges a couple of days back. A Google Analytics MCP server lets you ask Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor about your site's Google Analytics 4 data in plain language. You can pull sessions, conversions, revenue and engagement by channel, campaign, landing page or date range, then compare it against Search Console clicks or trace a traffic drop. The setup depends on which server you choose: the official Google Analytics MCP server if you are comfortable with Google Cloud setup, a hosted option if you want to sign in instead of managing credentials, or a hosted marketing server if you want Analytics next to Search Console, SEO and AI visibility data. This guide walks through the three ways to connect Google Analytics 4 to your agent, covers the setup and common errors for each, shows real prompts for organic traffic analysis and conversion tracking, and explains when to pick which option. ## What is a Google Analytics MCP server? A Google Analytics MCP server bridges your AI agent and the Google Analytics API. You ask a question in plain language about sessions, conversions or revenue, and your agent calls the right Analytics tools to fetch the data. The server handles authentication, request formatting and response parsing, so you can ask "what were our top landing pages for organic traffic last month?" and get a table back. The three realistic options are: ![Diagram: the three ways to connect GA4 to your agent, comparing official server, hosted vendors, and Manifold](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/google-analytics-mcp/google-analytics-mcp-options-compared.svg#1248x942 "Official Google Analytics MCP server, hosted vendors, and Manifold: where each runs, setup steps, and cost.") 1. **Official Google Analytics MCP server** (`googleanalytics/google-analytics-mcp`): Google's own Python server, marked experimental. Runs locally on your machine. Requires a Google Cloud project with the Analytics Admin API and Data API enabled, and Application Default Credentials for a Google user with access to your GA4 property. 2. **Hosted vendors**: Stape, Composio and Windsor.ai offer hosted GA4 connections for MCP clients. They handle the Google Cloud setup, and you sign in with Google. 3. **Manifold**: A hosted marketing MCP server that puts GA4 tools next to Search Console, Bing, keyword data, backlinks and AI visibility. You connect Google on the Connections page, and the Analytics tools cost 0 credits, like the Search Console and Bing tools. ## Quick setup steps 1. **Pick a server.** Official if you already work with Google Cloud, hosted if you want a sign-in. 2. **Connect your Google account or set up credentials.** OAuth for hosted servers, credentials for the official server. 3. **Add it to your AI client** (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Cursor). 4. **Ask your first question.** "List my Analytics properties, then show sessions and conversions by channel last 28 days." ## Option 1: official Google Analytics MCP server The [official Google Analytics MCP server](https://github.com/googleanalytics/google-analytics-mcp) is Google's own Python server, still labelled experimental. It uses the Google Analytics Admin API and Data API, with tools for account summaries, property details, Google Ads links, core reports, funnel reports, realtime reports and custom dimensions. You run it locally with `pipx run analytics-mcp`. The server itself is free. ### Setup steps #### 1. Create a Google Cloud project Open [console.cloud.google.com](https://console.cloud.google.com/), create a project, and note its project ID. #### 2. Enable both APIs In your Cloud project, enable the [Analytics Admin API](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library/analyticsadmin.googleapis.com) and the [Analytics Data API](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library/analyticsdata.googleapis.com). Without both, the server fails with "API not enabled" errors. #### 3. Set up credentials Install [pipx](https://pipx.pypa.io/stable/#install-pipx), then set up [Application Default Credentials](https://cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/provide-credentials-adc) for a Google user who can see your GA4 property. The README asks for the Analytics scope plus the Cloud platform scope, using an OAuth client JSON you create in your Cloud project: ```bash gcloud auth application-default login \ --scopes https://www.googleapis.com/auth/analytics.readonly,https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-platform \ --client-id-file=YOUR_CLIENT_JSON_FILE ``` The command prints the path of the saved credentials file. Copy it, because every client config below needs it as `GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS`. The README also shows a variant that impersonates a service account. #### 4. Check GA4 access The credentials only see what that Google user (or service account) can see. If the account is not on the property yet, open **Admin → Property access management** in Google Analytics, click **+**, and add it with the **Viewer** role. Without access, the server returns "Permission denied" on every Analytics call. #### 5. Test the server ```bash pipx run analytics-mcp ``` If it starts without a credentials error, stop it and add it to your client. #### 6. Connect in Claude Desktop Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (macOS) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows): ```json { "mcpServers": { "analytics-mcp": { "command": "pipx", "args": ["run", "analytics-mcp"], "env": { "GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS": "PATH_TO_CREDENTIALS_JSON", "GOOGLE_PROJECT_ID": "YOUR_PROJECT_ID" } } } } ``` Replace the two placeholders with your credentials path and Cloud project ID, then restart Claude. The server appears under Settings → Developer. #### 7. Connect in Claude Code ```bash claude mcp add analytics-mcp \ --scope user \ -e "GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=PATH_TO_CREDENTIALS_JSON" \ -e "GOOGLE_PROJECT_ID=YOUR_PROJECT_ID" \ -- pipx run analytics-mcp ``` Then run `/mcp` in Claude Code to check it is connected. #### 8. Connect in Gemini CLI The official README shows the Gemini CLI config. Create or edit `~/.gemini/settings.json`: ```json { "mcpServers": { "analytics-mcp": { "command": "pipx", "args": ["run", "analytics-mcp"], "env": { "GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS": "PATH_TO_CREDENTIALS_JSON", "GOOGLE_PROJECT_ID": "YOUR_PROJECT_ID" } } } } ``` #### 9. Connect in Cursor Add the same entry to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (or the project's `.cursor/mcp.json`): ```json { "mcpServers": { "analytics-mcp": { "command": "pipx", "args": ["run", "analytics-mcp"], "env": { "GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS": "PATH_TO_CREDENTIALS_JSON", "GOOGLE_PROJECT_ID": "YOUR_PROJECT_ID" } } } } ``` ### Troubleshooting **Error: Credentials not found** **Cause:** No credentials set, or the wrong path. **Fix:** Run the `gcloud auth application-default login` command above, and check that `GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS` in your client config points to the file it saved. **Error: API not enabled** **Cause:** One or both Analytics APIs are not enabled in your Cloud project. **Fix:** Enable the [Analytics Admin API](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library/analyticsadmin.googleapis.com) and [Analytics Data API](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library/analyticsdata.googleapis.com). **Error: Permission denied** **Cause:** The account (your user or the service account) lacks GA4 access. **Fix:** Open Admin → Property access management in Google Analytics and add the email with Viewer role. **Error: Wrong property ID** **Symptom:** "Property not found" or empty results. **Fix:** Ask the server for your account summaries first and copy the property ID from there. GA4 property IDs are numbers, written `properties/123456789` in the API. ### What you get The official server's tools run reports and read account and property details. None of them change GA4 settings. One Data API report takes at most 10 metrics and 9 dimensions. ### Who it fits You already work with Google Cloud, know how to enable APIs and manage credentials, want Google's own code with no third party, and use a local client such as Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Gemini CLI or Cursor. ## Option 2: hosted vendors Several vendors run GA4 MCP servers for you. They handle the Google Cloud side, and you sign in with Google. Each sets its own pricing and limits, so check their pages before you commit. ### Stape [Stape](https://stape.io/solutions/mcp-server-ga4), a server-side tagging platform, runs a GA4 MCP server at `https://mcp-google-analytics.stape.io/mcp`. Its page says it is free. You add the URL as a custom connector (or through `mcp-remote` in older clients) and sign in with Google. It runs reports, checks realtime activity and reads property details. ### Composio [Composio](https://composio.dev/toolkits/google_analytics) is an integration platform for AI agents with a hosted Google Analytics toolkit, available over MCP or its API. It manages the OAuth app and token refresh for you, and has a free tier with paid plans above it. ### Windsor.ai [Windsor.ai](https://windsor.ai/google-analytics-mcp) is a marketing data integration platform. It connects GA4 to Claude and ChatGPT as a hosted connector, and can put other sources such as Search Console and Google Ads in the same conversation. ### Setup Each vendor has its own flow. The usual pattern: add the server URL to your MCP client as a custom connector, sign in with Google when prompted, and pick the GA4 property. ### Who they fit You want a sign-in instead of managing a Cloud project and credentials yourself, or you already use one of these vendors for other integrations. ## Option 3: Manifold [Manifold](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/mcp/google-analytics) is a hosted marketing MCP server that puts GA4 tools next to Search Console, Bing, keyword research, backlinks, technical crawl and AI visibility. You connect Google on the [Connections page](https://app.manifoldmcp.com/connections), and the Analytics tools cost 0 credits, like the Search Console and Bing tools, because it is your own data. ### Setup steps #### 1. Connect Google Open Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor, add Manifold as a custom MCP server (`https://mcp.manifoldmcp.com/mcp`), and sign in. Then open [Connections](https://app.manifoldmcp.com/connections) in the Manifold app and connect your Google account. Google asks for permission to view your Search Console data and your Google Analytics data; leave both ticked. If you connected Google before Analytics was added, or unticked Analytics, the tools return `NotConnected` and ask you to reconnect. The Connections page marks those accounts **No Analytics**. Click **Reconnect**, and your Search Console access continues as before. #### 2. List properties In your agent, ask: "List my Analytics properties." This calls [`analytics_list_properties`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_list_properties) and returns your GA4 properties as `properties/123456789`. #### 3. Run a report Once you have a property ID, ask for a report. For example: "Show sessions and key events by channel for property 123456789, last 28 days." The agent calls [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report) with `sessions`, `keyEvents` and `sessionDefaultChannelGroup`. With no dates, a report covers the 28 days ending yesterday. ### What you get Manifold offers three GA4 tools: - [`analytics_list_properties`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_list_properties): list your GA4 properties - [`analytics_get_fields`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_fields): list every metric and dimension a property reports, including custom ones - [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report): run a report with up to 10 metrics and 9 dimensions, with filters, sorting and an optional second date range to compare against The Analytics tools cost 0 credits. Instead of a price, they share the Search Console tools' rate limit. The [Analytics tools reference](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics) lists every parameter. ### Combining Analytics and Search Console One of the most useful patterns is pairing GA4 organic sessions with Search Console clicks for the same period. For example: "Show GA4 organic sessions by landing page last 28 days, then pull Search Console clicks and impressions by page for the same dates. Which pages had clicks but low sessions?" This surfaces pages where Google delivered clicks but visitors did not stay, often a sign of a title and snippet mismatch. ### Who it fits You want one hosted server across GA4, Search Console, Bing, SEO, AI visibility, social and Reddit, with no API keys of your own and pay per call pricing. You want to pair Analytics with Search Console or keyword data in the same chat. ## Comparison table | | Official server | Hosted vendors | Manifold | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Setup** | Google Cloud project, enable APIs, credentials, GA4 access | Sign in with Google | Connect Google in the app | | **Where it runs** | Local Python server on your machine | Hosted by vendor | Hosted by Manifold | | **Authentication** | Application Default Credentials | OAuth via vendor | OAuth via Google | | **What else it can see** | Only Analytics (Admin and Data APIs) | Varies by vendor | Search Console (0 credits), Bing (0 credits), SEO, AI visibility, social, Reddit, ads, leads | | **Cost** | Free server, runs on your Cloud project | Varies by vendor | Analytics, Search Console and Bing tools cost 0 credits; 500 free credits per workspace, Pro from $20/mo | | **Works from ChatGPT** | Not without a tunnel | Yes | Yes | | **Best for** | You already work with Google Cloud and want no third party | You want a sign-in instead of Cloud setup | One hosted server across GA4, Search Console, SEO and AI visibility | ## What to ask once it's connected Here are concrete prompts for common Analytics jobs, and which tools they call. ### Sessions and conversions by channel "Show sessions and key events by channel for property 123456789, last 28 days versus the previous 28 days." **Tools:** [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report) with `sessions`, `keyEvents`, `sessionDefaultChannelGroup`, and a comparison date range. **What you get:** A table with current and previous sessions and conversions per channel (Organic Search, Direct, Paid Search, etc.), so you can see which channels grew or dropped. ### Top landing pages for organic traffic "What were the top 20 landing pages for organic traffic last month? Include sessions and bounce rate." **Tools:** [`analytics_list_properties`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_list_properties), then [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report) with `sessions`, `bounceRate`, `landingPage` and a filter where `sessionDefaultChannelGroup` equals `Organic Search`. **What you get:** A ranked list of your organic landing pages and how visitors behaved there. ### Pairing GA4 and Search Console "Show GA4 organic sessions by landing page last 28 days, then Search Console clicks and impressions by page for the same dates. List pages with over 100 clicks but under 50 sessions." **Tools:** [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report) for GA4 organic sessions, [`console_get_search_analytics`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/console#console_get_search_analytics) for Search Console data, then the agent filters and compares. **What you get:** Pages where Google delivered clicks but visitors bounced or did not register sessions, often because the page did not match the title and snippet promise. ### Traffic drop diagnosis "Sessions dropped 30% last week. Break it down by channel, then by landing page within organic. What changed?" **Tools:** [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report) with date comparison (current week versus previous), first by channel, then by landing page filtered to organic. **What you get:** Whether the drop was across all channels or one (for example organic fell while paid stayed flat), and which pages lost the most traffic. ### Conversions by campaign "Show conversions by campaign last 30 days, sorted by conversion rate." **Tools:** [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report) with `keyEvents`, `sessions`, `sessionCampaignName`, then the agent calculates conversion rate. **What you get:** A ranked list of your campaigns and which converted best, so you can double down on the winners. ### Revenue by source and medium "What was revenue by source and medium last quarter?" **Tools:** [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report) with `totalRevenue`, `sessionSource`, `sessionMedium`. **What you get:** A breakdown of where your revenue came from: organic, paid, social, email, referral, etc. ### Custom dimensions and metrics "List all custom dimensions and metrics for property 123456789." **Tools:** [`analytics_get_fields`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_fields). **What you get:** Every metric and dimension the property reports, including your custom ones, with their API names. Use those names in [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report). ## Limits and gotchas ### Report size One Google Analytics Data API report takes at most 10 metrics and 9 dimensions. If you need more, split it into several reports. ### Data thresholding Google applies thresholding to GA4 reports when the number of users in a segment is too small, to protect user privacy. Small row counts may be withheld or aggregated. ### Data settling GA4 data can take a day or more to settle, so yesterday's numbers may still move. For totals you will compare later, end the range a couple of days back. ### LLMs doing arithmetic When you ask for a calculated metric like conversion rate or revenue per session, the agent fetches the raw numbers and calculates it. LLMs can make arithmetic mistakes on large numbers. Check the math yourself when it matters. ### The official server sees only GA4 The official Google Analytics MCP server covers GA4 only. It cannot read Search Console or Bing. If you want those next to Analytics, use Manifold or a vendor that offers both. For Search Console options on their own, see [the best Google Search Console MCP servers](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/best-google-search-console-mcp-servers). ## Run this in your agent Connect Manifold to your agent, then paste this prompt: ```text List my Analytics properties, then show sessions and key events by channel last 28 days versus the previous 28 days. Then pull Search Console clicks by page for organic traffic in the same period. Which pages had clicks but low sessions? ``` It uses [`analytics_list_properties`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_list_properties), [`analytics_get_report`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/analytics#analytics_get_report) and [`console_get_search_analytics`](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/docs/tools/console#console_get_search_analytics). ## Questions people ask ### Is there an official Google Analytics MCP server? Yes. Google publishes an experimental Python server at github.com/googleanalytics/google-analytics-mcp. You run it locally with pipx run analytics-mcp. It needs a Google Cloud project with the Analytics Admin API and Data API enabled, and Application Default Credentials for a Google user who can see your GA4 property. ### Does the Google Analytics MCP server work with ChatGPT? The official server runs locally on your machine, so it works with any client on the same machine: Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Gemini CLI and Cursor. ChatGPT connects to MCP servers over public HTTPS, so the local server does not work from ChatGPT or claude.ai on the web unless you put a tunnel in front of it. Hosted vendors and Manifold work from ChatGPT and claude.ai. ### Is the Google Analytics MCP server free? The official server is free and runs on your own Google Cloud project. Hosted vendors set their own pricing; Stape says its GA4 server is free. On Manifold, the Analytics tools cost 0 credits, like the Search Console and Bing tools, and every workspace gets 500 free credits for the paid tools, with Pro from $20/mo. ### Can a Google Analytics MCP server change my GA4 settings? The official server's tools run reports and read account and property details; none of them change GA4 settings. Manifold's three Analytics tools list properties, list fields and run reports. Whichever server you use, a Viewer role on the property is enough for reporting. ### Can I pair Google Analytics with Search Console in one chat? Yes, if you use Manifold or another server that includes both. On Manifold the Analytics and Search Console tools cost 0 credits, so you can pair organic sessions from Analytics with clicks and impressions from Search Console for the same dates to find pages where traffic dropped or bounced. ## Keep reading - [Claude SEO: keyword research, audits and content](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/claude-seo.md): A workflow guide to Claude SEO: what Claude does well, why it needs live search data, and four step-by-step workflows for keyword research, SERP briefs, technical audits and Search Console quick wins, with prompts to copy. - [Screaming Frog MCP: setup guide and alternatives](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/screaming-frog-mcp.md): Screaming Frog SEO Spider v24 added a built-in MCP server for crawling and analyzing sites from Claude, Cursor and other MCP clients. Here is how to set it up, the community headless option, and when a hosted alternative fits better. - [Ahrefs MCP: setup guide and alternatives](https://www.manifoldmcp.com/blog/ahrefs-mcp.md): Ahrefs MCP connects your agent to Ahrefs' data: keywords, backlinks, competitors, rank tracking and site audits. This guide covers the plans that include it, setup in Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor, how units are spent, and when a hosted alternative fits better.