All Collections
Data Sources
Google Analytics
Google Analytics 4 migration - let’s face it!
Google Analytics 4 migration - let’s face it!
Pratyusha Turlapati avatar
Written by Pratyusha Turlapati
Updated over a week ago

Universal Analytics (UA) is being replaced by Google Analytics 4, best known as GA4. This change offers new features and functionality, but it is important to make sure you are prepared to make the switch before July 1st 2023.

Google Analytics 4, it is not just a new interface, it has a new way of collecting data. GA4 collects data via an event-based model. Some metrics and dimensions have vanished, and new ones have been added.

The migration will require some work; we can’t deny that. Let’s face it as we will have to make the transition one day or another.

Benefits of creating your properties now

  1. You become familiar sooner with the new platform

  2. You can track both your web and app together or separately with the new data stream feature of GA4.

  3. Improved understanding of your audience with enhanced measurement based on events.

  4. Improved understanding of customer purchase journeys across platforms

  5. Create your GA4 properties now, and when the time comes to sunset, you will have reasonable minimum number of lifecycle data.

With the sunset date coming up soon, you may want to take full advantage of this benefits mentioned above and get started with the new goal tracking features in Google Analytics 4.

How to update to GA4 and create a new property

Making the switch from UA to GA4 doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s a pretty straightforward process. This guide takes you through all the steps needed to get started.

Comparative metrics between UA and GA4

Google Analytics 4 sticks to the same basic principles that made Universal Analytics so powerful: real-time user data on your site or app. Google Analytics 4 collects your data more accurately is an event-based data model where every activity performed by the user is considered an event.

It’ll be challenging to report the same metrics from Universal Analytics (UA) to GA4 in your reports/dashboards because of all the changes with metrics that are no longer being measured the same way. For example, goals are now replaced by conversion events, so, there won’t be a comparative metric.

Here is a list of popular metrics from UA , along with their corresponding availability in GA4.

Universal Analytics Metric

Alternative metric in Google Analytics 4

Recommendation / Comments

Users

Active Users

New Users

New Users

% New Sessions

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Sessions Per User

Sessions per user

Goal Starts

Depends on GA4 events

Goal metrics will depend on how you set up your events in GA4

Goal Value

Total revenue

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Goal Completions

Conversions

Cost per Goal Conversion

Depends on GA4 events

Goal metrics will depend on how you set up your events in GA4

Goal Abandons

Depends on GA4 events

Goal metrics will depend on how you set up your events in GA4

Goal Conversion Rate

Session conversion rate

Goal Abandonment Rate

Depends on GA4 events

Goal metrics will depend on how you set up your events in GA4

Page Load Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Page Load Sample

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Domain Lookup Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Page Download Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Redirection Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Server Connection Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Server Response Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Speed Metrics Sample

-

No replacement suggestion possible

DOM Interactive Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

DOM Content Loaded Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

DOM Latency Metrics Sample

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Avg. Page Load Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Avg. Domain Lookup Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Avg. Page Download Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Avg. Redirection Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Avg. Server Connection Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Avg. Server Response Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Avg. DOM Interactive Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Avg. DOM Content Loaded Time

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Sessions

Sessions

Bounces

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Bounce Rate

Bounce rate

Total Session Duration

User engagement

Avg Session Duration

User engagement

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Hits

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Organic Searches

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Clicks

Ads clicks

Impressions

Ads impressions

Cost

Ads cost

CPM

-

Can be created as a calculated metric - ads cost*1000/ads impressions

CPC

Ads cost per click

CTR

-

Can be created as a calculated metric - ads clicks/ads impressions

Cost per Conversion

Cost per conversion

Cost per Transaction

-

Can be created as a calculated metric - total ad revenue /transactions

Revenue per Click

-

Can be created as a calculated metric - total ad revenue /ads clicks

ROI

-

No replacement suggestion possible

ROAS

Return on ad spend

ERS

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Margin

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Page Value

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Entrances

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Entrance Rate

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Page Views

Views

Page Views per Session

Views per session

Unique Page Views

Views

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Total Time on Page

Average session duration

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Avg Time on Page

Average session duration

Exits

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Exit Rate

-

Not available with Google's API - only found in GA4 explorer

Results Page Views

Views

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Total Unique Searches

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Results Pageviews Per Search

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Sessions With Search

-

Depends on your GA4 event

% Sessions With Search

-

Depends on your GA4 event

Search Depth

-

Depends on your GA4 event

Average Search Depth

-

Depends on your GA4 event

Search Refinements

-

Depends on your GA4 event

% Search Refinements

-

Depends on your GA4 event

Time After Search

-

Depends on your GA4 event

Avg Time After Search

-

Depends on your GA4 event

Search Exits

-

Depends on your GA4 event

% Search Exits

-

Depends on your GA4 event

Site Search Goal Conversion Rate

-

Depends on your GA4 event

Per Search Goal Value

User conversion rate

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Screen Views

Views

Unique Screen Views

Views

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Screen Views Per Session

Views per session

Time On Screen

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Avg Screen View Direction

Average session duration

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Total Events

Event count

Unique Events

Events per session

Event Value

Event value

Avg Event Value

Event value

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Sessions With Event

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Event/Session With Event

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Transactions

Transactions

Transaction revenue

Total revenue

Total revenue

Transactions per Session

-

Revenue per Transaction

-

Transaction Revenue per Session

-

Transaction Shopping

Shipping amount

Tax

Tax amount

Total Transaction Revenue

Total revenue

Item Quantity

Item purchase quantity

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Unique Purchases

Item purchase quantity

Revenue per Item

Item revenue

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Item Revenue

Item revenue

Items per Purchase

Transactions per purchaser

Local Revenue

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Local Shipping

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Local Tax

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Local Product Revenue

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Buy-to-Detail Rate

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Cart-to-Detail Rate

Cart-to-view rate

Internal Promotion CTR

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Internal Promotion Clicks

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Internal Promotion Views

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Local Product Refund Amount

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Local Refund Amount

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Product Adds To Cart

Add-to-carts

Product Checkouts

Checkouts

Product Detail Views

Item list views

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this metric

Product List CTR

Item list click through rate

Product List Clicks

Item list clicks

Product List Views

Item list views

Product Refund Amount

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Product Refunds

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Product Removes From Cart

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Product Revenue Per Purchase

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Quantity Added To Cart

Items added to cart

Quantity Checked Out

Items checked out

Quantity Refunded

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Quantity Removed From Cart

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Refund Amount

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Revenue Per User

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Total Refunds

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Transactions Per User

Transactions per purchaser

Total Conversions

Conversions

Total Conversion Value

Total Revenue

First Impression Conversions

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

First Impression Value

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Impression Assisted Conversions

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Impression Assisted Value

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Assisted Conversions

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Assisted Value

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

First Interaction Conversions

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

First Interaction Value

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Last Interaction Conversions

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API

Last Interaction Value

-

GA4 metric not available in Google's API


Here is a list of popular dimensions from UA , along with their corresponding availability in GA4.

Universal Analytics Dimensions

Alternative Dimension in Google Analytics 4

Recommendations / Comments

Time - Group By Daily

Time - Group by Daily

Time - Group By Weekly

Time - Group by Weekly

Time - Group By Weekly (Sun - Sat)

-

Time - Group By Day Of Week (Sun - Sat)

-

Time - Group By Day Of Month

-

Time - Group By Monthly

Time - Group by Monthly

Time - Group By Hourly

-

Time - Group By Yearly

Time - Group by Yearly

All Goals

Event name

With filter "is conversion event" equals yes

Goal Completion Location

Page path and screen class

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this dimension

User Type

-

No replacement suggestion possible

Count of Sessions

-

Days Since Last Session

-

Session Duration

-

Referral Path

Page referrer

No exact match but we recommend using this

Full Referrer

Page referrer

Campaigns

First user campaign

Source

First user source

Medium

First user medium

Source/Medium

First user source / medium

Keywords

First user Google Ads keyword text

Ad Content

Session manual ad content

Social Network

-

Social Source Referral

-

All Google Ads Campaigns

Session Google Ads campaign

Select Google Ads Campaign(s)

-

Network

Session Google Ads ad network type

No exact match but we recommend using this

Search Queries

Session Google Ads query

Ad Format

Ad format

Ad Groups

Google Ads ad group name

Browsers

Browser

Browser Version

Browser

The exact match does not exist but we recommend this dimension

Operating System

Operating system

Operating System Version

Operating system with version

Mobile Device Branding

Device category

Mobile Device Model

Device model

Mobile Device Selector

-

Mobile Device Info

-

Mobile Device Marketing Name

-

Device

Device model

No exact match but we recommend using this

Data Source

-

Continent

-

Sub Continent

-

Country

Country

Region

Region

Metro

-

City

City

Network Domain

-

Network Location

-

Flash Version

-

Java Support

-

Language

Language

Screen Colors

-

Source Property Display Name

-

Screen Resolution

-

HostName

-

Page Path

Page location

Page Path Level 1

Page location

No exact match but we recommend using this

Page Path Level 2

Page location

No exact match but we recommend using this

Page Path Level 3

Page location

No exact match but we recommend using this

Page Path Level 4

Page location

No exact match but we recommend using this

Page Title

Page title

Landing Pages

Landing page + query string

Second Pages

-

Exit Pages

-

No replacement is available in GA4

Previous Page Path

Page referrer

No exact match but we recommend using this

Page Depth

-

Site Search Status

-

Search Term

-

Refined Keyword

-

Site Search Category

-

Search Destination Page

-

Age

Age

Gender

Gender

Other Category

Interests

Affinity Category (reach)

Interests

No exact match but we recommend using this

In-Market Segment

Interests

No exact match but we recommend using this

App Name

-

App Version

-

Screen Name

-

Screen Depth

-

Landing Screen Name

-

Exit Screen Name

-

Event Category

Depends on your GA4 events & parameters

Event dimensions will depend on how you set up your GA4 events & parameters

Event Action

Depends on your GA4 events & parameters

Event dimensions will depend on how you set up your GA44 events & parameters

Event Label

Event name

Transaction ID

-

Affiliation

Item affiliation

Sessions To Transaction

-

Days To Transaction

-

Product SKU

Item variant

Product Name

Item name

Product Category

Item category

Checkout Options

-

Internal Promotion Creative

-

Internal Promotion ID

-

Internal Promotion Name

-

Internal Promotion Position

-

Order Coupon Code

Order coupon

Product Brand

Item brand

Product Category (Enhanced Ecommerce)

-

Product Coupon Code

Order coupon

Product List Name

Item name

Product List Position

-

Product Variant

Item variant

Channel Grouping

First user default channel group

Google Ads Ad Content

Session manual ad content

Google Ads Ad Group

Google Ads ad group name

Google Ads Ad Network Type

Session Google Ads ad network type

Google Ads Campaign

Google Ads campaign

Google Ads Destination URL

Full page URL

No exact match but we recommend using this

Google Ads Matched Search Query

Google Ads query

Google Ads Match Type

-

Google Ads Placement Domain

Session Google Ads ad network type

No exact match but we recommend using this

Product Category

Item category

No exact match but we recommend using this

Have any questions about UA / GA4 metrics or can’t find your GA4 metric in ReportGarden? Contact us at [email protected]

Best practices for creating GA4 report

You can find the complete list of these definitions on our help page dedicated to GA4 metrics and dimensions here.

Additionally, our team has created a template that will be useful if you create a new report with only GA4 data. This report will provide data on traffic overview, conversions, and a section for your transactions. You could as well create a report from scratch. It is best to keep the UA and GA4 data separately.

Important: You might be seeing errors saying we are unable to load the data for this account. It is because of the rate limits. To explain it in simple terms, Google have installed rate limits to prevent the system from crashing if ever too much data is being pulled in simultaneously. This rule applies for everyone using GA4 datasource. The only solution here is to be patient and try creating reports after couple of minutes.

To know more about this, check out the Google developer page on Limits and Quotas on API Requests.

Data in GA4 dashboard is not matching with ReportGarden

Follow the steps below to ensure that the right settings are selected

  • Make sure you are in the correct google analytics 4 account.

  • Ensure that the right date range is selected

  • Ensure that the right metrics are selected

  • Check for any filters

What will happen with my data after the sunset?

ReportGarden is actively monitoring the sunset of google analytics universal. At this time, it is said Google will stop data collection of UA properties by the 1st of July 2023. However, we will still be able to retrieve UA data 6 months after the sunset date. This means that ReportGarden will still be able to display UA data within your reports/dashboards until Google stops reporting it. Keep in mind that at any time, this can change on Google’s side. You can manually download data from every report if you need to save certain information beyond Google's 6-month data-retention grace period.

Here is a list of resources that may be helpful to you:

Have any questions about UA / GA4 metrics or can’t find your GA4 metric in ReportGarden? Contact us at [email protected]

Happy Reporting!
Team ReportGarden

Did this answer your question?