AiTRK vs Google Analytics 4

GA4 is a web analytics tool. AiTRK is a cross-channel attribution engine. They solve different problems — here’s how they compare.

The Core Difference

GA4 is designed to measure website behavior — page views, sessions, events. It’s a general-purpose analytics tool owned by Google. AiTRK is purpose-built for marketing attribution — connecting ad spend to conversions across every channel, device, and touchpoint. They’re complementary, not competitive. Most AiTRK clients run both.

The key difference: GA4 tells you what happened on your site. AiTRK tells you which marketing made it happen.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature AiTRK + Atrilyx Google Analytics 4
Primary purpose Cross-channel marketing attribution Website analytics
Attribution model Multi-touch (linear, time-decay, data-driven) Last-click (default), data-driven (limited)
View-through conversions 4M+ VTCs tracked Not supported
Cross-device tracking Deterministic identity resolution Limited (Google signals, logged-in users only)
Ad network integrations 20+ networks (Meta, Trade Desk, DV360, etc.) Google Ads only (native)
Impression-level data From all integrated networks Not available
Cross-domain tracking First-party cookies + CNAME Requires configuration
Data refresh frequency 3x daily (network data; pixel tracking is real-time) 24–48 hour processing delay
Programmatic attribution Full impression-to-conversion path Click-only
Privacy compliance GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA GDPR, CCPA (no HIPAA)
Data ownership You own your data Google retains data rights
Cookie architecture First-party only First-party + Google signals
Pixel size <5KB gzipped ~45KB (gtag.js)
Patent protection U.S. Patent No. 10,091,321 No (open platform)
Cost Enterprise pricing (contact) Free (with limits) / 360 ($$$)

When to Use AiTRK

  • You run campaigns across multiple ad networks (not just Google)
  • You need view-through conversion data from display/video/programmatic
  • Your customer journey spans multiple devices
  • You need attribution models beyond last-click
  • You’re in healthcare and need HIPAA compliance
  • You want to own your marketing data

When to Use GA4

  • You need general website analytics (traffic, behavior, events)
  • You primarily run Google Ads campaigns
  • You need a free analytics solution
  • You want Google’s ecosystem integrations (BigQuery, Looker Studio)

Can I Use Both?

Yes — and most AiTRK clients do. GA4 handles website analytics and Google Ads reporting. AiTRK handles cross-channel attribution across all ad networks. They complement each other: GA4 tells you what users do on your site, AiTRK tells you which marketing drove them there.

See What Your Current Tracking Misses

AiTRK is the foundation of the Atrilyx platform. Book a demo to see the full stack — from pixel to AI.