> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/plausible/analytics/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Quick Start Guide
> Get started with Plausible Analytics in 2 minutes. Add privacy-friendly analytics to your website and see your first pageview.
## Get Up and Running Fast
This guide will help you set up Plausible Analytics and start tracking your website traffic in just a few minutes. No complex configuration needed.
This quick start covers **Plausible Cloud**, our managed service. For self-hosting instructions, see the [Installation guide](/installation).
## Prerequisites
All you need is:
* A website where you can add code to the `` section
* 2 minutes of your time
No credit card required for the 30-day free trial.
## Step 1: Create Your Account
Visit [plausible.io/register](https://plausible.io/register) and create your account.
Enter your email and create a password. You'll receive a confirmation email to verify your account.
After signing in, you'll be prompted to add your first website.
Enter your domain exactly as it appears in the browser (e.g., `mywebsite.com` or `blog.mywebsite.com`).
Use the domain without `http://` or `https://`. Just the domain name like `example.com`.
Select your timezone and reporting region. This determines how your daily/weekly/monthly reports are calculated.
## Step 2: Install the Tracking Script
Plausible offers multiple installation methods. Choose the one that works best for your setup.
### Method 1: Manual Script Installation (Recommended)
This is the simplest method for most websites.
After adding your site, you'll see your unique tracking snippet that looks like this:
```html theme={null}
```
Your actual snippet will include a unique Script ID specific to your site. The script is lightweight (\< 1KB) and won't slow down your website.
Paste the snippet into the `` section of your website, before the closing `` tag.
For static sites, add it to your HTML template:
```html theme={null}
My Website
```
Save the file and deploy your updated website.
### Method 2: WordPress Plugin
If you're using WordPress, we have an official plugin.
Go to your WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Add New
Search for "Plausible Analytics" and click Install, then Activate.
Go to Settings → Plausible Analytics
Enter your domain and save the settings. The plugin will automatically add the tracking script to your site.
### Method 3: NPM Package
For modern JavaScript applications (React, Vue, Next.js, etc.):
```bash theme={null}
npm install @plausible-analytics/tracker
```
```javascript theme={null}
import { init } from '@plausible-analytics/tracker'
init({
domain: 'mywebsite.com'
})
```
The `init` function must be called on the client side only. For SSR frameworks like Next.js, ensure initialization happens in a client component or `useEffect` hook.
By default, the NPM package automatically tracks pageviews. For SPA routing:
```javascript theme={null}
init({
domain: 'mywebsite.com',
autoCapturePageviews: true // enabled by default
})
```
## Step 3: Verify Installation
After adding the script, return to your Plausible dashboard and click the "Verify Installation" button.
Plausible will automatically detect if the script is installed correctly on your site.
Open your website in a browser (in a regular window, not incognito mode).
Navigate to a few pages to generate some test traffic.
Return to your Plausible dashboard. You should see your first pageview appear within a few seconds!
The dashboard updates in realtime. If you don't see data immediately, wait 10-15 seconds and refresh.
## Step 4: Explore Your Dashboard
Congratulations! You're now tracking privacy-friendly analytics. Here's what you'll see:
See how many people are on your site right now in realtime
Total pageviews over your selected time period
Which pages on your site are getting the most traffic
Where your visitors are coming from (Google, social media, direct, etc.)
## Optional: Enhanced Tracking
Want to track more than pageviews? Enable these optional features:
### Track Outbound Links
Automatically track when users click external links:
```javascript theme={null}
// NPM package
init({
domain: 'mywebsite.com',
outboundLinks: true
})
```
For the script installation, enable this option in your site settings.
### Track File Downloads
Monitor when users download files:
```javascript theme={null}
// NPM package
init({
domain: 'mywebsite.com',
fileDownloads: true
})
```
### Track Custom Events
Track button clicks, form submissions, and other user actions:
```javascript theme={null}
import { track } from '@plausible-analytics/tracker'
// Track a signup
track('Signup', { props: { plan: 'Pro' } })
// Track a purchase with revenue
track('Purchase', {
revenue: { amount: 29.99, currency: 'USD' },
props: { product: 'Premium Plan' }
})
```
Custom events and enhanced tracking features count towards your billable pageviews.
## Troubleshooting
* Make sure you visited your site in a regular browser window (not incognito/private mode)
* Check that the script snippet is in the `` section, not the ``
* Verify your domain in the snippet matches exactly what you entered in settings
* Disable any ad blockers and try again (note: Plausible is blocked by many ad blockers)
* Check your browser console for any JavaScript errors
* Clear your browser cache and hard reload the page (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R)
* Make sure the script loads before the closing `` tag
* Check that your Script ID is correct in the snippet
* Some content security policies (CSP) may block the script - add plausible.io to your allowed domains
If you're using a single-page application with client-side routing:
* For NPM: ensure `autoCapturePageviews: true` is set (default)
* For hash-based routing (/#/page), enable the hash routing option:
```javascript theme={null}
init({
domain: 'mywebsite.com',
hashBasedRouting: true
})
```
Set `localStorage.plausible_ignore` to `"true"` in your browser console:
```javascript theme={null}
localStorage.plausible_ignore = "true"
```
Or add this to your site for a permanent exclusion link for you and your team.
## Next Steps
Track conversions like signups, purchases, or downloads
Collaborate with your team and assign roles
Get weekly or monthly analytics reports sent to your inbox
See which keywords bring traffic from Google
Need help? Join our [community forum](https://github.com/plausible/analytics/discussions) or check the full [documentation](https://plausible.io/docs) for detailed guides.