Before Matomo can show you what people are doing, it needs to collect data from your website.
Your goal here is simple: connect your site to Matomo and install tracking.
You do not need to configure everything today. Start with basic tracking. You can add more later.
Set up tracking so Matomo starts collecting data. Nothing else works until this is done. Once tracking is live, you can see visits, reports, and conversions.
Note that this page focuses on websites. For a web app or mobile app, the same idea applies. Use the matching guide in All Matomo integrations. The setup is different, but the principle is the same: your product sends interactions to Matomo, then Matomo turns that data into reports.
Before you start
You need:
• A Matomo account (trial, free or paid)
• Access to your website or app, through your CMS, your site code, or your developer.
If your developer installs the code, you can still do everything in Matomo first, then send them one snippet.
Step 1 Add your website in Matomo
Matomo organises your analytics around the websites or digital properties you want to measure and gives you a Site ID, the number that links your site or app to Matomo.
If your website is already listed in Matomo, you can skip this part.
Otherwise: in Matomo, go to Administration (the cog icon, top right), then Websites > Manage, and click Add a new website. Enter your site name, URL, and time zone, then save.
You can change additional settings later. For now, focus on getting your first website connected.
📘 Full steps
Step 2 Choose how you want to install tracking
If you’re tracking a website, you have a few common ways to connect it. Pick the option that matches how your site is built. You only need one:
Option A Integration
Your site runs on a CMS or platform like WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Webflow, Squarespace, Drupal, and more. Best if you want the fastest, least technical setup. Matomo has a plugin or guide for each platform.
Option B Matomo Tag Manager
Tag Manager lets you manage your analytics and other tracking tags from one interface. Once its container is installed on your website, you can make many future tracking changes without editing your website code each time. Good to know: Matomo creates a default container with the essentials for basic pageview tracking when you add a new website.
Option C JavaScript tracking code
Best if you have direct access to your site code, or your developer will paste it. You copy one snippet into your pages.
Option D A mobile app or product
Your developer adds the Matomo SDK to the app. This route is developer-led.
Not sure about which option to choose?
If you use a CMS, start with Option A. Otherwise, Tag Manager (Option B) is safe and flexible. Or read our page Choosing your tracking method: Matomo Tag Manager or Matomo JS.
Step 3 Add the code to your site
Follow your chosen guide above. In every case, the job is the same:
- Copy your code, or install the plugin or SDK
- Place it on the pages or screens you want to measure (usually all of them)
- Save, and publish if you use Tag Manager
💡 Matomo Tips
Place the code in the head of your pages, before the closing tag, so it loads on every visit.
Step 4 Checkout your set up
🎉 You are set when
• Your plugin shows connected, or
• Your Tag Manager container is published, or
• Your JavaScript snippet is live on your site or app.
Data doesn’t always appear instantly. You will confirm it in the next step.
❌ Common mistakes
• Tag Manager container not published. Installing the container is not enough. Publish it.
• Code on one page only. Add it site-wide, not just the homepage.
• Editing the wrong theme file. On a CMS, use the plugin or a header script area, not random template files.
• Wrong Site ID. Check the tracking code uses the Site ID of the property you just created.
Extra steps Go deeper
📚 Get the most out of Matomo with our knowledge base
• Find your Site ID
• Troubleshooting
• All Matomo integrations
• Set up basic tracking in Tag Manager
