surendranb GA4 API Limitations
What this MCP cannot do via the GA4 Data API, and where to go instead. Attempting these will either fail or produce meaningless aggregate data.
Not available via this MCP
| Analysis type | Why not available | Where to do it instead |
|---|---|---|
| Funnel analysis (drop-off by step) | runFunnelReport exists in the API but is not exposed by this MCP |
GA4 UI → Explore → Funnel Exploration |
| Cohort retention (week N return rate) | runCohortReport not exposed |
GA4 UI → Explore → Cohort Exploration |
| User path / flow analysis | Not available in aggregate API | GA4 UI → Explore → Path Exploration |
| Per-user event sequences | API returns aggregate rows only — no individual user journeys | BigQuery export (raw events) |
| Real-time custom breakdowns | Realtime API is limited to last 30 minutes, basic dimensions | GA4 UI → Realtime report |
| Raw event-level data | Data API aggregates; no row-level access | BigQuery export |
| Segment overlap / Venn analysis | Not a native API feature | BigQuery or GA4 Explore comparisons |
| Custom channel group definitions | Read-only via API; custom groups must be created in UI | GA4 UI → Admin → Custom Channel Groups |
What IS available (and often underused)
- Period-over-period in one call: pass two
date_ranges— GA4 returns both periods in a single response (usedate_range_start/date_range_endfor each; call twice if two-range isn't supported) - Ecommerce metrics: full purchase funnel metrics (
itemsViewed,itemsAddedToCart,itemsPurchased,purchaseRevenue,cartToViewRate) — aggregate only, not per-session funnel - Search Console integration: available as a linked report in GA4 UI but the Search Console data is on a separate API — not queryable via this MCP (use Google Search Console API directly)
- Custom dimensions and metrics: available if defined in the property — they appear in the schema alongside standard fields
- Attribution modeling comparisons: not directly queryable — data-driven vs last-click is set at the property level, not a query-time parameter
When a user asks for funnel or cohort analysis
Tell them: the GA4 Data API returns aggregate metrics, not event sequences. For funnel drop-off between specific steps, use GA4 Explore → Funnel Exploration. For cohort retention (week 1 / week 2 return), use GA4 Explore → Cohort Exploration. These analyses require the GA4 UI or a BigQuery export, not the Data API.