Audio Player Block vs Lean Player (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Audio Player Plugins top 10: Audio Player Block at #6 and Lean Player at #7. Audio Player Block leads on 2 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Audio Player Block
Audio Player Block – Play Audio Beautifully on Any Page
Embed a beautiful audio player in WordPress with playlists, cover images, custom styles, and shortcode support – a free Gutenberg audio block
Lean Player
Lean Player – Video and Audio Player with Playlist for WordPress, Elementor and Gutenberg
A lightweight WordPress plugin for YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Vimeo, HTML5 video and audio, playlists, and brand-matched colors.
Who leads on what
Audio Player Block leads on 2 of the 5 measures we track.
Audio Player Block ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #7 in Audio Player Plugins.
Both report 2,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Audio Player Block has 10, Lean Player has 5. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Audio Player Block has more reviews behind its score: 10 against 5.
Lean Player was updated more recently, on September 6, 2026; Audio Player Block on August 16, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Audio Player Block
Pick Audio Player Block if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Lean Player
Pick Lean Player if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Audio Player Block vs Lean Player side by side
| Audio Player Block | Lean Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Player Plugins ranking | #6 | #7 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 10 | 5 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 2,000+ |
| Total downloads | 66,844 | 58,476 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 16, 2026 | Sep 6, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 28, 2021 | Mar 9, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.1 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Audio Player Block ratings
Lean Player ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Audio Player Block nor Lean Player can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Audio Player Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Audio Player Block vs Lean Player: common questions
Is Audio Player Block better than Lean Player?
Audio Player Block leads on 2 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Audio Player Block ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #7 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which has more users, Audio Player Block or Lean Player?
Audio Player Block ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #7 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Audio Player Block or Lean Player?
Both report 2,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Audio Player Block and Lean Player free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Audio Player Block may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Lean Player may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Audio Player Block and Lean Player
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- Lean Player vs HTML5 Audio Player
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