Audio Player Block vs Compact WP Audio 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 Compact WP Audio Player at #2. Compact WP Audio Player leads on 4 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
Compact WP Audio Player
A Compact WP Audio Player Plugin that is compatible with all major browsers and devices (Android, iPhone, iPad)
Who leads on what
Compact WP Audio Player leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Compact WP Audio Player ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #6 in Audio Player Plugins.
Compact WP Audio Player has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Audio Player Block has 10, Compact WP Audio Player has 69. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Compact WP Audio Player has more reviews behind its score: 69 against 10.
Compact WP Audio Player was updated more recently, on August 17, 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
Audio Player Block does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Compact WP Audio Player
Pick Compact WP Audio Player if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Audio Player Block vs Compact WP Audio Player side by side
| Audio Player Block | Compact WP Audio Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Player Plugins ranking | #6 | #2 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| Reviews | 10 | 69 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 66,844 | 669,003 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 16, 2026 | Aug 17, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 28, 2021 | Mar 4, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.1 | – |
| 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
Compact WP Audio 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 Compact WP Audio 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 Compact WP Audio Player: common questions
Is Audio Player Block better than Compact WP Audio Player?
Compact WP Audio Player leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Compact WP Audio Player ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #6 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which has more users, Audio Player Block or Compact WP Audio Player?
Compact WP Audio Player ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #6 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Audio Player Block or Compact WP Audio Player?
Compact WP Audio Player has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Audio Player Block and Compact WP Audio Player free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Audio Player Block may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Compact WP Audio Player may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Audio Player Block and Compact WP Audio Player
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.