Lean Player 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: Lean Player at #7 and Compact WP Audio Player at #2. Compact WP Audio Player leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
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 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Compact WP Audio Player ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #7 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: Lean Player has 5, 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 5.
Lean Player was updated more recently, on September 6, 2026; Compact WP Audio Player on August 17, 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.
Lean Player
Pick Lean Player if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
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 or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Lean Player vs Compact WP Audio Player side by side
| Lean Player | Compact WP Audio Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Player Plugins ranking | #7 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| Reviews | 5 | 69 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 58,476 | 669,003 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 6, 2026 | Aug 17, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 9, 2020 | Mar 4, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Lean Player 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 Lean Player 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.
Lean Player vs Compact WP Audio Player: common questions
Is Lean Player better than Compact WP Audio Player?
Compact WP Audio Player leads on 3 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 #7 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which has more users, Lean Player or Compact WP Audio Player?
Compact WP Audio Player ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #7 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Lean Player or Compact WP Audio Player?
Compact WP Audio Player has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Lean Player and Compact WP Audio Player free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Lean Player may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Compact WP Audio Player may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Lean Player 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.