CMP vs LightStart (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Coming Soon Plugins top 10: CMP at #5 and LightStart at #3. LightStart leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
CMP
CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin by NiteoThemes
Beautiful Coming soon, Maintenance or Landing page on your website, packed with premium features for free.
LightStart
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming Soon and Landing Page Builder
Easy Drag & Drop Page Builder that adds a splash page to your site that it's perfect for a coming soon page, maintenance or landing page.
Who leads on what
LightStart leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Coming Soon Plugins.
LightStart has more users: 400,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
CMP is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 326 reviews, against 4.3 from 873 reviews.
LightStart has more reviews behind its score: 873 against 326.
CMP was updated more recently, on August 22, 2026; LightStart on August 20, 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.
CMP
Pick CMP if the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
LightStart
Pick LightStart 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.
CMP vs LightStart side by side
| CMP | LightStart | |
|---|---|---|
| Coming Soon Plugins ranking | #5 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 326 | 873 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 400,000+ |
| Total downloads | 6,455,935 | 20,151,015 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 22, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 13, 2017 | Feb 26, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 7.1 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
CMP ratings
LightStart 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 CMP nor LightStart can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Coming Soon Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
CMP vs LightStart: common questions
Is CMP better than LightStart?
LightStart leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Which has more users, CMP or LightStart?
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Which is rated higher, CMP or LightStart?
LightStart has more users: 400,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are CMP and LightStart free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. CMP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. LightStart may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to CMP and LightStart
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Website Builder by SeedProd
700,000+ installs · 4.9 from 4,699 reviews
-
Ultimate Coming Soon
9,000+ installs · 4.5 from 6 reviews
-
Coming Soon Maintenance Mode
7,000+ installs · 4.7 from 3 reviews
-
Minimal Coming Soon
100,000+ installs · 4.4 from 281 reviews
-
Maintenance
1 million+ installs · 4.4 from 864 reviews
More Coming Soon Plugins comparisons
- CMP vs Website Builder by SeedProd
- CMP vs Coming Soon Maintenance Mode
- CMP vs Coming soon and Maintenance mode
- CMP vs Maintenance
- CMP vs Minimal Coming Soon
- CMP vs Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode Page & Under Construction
- CMP vs Ultimate Coming Soon
- CMP vs Under Construction
- Coming Soon Maintenance Mode vs LightStart
- Coming soon and Maintenance mode vs LightStart
- Website Builder by SeedProd vs LightStart
- Maintenance vs LightStart
Weekly · free
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.