Coming soon and Maintenance mode 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: Coming soon and Maintenance mode at #8 and LightStart at #3. LightStart leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Coming soon and Maintenance mode
Coming soon and Maintenance mode plugin is an awesome tool to show your website visitors that you are working on your website for making it better.
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 all 5 measures we track.
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Coming Soon Plugins.
LightStart has more users: 400,000+ active installs against 9,000+.
LightStart is rated higher: 4.3 out of 5 from 873 reviews, against 4.2 from 83 reviews.
LightStart has more reviews behind its score: 873 against 83.
LightStart was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; Coming soon and Maintenance mode on February 2, 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.
Coming soon and Maintenance mode
Coming soon and Maintenance mode does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
LightStart
Pick LightStart if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Coming soon and Maintenance mode vs LightStart side by side
| Coming soon and Maintenance mode | LightStart | |
|---|---|---|
| Coming Soon Plugins ranking | #8 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 83 | 873 |
| Active installs | 9,000+ | 400,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,466,045 | 20,151,015 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Feb 2, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 24, 2014 | Feb 26, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.9.7 | 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.
Coming soon and Maintenance mode 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 Coming soon and Maintenance mode nor LightStart can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Coming Soon Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Coming soon and Maintenance mode vs LightStart: common questions
Is Coming soon and Maintenance mode better than LightStart?
LightStart leads on all 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 #8 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Which has more users, Coming soon and Maintenance mode or LightStart?
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Coming soon and Maintenance mode or LightStart?
LightStart has more users: 400,000+ active installs against 9,000+.
Are Coming soon and Maintenance mode and LightStart free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Coming soon and Maintenance mode may also sell a paid version or add-ons. LightStart may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Coming soon and Maintenance mode and LightStart
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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