Compact WP Audio Player vs Sonaar (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: Compact WP Audio Player at #2 and Sonaar at #1. Sonaar leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Compact WP Audio Player
A Compact WP Audio Player Plugin that is compatible with all major browsers and devices (Android, iPhone, iPad)
Sonaar
MP3 Audio Player – Music Player, Podcast Player & Radio by Sonaar
The most advanced Audio Player for Music & Podcast. For Elementor, Gutenberg, WooCommerce and more. Add unlimited players to any pages!
Who leads on what
Sonaar leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Sonaar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Audio Player Plugins.
Both report 20,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Sonaar is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 302 reviews, against 4.1 from 69 reviews.
Sonaar has more reviews behind its score: 302 against 69.
Sonaar was updated more recently, on August 26, 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.
Compact WP Audio Player
Compact WP Audio Player does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Sonaar
Pick Sonaar if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Compact WP Audio Player vs Sonaar side by side
| Compact WP Audio Player | Sonaar | |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Player Plugins ranking | #2 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.1 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 69 | 302 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 669,003 | 917,229 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 17, 2026 | Aug 26, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 4, 2013 | Apr 27, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Compact WP Audio Player ratings
Sonaar 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 Compact WP Audio Player nor Sonaar can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Audio Player Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Compact WP Audio Player vs Sonaar: common questions
Is Compact WP Audio Player better than Sonaar?
Sonaar leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Sonaar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which has more users, Compact WP Audio Player or Sonaar?
Sonaar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Compact WP Audio Player or Sonaar?
Both report 20,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Compact WP Audio Player and Sonaar free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Compact WP Audio Player may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Sonaar may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Compact WP Audio Player and Sonaar
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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