Email Subscribers vs MC4WP (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Newsletter Plugins top 10: Email Subscribers at #6 and MC4WP at #5. MC4WP leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Email Subscribers
Email Subscribers & Newsletters – Email Marketing, Post Notifications & Newsletter Plugin for WordPress
Add subscription forms on the website and send newsletters & automatically send post notification about new blog posts once it gets published.
MC4WP
MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress
The #1 Mailchimp plugin for WordPress. Allows you to add a multitude of newsletter sign-up methods to your site.
Who leads on what
MC4WP leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
MC4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Newsletter Plugins.
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 50,000+.
MC4WP is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 1,497 reviews, against 4.6 from 1,170 reviews.
MC4WP has more reviews behind its score: 1,497 against 1,170.
Email Subscribers was updated more recently, on October 15, 2026; MC4WP on September 16, 2026.
MC4WP was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 275,233 times against 77,860.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Email Subscribers
Pick Email Subscribers if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
MC4WP
Pick MC4WP 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 being installed faster right now.
Email Subscribers vs MC4WP side by side
| Email Subscribers | MC4WP | |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter Plugins ranking | #6 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,170 | 1,497 |
| Active installs | 50,000+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 13,062,324 | 78,511,456 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 77,860 | 275,233 |
| Last updated | Oct 15, 2026 | Sep 16, 2026 |
| First published | May 9, 2014 | Jun 19, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Email Subscribers ratings
MC4WP 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 Email Subscribers nor MC4WP can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Newsletter Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Email Subscribers vs MC4WP: common questions
Is Email Subscribers better than MC4WP?
MC4WP leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. MC4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which has more users, Email Subscribers or MC4WP?
MC4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Email Subscribers or MC4WP?
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 50,000+.
Are Email Subscribers and MC4WP free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Email Subscribers may also sell a paid version or add-ons. MC4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Email Subscribers and MC4WP
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.