HTML5 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: HTML5 Audio Player at #3 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.
HTML5 Audio Player
HTML5 Audio Player – The Ultimate No-Code Podcast, MP3 & Audio Player
Maximize your WordPress site's potential with our versatile HTML5 Audio Player plugin. Seamlessly play .mp3, .wav, .ogg, and more audio files.
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 #3 in Audio Player Plugins.
Sonaar has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Sonaar is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 302 reviews, against 4.6 from 167 reviews.
Sonaar has more reviews behind its score: 302 against 167.
HTML5 Audio Player was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; Sonaar on August 26, 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.
HTML5 Audio Player
Pick HTML5 Audio Player if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Sonaar
Pick Sonaar 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 or you want the score backed by more reviews.
HTML5 Audio Player vs Sonaar side by side
| HTML5 Audio Player | Sonaar | |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Player Plugins ranking | #3 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 167 | 302 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 564,464 | 917,229 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 2, 2026 | Aug 26, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 11, 2015 | Apr 27, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.1 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
HTML5 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 HTML5 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.
HTML5 Audio Player vs Sonaar: common questions
Is HTML5 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 #3 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which has more users, HTML5 Audio Player or Sonaar?
Sonaar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Audio Player Plugins.
Which is rated higher, HTML5 Audio Player or Sonaar?
Sonaar has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are HTML5 Audio Player and Sonaar free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. HTML5 Audio Player may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Sonaar may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to HTML5 Audio Player and Sonaar
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Music Player for Elementor
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 120 reviews
-
AudioIgniter
10,000+ installs · 4.6 from 64 reviews
-
CP Media Player
3,000+ installs · 4.4 from 46 reviews
-
Compact WP Audio Player
20,000+ installs · 4.1 from 69 reviews
-
Music Player for WooCommerce
1,000+ installs · 4.8 from 61 reviews
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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.