Link Library vs Name Directory (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Directory Plugins top 10: Link Library at #9 and Name Directory at #6. Link Library leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Link Library
The purpose of this plugin is to add the ability to output a list of link categories and a complete list of links with notes and descriptions.
Name Directory
Name directory (glossary) with many options like multiple directories, integrated search, non-latin characters, recaptcha, HTML editor and many more.
Who leads on what
Link Library leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Name Directory ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Directory Plugins.
Link Library has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Name Directory is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 81 reviews, against 4.7 from 97 reviews.
Link Library has more reviews behind its score: 97 against 81.
Link Library was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; Name Directory on October 1, 2026.
Link Library was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 7,919 times against 3,315.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Link Library
Pick Link Library if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Name Directory
Pick Name Directory if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or the review score matters most to you.
Link Library vs Name Directory side by side
| Link Library | Name Directory | |
|---|---|---|
| Directory Plugins ranking | #9 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 97 | 81 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 2,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,442,953 | 171,913 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 7,919 | 3,315 |
| Last updated | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 17, 2005 | Nov 8, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 5.3 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Link Library ratings
Name Directory 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 Link Library nor Name Directory can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Directory Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Link Library vs Name Directory: common questions
Is Link Library better than Name Directory?
Link Library leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Name Directory ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Directory Plugins.
Which has more users, Link Library or Name Directory?
Name Directory ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Directory Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Link Library or Name Directory?
Link Library has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Link Library and Name Directory free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Link Library may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Name Directory may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Link Library and Name Directory
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Directory Plugins comparisons
- Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro vs Link Library
- Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro vs Name Directory
- Business Directory Plugin vs Link Library
- Business Directory Plugin vs Name Directory
- Classified Listing vs Link Library
- Classified Listing vs Name Directory
- Directorist vs Link Library
- Directorist vs Name Directory
- GeoDirectory vs Link Library
- GeoDirectory vs Name Directory
- HivePress vs Link Library
- HivePress vs Name Directory
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.