MC4WP vs MailPoet (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: MC4WP at #5 and MailPoet at #1. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
MailPoet
MailPoet – Newsletters, Email Marketing, and Automation
Send beautiful newsletters from WordPress. Collect subscribers with signup forms, automate your emails for WooCommerce, blog post notifications & more
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
MailPoet ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Newsletter Plugins.
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 500,000+.
MC4WP is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 1,497 reviews, against 4.4 from 1,433 reviews.
MC4WP has more reviews behind its score: 1,497 against 1,433.
MailPoet was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; MC4WP on September 16, 2026.
MailPoet was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 939,024 times against 275,233.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
MC4WP
Pick MC4WP if you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
MailPoet
Pick MailPoet if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
MC4WP vs MailPoet side by side
| MC4WP | MailPoet | |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter Plugins ranking | #5 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 1,497 | 1,433 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 500,000+ |
| Total downloads | 78,511,456 | 70,453,376 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 275,233 | 939,024 |
| Last updated | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 19, 2013 | Oct 28, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
MC4WP ratings
MailPoet 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 MC4WP nor MailPoet can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Newsletter Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MC4WP vs MailPoet: common questions
Is MC4WP better than MailPoet?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. MailPoet ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which has more users, MC4WP or MailPoet?
MailPoet ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MC4WP or MailPoet?
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 500,000+.
Are MC4WP and MailPoet free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MC4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. MailPoet is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to MC4WP and MailPoet
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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