MC4WP vs Newsletter (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Newsletter Plugins top 10: MC4WP at #5 and Newsletter at #2. MC4WP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. 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.
Newsletter
Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress
An email marketing tool for your blog: subscription forms to create your lists with unlimited subscribers and newsletters.
Who leads on what
MC4WP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Newsletter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #5 in Newsletter Plugins.
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
MC4WP is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 1,497 reviews, against 4.6 from 1,204 reviews.
MC4WP has more reviews behind its score: 1,497 against 1,204.
MC4WP was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; Newsletter on August 19, 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.
MC4WP
Pick MC4WP if 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 shipping releases most recently.
Newsletter
Pick Newsletter if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
MC4WP vs Newsletter side by side
| MC4WP | Newsletter | |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter Plugins ranking | #5 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 1,497 | 1,204 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 77,680,657 | 35,236,089 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 19, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 19, 2013 | May 23, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
MC4WP ratings
Newsletter 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 Newsletter can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Newsletter Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MC4WP vs Newsletter: common questions
Is MC4WP better than Newsletter?
MC4WP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Newsletter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #5 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which has more users, MC4WP or Newsletter?
Newsletter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #5 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MC4WP or Newsletter?
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are MC4WP and Newsletter free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MC4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Newsletter is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to MC4WP and Newsletter
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Newsletter Plugins comparisons
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.