MC4WP vs Simple 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 Simple Newsletter at #9. 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.
Simple Newsletter
Simple Newsletter Plugin – Noptin
A fast, GDPR-compliant newsletter plugin. Collect newsletter subscribers, let users subscribe to new post notifications, and send newsletters. ★★★★★
Who leads on what
MC4WP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
MC4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in Newsletter Plugins.
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 10,000+.
MC4WP is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 1,497 reviews, against 4.5 from 118 reviews.
MC4WP has more reviews behind its score: 1,497 against 118.
Simple Newsletter was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; MC4WP on August 20, 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 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.
Simple Newsletter
Pick Simple Newsletter if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
MC4WP vs Simple Newsletter side by side
| MC4WP | Simple Newsletter | |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter Plugins ranking | #5 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 1,497 | 118 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 77,680,657 | 681,846 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 19, 2013 | Mar 6, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
MC4WP ratings
Simple 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 Simple Newsletter can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Newsletter Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MC4WP vs Simple Newsletter: common questions
Is MC4WP better than Simple 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. MC4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which has more users, MC4WP or Simple Newsletter?
MC4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MC4WP or Simple Newsletter?
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are MC4WP and Simple Newsletter free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MC4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Simple Newsletter may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MC4WP and Simple Newsletter
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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