MC4WP vs Poptin (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 Poptin at #8. MC4WP leads on 4 of the 6 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.
Poptin
Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups
Free email automation, email campaigns, exit intent popup builder, gamified popups with spin the wheel, contact forms & smart pop ups. 🎉
Who leads on what
MC4WP leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
MC4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in Newsletter Plugins.
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 20,000+.
Poptin is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 700 reviews, against 4.8 from 1,497 reviews.
MC4WP has more reviews behind its score: 1,497 against 700.
Poptin was updated more recently, on October 12, 2026; MC4WP on September 16, 2026.
MC4WP was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 275,233 times against 4,387.
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, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Poptin
Pick Poptin if the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
MC4WP vs Poptin side by side
| MC4WP | Poptin | |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter Plugins ranking | #5 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 1,497 | 700 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 78,511,456 | 554,741 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 275,233 | 4,387 |
| Last updated | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 19, 2013 | Aug 20, 2017 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
MC4WP ratings
Poptin 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 Poptin can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Newsletter Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MC4WP vs Poptin: common questions
Is MC4WP better than Poptin?
MC4WP leads on 4 of the 6 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 #8 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which has more users, MC4WP or Poptin?
MC4WP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MC4WP or Poptin?
MC4WP has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are MC4WP and Poptin free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MC4WP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Poptin may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MC4WP and Poptin
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.