Metricool vs Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Social Media Plugins top 10: Metricool at #2 and Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons at #10. Metricool leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Metricool
Metricool – Social media and site statistics
Site metrics and social media analytics for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, X Twitter. The single best tool for Social Media Managers!
Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons
Social sharing plugin adding social buttons.
Who leads on what
Metricool leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Metricool ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in Social Media Plugins.
Metricool has more users: 90,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Metricool has 22, Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons has 1,911. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons has more reviews behind its score: 1,911 against 22.
Metricool was updated more recently, on October 13, 2026; Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons on October 10, 2026.
Metricool was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 96,201 times against 12,977.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Metricool
Pick Metricool if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons
Pick Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons if you want the score backed by more reviews.
Metricool vs Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons side by side
| Metricool | Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons | |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media Plugins ranking | #2 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 22 | 1,911 |
| Active installs | 90,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,094,234 | 2,686,682 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 96,201 | 12,977 |
| Last updated | Oct 13, 2026 | Oct 10, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 20, 2015 | Apr 9, 2015 |
| 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
Metricool ratings
Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons 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 Metricool nor Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Social Media Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Metricool vs Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons: common questions
Is Metricool better than Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons?
Metricool leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Metricool ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in Social Media Plugins.
Which has more users, Metricool or Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons?
Metricool ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in Social Media Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Metricool or Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons?
Metricool has more users: 90,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Metricool and Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Metricool may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Metricool and Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.