Herd Effects vs SALERT (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Social Proof Plugins top 10: Herd Effects at #9 and SALERT at #4. SALERT leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Herd Effects
Social Proof Popups & Real-Time Notifications – Herd Effects
Boost conversions with real-time social proof popups and user activity notifications, encouraging visitor actions on your WordPress site.
SALERT
SALERT – Social Proof Notifications & Live Sales Popup
Boost trust and conversions with beautiful sales notification popups. Show recent purchases as social proof, with or without WooCommerce.
Who leads on what
SALERT leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
SALERT ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Social Proof Plugins.
SALERT has more users: 8,000+ active installs against 900+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Herd Effects has 15, SALERT has 16. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
SALERT has more reviews behind its score: 16 against 15.
SALERT was updated more recently, on September 24, 2026; Herd Effects on August 25, 2026.
SALERT was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 3,145 times against 288.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Herd Effects
Herd Effects does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
SALERT
Pick SALERT 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, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Herd Effects vs SALERT side by side
| Herd Effects | SALERT | |
|---|---|---|
| Social Proof Plugins ranking | #9 | #4 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Reviews | 15 | 16 |
| Active installs | 900+ | 8,000+ |
| Total downloads | 61,354 | 179,968 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 288 | 3,145 |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Sep 24, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 20, 2016 | Aug 13, 2018 |
| 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
Herd Effects ratings
SALERT 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 Herd Effects nor SALERT can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Social Proof Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Herd Effects vs SALERT: common questions
Is Herd Effects better than SALERT?
SALERT leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. SALERT ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Social Proof Plugins.
Which has more users, Herd Effects or SALERT?
SALERT ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Social Proof Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Herd Effects or SALERT?
SALERT has more users: 8,000+ active installs against 900+.
Are Herd Effects and SALERT free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Herd Effects may also sell a paid version or add-ons. SALERT may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Herd Effects and SALERT
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Social Proof Plugins comparisons
- Herd Effects vs NotificationX
- Herd Effects vs Nudgify
- Herd Effects vs ProveSource
- Herd Effects vs Real Testimonials
- Herd Effects vs TrustedSite
- Herd Effects vs TrustPulse
- Herd Effects vs Rich Showcase for Google Reviews
- Herd Effects vs WiserNotify
- Herd Effects vs WP Review Slider
- Herd Effects vs WP Google Review Slider
- Herd Effects vs Widgets for Google Reviews
- NotificationX vs SALERT
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.