Herd Effects vs TrustPulse (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Social Proof Plugins top 10: Herd Effects at #8 and TrustPulse at #5. TrustPulse leads on 3 of the 5 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.
TrustPulse
FOMO & Social Proof Notifications by TrustPulse – Best WordPress FOMO Plugin
TrustPulse is a FOMO social proof plugin that leverages the power of social proof to instantly boost site conversions by up to 15%!
Who leads on what
TrustPulse leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
TrustPulse ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in Social Proof Plugins.
TrustPulse has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Herd Effects has 15, TrustPulse has 35. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
TrustPulse has more reviews behind its score: 35 against 15.
Herd Effects was updated more recently, on August 25, 2026; TrustPulse on August 11, 2025.
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
Pick Herd Effects if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
TrustPulse
Pick TrustPulse if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Herd Effects vs TrustPulse side by side
| Herd Effects | TrustPulse | |
|---|---|---|
| Social Proof Plugins ranking | #8 | #5 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 15 | 35 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 60,906 | 638,278 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Aug 11, 2025 |
| First published | Aug 20, 2016 | May 16, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.8.8 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 5.3 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Herd Effects ratings
TrustPulse 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 TrustPulse can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Social Proof Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Herd Effects vs TrustPulse: common questions
Is Herd Effects better than TrustPulse?
TrustPulse leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. TrustPulse ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in Social Proof Plugins.
Which has more users, Herd Effects or TrustPulse?
TrustPulse ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #8 in Social Proof Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Herd Effects or TrustPulse?
TrustPulse has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Herd Effects and TrustPulse free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Herd Effects may also sell a paid version or add-ons. TrustPulse may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Herd Effects and TrustPulse
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.