Newsletter 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: Newsletter at #2 and Simple Newsletter at #9. Newsletter leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Newsletter
Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress
An email marketing tool for your blog: subscription forms to create your lists with unlimited subscribers and newsletters.
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
Newsletter leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Newsletter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Newsletter Plugins.
Newsletter has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Newsletter is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 1,204 reviews, against 4.5 from 118 reviews.
Newsletter has more reviews behind its score: 1,204 against 118.
Simple Newsletter was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; Newsletter on August 19, 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.
Newsletter
Pick Newsletter 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.
Newsletter vs Simple Newsletter side by side
| Newsletter | Simple Newsletter | |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter Plugins ranking | #2 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 1,204 | 118 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 35,236,089 | 681,846 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 19, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | May 23, 2009 | Mar 6, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Newsletter 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 Newsletter nor Simple Newsletter can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Newsletter Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Newsletter vs Simple Newsletter: common questions
Is Newsletter better than Simple Newsletter?
Newsletter leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Newsletter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which has more users, Newsletter or Simple Newsletter?
Newsletter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Newsletter Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Newsletter or Simple Newsletter?
Newsletter has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Newsletter and Simple Newsletter free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Newsletter is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Simple Newsletter may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Newsletter and Simple Newsletter
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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