Pagelayer vs LightStart (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Landing Page Plugins top 10: Pagelayer at #8 and LightStart at #3. LightStart leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Pagelayer
Page Builder: Pagelayer – Drag and Drop website builder
The most advanced frontend drag & drop page builder. Pagelayer is a light weight but extremely powerful Website Builder.
LightStart
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming Soon and Landing Page Builder
Easy Drag & Drop Page Builder that adds a splash page to your site that it's perfect for a coming soon page, maintenance or landing page.
Who leads on what
LightStart leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Landing Page Plugins.
Both report 400,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
LightStart is rated higher: 4.3 out of 5 from 874 reviews, against 3.9 from 104 reviews.
LightStart has more reviews behind its score: 874 against 104.
LightStart was updated more recently, on September 29, 2026; Pagelayer on September 24, 2026.
LightStart was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 239,805 times against 131,744.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Pagelayer
Pagelayer does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
LightStart
Pick LightStart if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you, 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.
Pagelayer vs LightStart side by side
| Pagelayer | LightStart | |
|---|---|---|
| Landing Page Plugins ranking | #8 | #3 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 104 | 874 |
| Active installs | 400,000+ | 400,000+ |
| Total downloads | 9,847,013 | 20,415,858 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 131,744 | 239,805 |
| Last updated | Sep 24, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 8, 2019 | Feb 26, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.7 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 5.5 | 7.1 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Pagelayer ratings
LightStart 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 Pagelayer nor LightStart can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Landing Page Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Pagelayer vs LightStart: common questions
Is Pagelayer better than LightStart?
LightStart leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Landing Page Plugins.
Which has more users, Pagelayer or LightStart?
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Landing Page Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Pagelayer or LightStart?
Both report 400,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Pagelayer and LightStart free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Pagelayer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. LightStart may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Pagelayer and LightStart
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Website Builder by SeedProd
600,000+ installs · 4.9 from 4,699 reviews
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Elementor
10 million+ installs · 4.5 from 7,319 reviews
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Landing Page Builder
8,000+ installs · 4.6 from 201 reviews
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Colibri Page Builder
80,000+ installs · 4.4 from 80 reviews
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Beaver Builder Page Builder
100,000+ installs · 4.7 from 394 reviews
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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.