Rank Math SEO vs Slim SEO (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org SEO Plugins top 10: Rank Math SEO at #2 and Slim SEO at #8. Rank Math SEO leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Rank Math SEO
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings
Grow your organic traffic and AI visibility with powerful SEO tools, XML sitemaps, Schema automation, and built-in AI SEO, all in one place.
Slim SEO
Slim SEO – AI SEO Plugin, Lightweight, Fast & Automated
An AI SEO plugin for WordPress that's lightweight and fast. Automatically generates meta tags, sitemaps, schemas and more with no bloat.
Who leads on what
Rank Math SEO leads on all 5 measures we track.
Rank Math SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #8 in SEO Plugins.
Rank Math SEO has more users: 4 million+ active installs against 70,000+.
Rank Math SEO is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 7,498 reviews, against 4.7 from 136 reviews.
Rank Math SEO has more reviews behind its score: 7,498 against 136.
Rank Math SEO was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; Slim SEO on August 24, 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.
Rank Math SEO
Pick Rank Math SEO 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, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Slim SEO
Slim SEO does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Rank Math SEO vs Slim SEO side by side
| Rank Math SEO | Slim SEO | |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Plugins ranking | #2 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 7,498 | 136 |
| Active installs | 4 million+ | 70,000+ |
| Total downloads | 195,088,787 | 2,133,444 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Aug 24, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 19, 2018 | Dec 31, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Rank Math SEO ratings
Slim SEO 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 Rank Math SEO nor Slim SEO can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the SEO Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Rank Math SEO vs Slim SEO: common questions
Is Rank Math SEO better than Slim SEO?
Rank Math SEO leads on all 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Rank Math SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #8 in SEO Plugins.
Which has more users, Rank Math SEO or Slim SEO?
Rank Math SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #8 in SEO Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Rank Math SEO or Slim SEO?
Rank Math SEO has more users: 4 million+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are Rank Math SEO and Slim SEO free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Rank Math SEO may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Slim SEO may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Rank Math SEO and Slim SEO
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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