Simple Countdown vs Widget Countdown (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Countdown Timer Plugins top 10: Simple Countdown at #10 and Widget Countdown at #1. Widget Countdown leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Simple Countdown
Simple Countdown Timer – Sales, Launch and Event Countdowns
Add a countdown to any page or post for a sale, launch or event. Build one in a click, or customise every part of it.
Widget Countdown
Countdown Timer – Widget Countdown
WordPress Countdown Plugin - Create and embed countdown timers in your posts, pages, and widgets (integrated with WooCommerce and Elementor).
Who leads on what
Widget Countdown leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Widget Countdown ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #10 in Countdown Timer Plugins.
Widget Countdown has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Simple Countdown has 1, Widget Countdown has 59. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Widget Countdown has more reviews behind its score: 59 against 1.
Simple Countdown was updated more recently, on September 6, 2026; Widget Countdown on April 21, 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.
Simple Countdown
Pick Simple Countdown if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Widget Countdown
Pick Widget Countdown 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.
Simple Countdown vs Widget Countdown side by side
| Simple Countdown | Widget Countdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Countdown Timer Plugins ranking | #10 | #1 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 3.6 |
| Reviews | 1 | 59 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 16,494 | 965,060 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 6, 2026 | Apr 21, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 22, 2023 | May 8, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.9.7 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0.0 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Simple Countdown ratings
Widget Countdown 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 Simple Countdown nor Widget Countdown can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Countdown Timer Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Simple Countdown vs Widget Countdown: common questions
Is Simple Countdown better than Widget Countdown?
Widget Countdown leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Widget Countdown ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #10 in Countdown Timer Plugins.
Which has more users, Simple Countdown or Widget Countdown?
Widget Countdown ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #10 in Countdown Timer Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Simple Countdown or Widget Countdown?
Widget Countdown has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Simple Countdown and Widget Countdown free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Simple Countdown may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Widget Countdown may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Simple Countdown and Widget Countdown
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Countdown & Clock
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 183 reviews
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Uji Countdown
4,000+ installs · 3.2 from 54 reviews
-
Event Countdown for The Events Calendar
3,000+ installs · 4.6 from 47 reviews
-
WPC Countdown Timer
1,000+ installs · 5.0 from 3 reviews
-
Evergreen Countdown Timer
2,000+ installs · 3.6 from 14 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.