Slim SEO vs Yoast 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: Slim SEO at #8 and Yoast SEO at #1. Yoast SEO leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI
Real-time SEO guidance, schema, and AI built in. Help search engines and AI systems understand your content. All AI tools included, no hidden fees.
Who leads on what
Yoast SEO leads on all 5 measures we track.
Yoast SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in SEO Plugins.
Yoast SEO has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 70,000+.
Yoast SEO is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 27,819 reviews, against 4.7 from 136 reviews.
Yoast SEO has more reviews behind its score: 27,819 against 136.
Yoast SEO was updated more recently, on September 1, 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.
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.
Yoast SEO
Pick Yoast 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 vs Yoast SEO side by side
| Slim SEO | Yoast SEO | |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Plugins ranking | #8 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 136 | 27,819 |
| Active installs | 70,000+ | 10 million+ |
| Total downloads | 2,133,444 | 996,319,208 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 24, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 31, 2018 | Oct 11, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Slim SEO ratings
Yoast 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 Slim SEO nor Yoast SEO can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the SEO Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Slim SEO vs Yoast SEO: common questions
Is Slim SEO better than Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO leads on all 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Yoast SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in SEO Plugins.
Which has more users, Slim SEO or Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in SEO Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Slim SEO or Yoast SEO?
Yoast SEO has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 70,000+.
Are Slim SEO and Yoast SEO free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Slim SEO may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Yoast SEO is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Slim SEO and Yoast SEO
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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