Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode vs LightStart (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Coming Soon Plugins top 10: Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode at #11 and LightStart at #4. LightStart leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode
Under Construction is a simple plugin for setting up Under Construction, Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode using WordPress Customizer.
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 4 of the 6 measures we track.
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #11 in Coming Soon Plugins.
LightStart has more users: 400,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode has 46, LightStart has 874. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
LightStart has more reviews behind its score: 874 against 46.
Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; LightStart on September 29, 2026.
LightStart was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 239,805 times against 7,538.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode
Pick Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
LightStart
Pick LightStart if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode vs LightStart side by side
| Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode | LightStart | |
|---|---|---|
| Coming Soon Plugins ranking | #11 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 46 | 874 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 400,000+ |
| Total downloads | 253,048 | 20,415,858 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 7,538 | 239,805 |
| Last updated | Oct 19, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 25, 2017 | Feb 26, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.1 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode 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 Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode nor LightStart can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Coming Soon Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode vs LightStart: common questions
Is Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode better than LightStart?
LightStart leads on 4 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: #4 against #11 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Which has more users, Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode or LightStart?
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #11 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode or LightStart?
LightStart has more users: 400,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode and LightStart free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. LightStart may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Under Construction, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode and LightStart
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.