Under Construction 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 at #6 and LightStart at #4. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Under Construction
Easy to use Under Construction Page & Coming Soon Page. Enable Under Construction Mode in seconds & show you're Under Construction!
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
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Under Construction has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 400,000+.
Under Construction is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 1,285 reviews, against 4.3 from 874 reviews.
Under Construction has more reviews behind its score: 1,285 against 874.
LightStart was updated more recently, on September 29, 2026; Under Construction on September 18, 2026.
LightStart was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 239,805 times against 100,993.
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
Pick Under Construction if you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
LightStart
Pick LightStart if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Under Construction vs LightStart side by side
| Under Construction | LightStart | |
|---|---|---|
| Coming Soon Plugins ranking | #6 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 1,285 | 874 |
| Active installs | 600,000+ | 400,000+ |
| Total downloads | 14,016,645 | 20,415,858 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 100,993 | 239,805 |
| Last updated | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 1, 2013 | Feb 26, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 7.1 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Under Construction 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 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 vs LightStart: common questions
Is Under Construction better than LightStart?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Which has more users, Under Construction or LightStart?
LightStart ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in Coming Soon Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Under Construction or LightStart?
Under Construction has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 400,000+.
Are Under Construction and LightStart free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Under Construction may also sell a paid version or add-ons. LightStart may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Under Construction and LightStart
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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