Head-to-head · October 2026
Ads.txt Manager vs The Publisher Desk
Ads.txt Manager comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against The Publisher Desk.
Ads.txt Manager
Create, manage, and validate your ads.txt and app-ads.txt from within WordPress, like any other content…
The Publisher Desk
The Publisher Desk helps grow and monetize your audience without the intricacy and cost of in-house…
| Metric | Ads.txt Manager | The Publisher Desk |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 100K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 16.8K | 48 |
| Download trend | +8.1% | +118.2% |
| Rating | 4.7/5 | — |
| Reviews | 15 | 0 |
| Health score | 90/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 3 weeks ago | 10 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 4.6.30 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Dec 2017 | Jun 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Ads.txt ManagerThe Publisher Desk
Choose Ads.txt Manager if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 100K+ active sites
- Actively developed — last update 3 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose The Publisher Desk if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 9 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.6 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: ads advertising
FAQ
Ads.txt Manager vs The Publisher Desk: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 8, 2026
Which is better, Ads.txt Manager or The Publisher Desk?
Ads.txt Manager comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against The Publisher Desk. Choose Ads.txt Manager if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose The Publisher Desk if you care most about download trend.
Is Ads.txt Manager more popular than The Publisher Desk?
Ads.txt Manager is the more popular of the two with 100K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for The Publisher Desk.
Can I use Ads.txt Manager and The Publisher Desk together?
Both plugins cover ads and advertising, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Ads.txt Manager and The Publisher Desk free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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