Head-to-head · October 2026
Background Update Notific… vs WP Automatic Updates
WP Automatic Updates comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against Background Update Notificat….
Background Update Notification Email Ad…
This plugin changes the email address update notifications are sent to following an automatic background…
WP Automatic Updates
An easy-to-use plugin settings panel where you can set automatic updates on or off for themes, plugins, and…
| Metric | Background Update Notific… | WP Automatic Updates |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 100+ | 400+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 73 | 104 |
| Download trend | +58.7% | +31.6% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 3 | 2 |
| Health score | 32/100 | 34/100 |
| Last updated | 11 years ago | 8 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.8.32 | WP 4.8.32 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Feb 2014 | Mar 2015 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Background Update Notif…WP Automatic Updates
Choose Background Update Notific… if…
You care most about download trend and reviews.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.8 (latest is 7.1)
Choose WP Automatic Updates if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
- Small user base (400+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.8 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: Automatic updates background updates
FAQ
Background Update Notific… vs WP Automatic Updates: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 6, 2026
Which is better, Background Update Notificat… or WP Automatic Updates?
WP Automatic Updates comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against Background Update Notificat…. Choose Background Update Notificat… if you care most about download trend and reviews. Choose WP Automatic Updates if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
Is Background Update Notificat… more popular than WP Automatic Updates?
WP Automatic Updates is the more popular of the two with 400+ active installs, compared with 100+ for Background Update Notificat….
Can I use Background Update Notificat… and WP Automatic Updates together?
Both plugins cover Automatic updates and background updates, 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 Background Update Notificat… and WP Automatic Updates 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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