Head-to-head · October 2026
Categories but exclude vs Media Library Categories
Media Library Categories comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Categories but exclude.
Categories but exclude
A simple plugin that displays a list of all categories except those selected in widget preferences. Unlike…
Media Library Categories
Adds the ability to use categories in the WordPress Media Library. When activated a dropdown of categories…
| Metric | Categories but exclude | Media Library Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 50+ | 20K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 76 | 3.1K |
| Download trend | +1.3% | -2.4% |
| Rating | — | 4.2/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 52 |
| Health score | 25/100 | 71/100 |
| Last updated | 14 years ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.3.2 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Jun 2012 | Nov 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Categories but excludeMedia Library Categories
Choose Categories but exclude if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (50+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.3 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Media Library Categories if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 20K+ active sites
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: categories category
FAQ
Categories but exclude vs Media Library Categories: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 19, 2026
Which is better, Categories but exclude or Media Library Categories?
Media Library Categories comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Categories but exclude. Choose Categories but exclude if you care most about download trend. Choose Media Library Categories if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Categories but exclude more popular than Media Library Categories?
Media Library Categories is the more popular of the two with 20K+ active installs, compared with 50+ for Categories but exclude.
Can I use Categories but exclude and Media Library Categories together?
Both plugins cover categories and category, 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 Categories but exclude and Media Library Categories 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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