Head-to-head · October 2026
Category Maps vs MapSamurai Lite
MapSamurai Lite comes out ahead, winning 4 of 5 head-to-head checks against Category Maps.
Category Maps
Category Maps is a powerful and easy-to-use maps plugin that let’s you create very nice and completely…
MapSamurai Lite
Build fast, modern store-locator and location maps for WordPress — no Google Maps, no API keys, no clutter.
| Metric | Category Maps | MapSamurai Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | <10 | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 43 | 42 |
| Download trend | +79.2% | +100% |
| Rating | — | — |
| Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Health score | 30/100 | 36/100 |
| Last updated | 1 year ago | 9 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.8.10 | WP 6.9.9 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.0+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Jul 2025 | Dec 2025 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Category MapsMapSamurai Lite
Choose Category Maps if…
You care most about downloads (30 days).
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
Choose MapSamurai Lite if…
You care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: custom maps
FAQ
Category Maps vs MapSamurai Lite: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
Which is better, Category Maps or MapSamurai Lite?
MapSamurai Lite comes out ahead, winning 4 of 5 head-to-head checks against Category Maps. Choose Category Maps if you care most about downloads (30 days). Choose MapSamurai Lite if you care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
Is Category Maps more popular than MapSamurai Lite?
Category Maps is the more popular of the two with <10 active installs, compared with <10 for MapSamurai Lite.
Can I use Category Maps and MapSamurai Lite together?
Both plugins cover custom maps, 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 Category Maps and MapSamurai Lite 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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