Head-to-head · October 2026
Curiosity POTD vs Hello Star
Curiosity POTD comes out ahead, winning 4 of 5 head-to-head checks against Hello Star.
Curiosity POTD
This plugin adds a widget to display the NASA Mars Curiosity rover photos and a static block to display…
Hello Star
Inspired by Hello Dolly, this plugin works as a reminder of which constellation/star is visible for the…
| Metric | Curiosity POTD | Hello Star |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 53 | 92 |
| Download trend | +76.7% | +9.5% |
| Rating | 5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 1 | 0 |
| Health score | 33/100 | 31/100 |
| Last updated | 2 years ago | 10 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.7.10 | — |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6+ | Any |
| First released | Jan 2019 | Jan 2017 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Curiosity POTDHello Star
Choose Curiosity POTD if…
You care most about download trend, reviews and health score.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Hello Star if…
You care most about downloads (30 days).
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 9 years
FAQ
Curiosity POTD vs Hello Star: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 12, 2026
Which is better, Curiosity POTD or Hello Star?
Curiosity POTD comes out ahead, winning 4 of 5 head-to-head checks against Hello Star. Choose Curiosity POTD if you care most about download trend, reviews and health score. Choose Hello Star if you care most about downloads (30 days).
Is Curiosity POTD more popular than Hello Star?
Curiosity POTD is the more popular of the two with 10+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Hello Star.
Can I use Curiosity POTD and Hello Star together?
Both plugins cover APOD and astronomy, 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 Curiosity POTD and Hello Star 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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