Head-to-head · September 2026
Customizer Refresh vs Inline Preview
Customizer Refresh comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Inline Preview.
Customizer Refresh
Sometimes you need to refresh the customizer preview, and this plugin adds a simple refresh button to make it…
Inline Preview
Inline Preview is a plugin for WordPress that adds a live preview of the current post next to the post editor…
| Metric | Customizer Refresh | Inline Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 300+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 141 | 76 |
| Download trend | +2.9% | 0% |
| Rating | — | 4.9/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 8 |
| Health score | 23/100 | 38/100 |
| Last updated | 8 years ago | 10 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.9.33 | WP 4.7.37 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.2.4+ | Any |
| First released | Jun 2018 | Jun 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Customizer RefreshInline Preview
Choose Customizer Refresh if…
You care most about downloads (30 days), download trend and last updated.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Inline Preview if…
You care most about active installs, reviews and health score.
- Small user base (300+ active installs)
- No update in 9 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.7 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: live preview
FAQ
Customizer Refresh vs Inline Preview: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 30, 2026
Which is better, Customizer Refresh or Inline Preview?
Customizer Refresh comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Inline Preview. Choose Customizer Refresh if you care most about downloads (30 days), download trend and last updated. Choose Inline Preview if you care most about active installs, reviews and health score.
Is Customizer Refresh more popular than Inline Preview?
Inline Preview is the more popular of the two with 300+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Customizer Refresh.
Can I use Customizer Refresh and Inline Preview together?
Both plugins cover live preview, 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 Customizer Refresh and Inline Preview 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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