Head-to-head · October 2026
Essential Hover Effects vs Image Hover Effects
Image Hover Effects comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Essential Hover Effects.
| Metric | Essential Hover Effects | Image Hover Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 40K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 69 | 3.4K |
| Download trend | +13.1% | -13.2% |
| Rating | — | 4.9/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 83 |
| Health score | 23/100 | 65/100 |
| Last updated | 6 years ago | 4 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 5.4.24 | WP 7.0.7 |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 5.6+ |
| First released | Sep 2018 | May 2018 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Essential Hover EffectsImage Hover Effects
Choose Essential Hover Effects if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 6 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.4 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Image Hover Effects if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 40K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 83 reviews
Both compete in: css effects
FAQ
Essential Hover Effects vs Image Hover Effects: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 13, 2026
Which is better, Essential Hover Effects or Image Hover Effects?
Image Hover Effects comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Essential Hover Effects. Choose Essential Hover Effects if you care most about download trend. Choose Image Hover Effects if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Essential Hover Effects more popular than Image Hover Effects?
Image Hover Effects is the more popular of the two with 40K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Essential Hover Effects.
Can I use Essential Hover Effects and Image Hover Effects together?
Both plugins cover css effects, 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 Essential Hover Effects and Image Hover Effects 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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