# FastCron vs Run External Crons

> FastCron vs Run External Crons compared on installs, downloads, ratings, updates, compatibility and support. FastCron comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Run External Crons.

**FastCron comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Run External Crons.** Choose FastCron if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score. Choose Run External Crons if you care most about download trend and reviews.

| | FastCron – Run WP Cron for free | Run External Crons |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 100+ ✅ | 50+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 124 ✅ | 67 |
| Download trend | +17% | +63.4% ✅ |
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 2 ✅ |
| Health score | 47/100 ✅ | 32/100 |
| Last updated | 8 months ago ✅ | 14 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.9.10 ✅ | WP 3.4.2 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Aug 2024 | Aug 2012 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, FastCron or Run External Crons?
FastCron comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Run External Crons. Choose FastCron if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score. Choose Run External Crons if you care most about download trend and reviews.

### Is FastCron more popular than Run External Crons?
FastCron is the more popular of the two with 100+ active installs, compared with 50+ for Run External Crons.

### Can I use FastCron and Run External Crons together?
Both plugins cover cron job and cronjob, 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 FastCron and Run External Crons free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.


---
Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/compare/fastcron-vs-run-external-crons/ · Generated 2026-10-21 07:47 UTC by PageForge