# GW Count Down vs LightStart

> GW Count Down vs LightStart compared on installs, downloads, ratings, updates, compatibility and support. LightStart comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against GW Count Down.

**LightStart comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against GW Count Down.** Choose LightStart if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.

| | GW Count Down | LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming Soon and Landing Page Builder |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 100+ | 400K+ ✅ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 108 | 225.8K ✅ |
| Download trend | +42.1% | +250.6% ✅ |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 874 ✅ |
| Health score | 41/100 | 94/100 ✅ |
| Last updated | 1 year ago | 2 weeks ago ✅ |
| Tested up to | WP 6.8.11 | WP 7.1.3 ✅ |
| Support resolved | — | 100% |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.1+ |
| First released | Aug 2025 | Feb 2010 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, GW Count Down or LightStart?
LightStart comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against GW Count Down.  Choose LightStart if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.

### Is GW Count Down more popular than LightStart?
LightStart is the more popular of the two with 400K+ active installs, compared with 100+ for GW Count Down.

### Can I use GW Count Down and LightStart together?
Both plugins cover coming soon, 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 GW Count Down and LightStart 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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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/compare/gw-count-down-vs-wp-maintenance-mode/ · Generated 2026-10-14 08:31 UTC by PageForge