Head-to-head · October 2026
Header and Footer Scripts vs MP Recent Post Widget
Header and Footer Scripts comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against MP Recent Post Widget.
Header and Footer Scripts
An essential WordPress plugin to easily insert scripts and styles (like Google Analytics, CSS, etc.) into…
MP Recent Post Widget
Recent Post Widget with date, author and post thumbnail. Its highly customizable for every theme developer to…
| Metric | Header and Footer Scripts | MP Recent Post Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 200K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 12.9K | 58 |
| Download trend | -7.7% | -14.7% |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | — |
| Reviews | 58 | 0 |
| Health score | 51/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 9 months ago | 10 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.9.10 | WP 4.5.33 |
| Support resolved | 0% | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6+ | Any |
| First released | Feb 2014 | Aug 2016 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Header and Footer Scrip…MP Recent Post Widget
Choose Header and Footer Scripts if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 200K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.6/5 from 58 reviews
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose MP Recent Post Widget if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.5 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: post
FAQ
Header and Footer Scripts vs MP Recent Post Widget: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 15, 2026
Which is better, Header and Footer Scripts or MP Recent Post Widget?
Header and Footer Scripts comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against MP Recent Post Widget. Choose Header and Footer Scripts if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Header and Footer Scripts more popular than MP Recent Post Widget?
Header and Footer Scripts is the more popular of the two with 200K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for MP Recent Post Widget.
Can I use Header and Footer Scripts and MP Recent Post Widget together?
Both plugins cover post, 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 Header and Footer Scripts and MP Recent Post Widget 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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