Head-to-head · October 2026
Pending Comments Highligh… vs XO Post Background
Pending Comments Highlighter comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against XO Post Background.
Pending Comments Highlighter
I have found a very annoying problem on the admin panel. Where the comments are listed, unapproved comments…
XO Post Background
XO Post Background is a plugin to set background image and color for each post.
| Metric | Pending Comments Highligh… | XO Post Background |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 1K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 45 | 193 |
| Download trend | +80% | +17.7% |
| Rating | 4/5 | — |
| Reviews | 1 | 0 |
| Health score | 30/100 | 27/100 |
| Last updated | 2 years ago | 3 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.7.10 | WP 6.5.13 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.4+ | 5.6+ |
| First released | Jan 2011 | Apr 2017 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Pending Comments Highli…XO Post Background
Choose Pending Comments Highligh… if…
You care most about download trend, reviews and health score.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
Choose XO Post Background if…
You care most about active installs and downloads (30 days).
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 2 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.5 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: background
FAQ
Pending Comments Highligh… vs XO Post Background: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 8, 2026
Which is better, Pending Comments Highlighter or XO Post Background?
Pending Comments Highlighter comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against XO Post Background. Choose Pending Comments Highlighter if you care most about download trend, reviews and health score. Choose XO Post Background if you care most about active installs and downloads (30 days).
Is Pending Comments Highlighter more popular than XO Post Background?
XO Post Background is the more popular of the two with 1K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Pending Comments Highlighter.
Can I use Pending Comments Highlighter and XO Post Background together?
Both plugins cover background, 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 Pending Comments Highlighter and XO Post Background 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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