Head-to-head · October 2026
Popup Maker vs XL PopUp
Popup Maker comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against XL PopUp.
Popup Maker
Popup Maker™, rated as the best WordPress popup plugin by our community of 780,000+ users, empowers you to…
XL PopUp
XL PopUp is a WordPress plugin which create popup box / form. It is simple but flexible & powerful. No need…
| Metric | Popup Maker | XL PopUp |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 700K+ | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 368.3K | 29 |
| Download trend | +170.4% | +222.2% |
| Rating | 4.9/5 | — |
| Reviews | 4,510 | 0 |
| Health score | 89/100 | 21/100 |
| Last updated | 4 weeks ago | 9 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 4.9.34 |
| Support resolved | 43% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Nov 2014 | Dec 2015 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Popup MakerXL PopUp
Choose Popup Maker if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 700K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 4,510 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 4 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 170.4% vs the previous 30 days
Choose XL PopUp if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: popup
FAQ
Popup Maker vs XL PopUp: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 9, 2026
Which is better, Popup Maker or XL PopUp?
Popup Maker comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against XL PopUp. Choose Popup Maker if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose XL PopUp if you care most about download trend.
Is Popup Maker more popular than XL PopUp?
Popup Maker is the more popular of the two with 700K+ active installs, compared with <10 for XL PopUp.
Can I use Popup Maker and XL PopUp together?
Both plugins cover popup, 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 Popup Maker and XL PopUp 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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