# Simple Banner vs Smartarget Message Bar

> Simple Banner vs Smartarget Message Bar compared on installs, downloads, ratings, updates, compatibility and support. Simple Banner comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Smartarget Message Bar.

**Simple Banner comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Smartarget Message Bar.** Choose Simple Banner if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Smartarget Message Bar if you care most about download trend.

| | Simple Banner – Easily add multiple Banners/Bars/Notifications/Announcements to the top or bottom of your website | Smartarget Message Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 50K+ ✅ | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 31.3K ✅ | 70 |
| Download trend | -19% | +4.5% ✅ |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | — |
| Reviews | 45 ✅ | 0 |
| Health score | 79/100 ✅ | 49/100 |
| Last updated | 5 days ago ✅ | 4 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 ✅ | WP 7.0.0 |
| Support resolved | 0% | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 5.2.4+ |
| First released | Jul 2015 | Sep 2021 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, Simple Banner or Smartarget Message Bar?
Simple Banner comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Smartarget Message Bar. Choose Simple Banner if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Smartarget Message Bar if you care most about download trend.

### Is Simple Banner more popular than Smartarget Message Bar?
Simple Banner is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with <10 for Smartarget Message Bar.

### Can I use Simple Banner and Smartarget Message Bar together?
Both plugins cover announcement, 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 Simple Banner and Smartarget Message Bar 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/simple-banner-vs-smartarget-message-bar/ · Generated 2026-10-20 13:59 UTC by PageForge