Head-to-head · October 2026
Simple Custom CSS Plugin vs WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlig…
Simple Custom CSS Plugin comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlight….
Simple Custom CSS Plugin
Add Custom CSS to your WordPress site without any hassles. An easy-to-use WordPress Plugin to add custom CSS…
WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlighter
WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlighter is intended to work with the wp-markdown and SyntaxHighlighter Evolved plugins…
| Metric | Simple Custom CSS Plugin | WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlig… |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 100K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 7.8K | 40 |
| Download trend | +10.4% | +33.3% |
| Rating | 4.7/5 | — |
| Reviews | 159 | 0 |
| Health score | 51/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 2 years ago | 14 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.7.10 | WP 3.4.2 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Aug 2013 | Sep 2012 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Simple Custom CSS PluginWP-Markdown-SyntaxHighl…
Choose Simple Custom CSS Plugin if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 100K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.7/5 from 159 reviews
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
Choose WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlig… if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.4 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: code
FAQ
Simple Custom CSS Plugin vs WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlig…: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 15, 2026
Which is better, Simple Custom CSS Plugin or WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlight…?
Simple Custom CSS Plugin comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlight…. Choose Simple Custom CSS Plugin if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlight… if you care most about download trend.
Is Simple Custom CSS Plugin more popular than WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlight…?
Simple Custom CSS Plugin is the more popular of the two with 100K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlight….
Can I use Simple Custom CSS Plugin and WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlight… together?
Both plugins cover code, 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 Custom CSS Plugin and WP-Markdown-SyntaxHighlight… 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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