Head-to-head · October 2026
Top Cat vs Media Library Categories
Media Library Categories comes out ahead, winning 6 of 6 head-to-head checks against Top Cat.
Top Cat
Top Cat allows you to specify a main category for your posts. Even though WordPress posts can have more than…
Media Library Categories
Adds the ability to use categories in the WordPress Media Library. When activated a dropdown of categories…
| Metric | Top Cat | Media Library Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 20K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 34 | 3.3K |
| Download trend | 0% | +7.4% |
| Rating | — | 4.2/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 52 |
| Health score | 31/100 | 71/100 |
| Last updated | 21 years ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | — | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | May 2005 | Nov 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Top CatMedia Library Categories
Choose Top Cat 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 21 years
Choose Media Library Categories if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 20K+ active sites
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: category
FAQ
Top Cat vs Media Library Categories: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Which is better, Top Cat or Media Library Categories?
Media Library Categories comes out ahead, winning 6 of 6 head-to-head checks against Top Cat. Choose Media Library Categories if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Top Cat more popular than Media Library Categories?
Media Library Categories is the more popular of the two with 20K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Top Cat.
Can I use Top Cat and Media Library Categories together?
Both plugins cover category, 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 Top Cat and Media Library Categories 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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