Head-to-head · September 2026
WP Code Highlight vs WP Code Pre
WP Code Highlight comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP Code Pre.
WP Code Highlight
WP Code Highlight provides syntax highlighting of source code snippets and it is W3C valid. Wrap code blocks…
WP Code Pre
This simple plugin was created because of security concerns related to using PHP preg_replace directly. With…
| Metric | WP Code Highlight | WP Code Pre |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 200+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 87 | 139 |
| Download trend | +1.2% | -7.9% |
| Rating | 3.9/5 | — |
| Reviews | 14 | 0 |
| Health score | 34/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 12 years ago | 5 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.9.40 | WP 5.8.17 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.0+ |
| First released | Sep 2011 | Sep 2017 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
WP Code HighlightWP Code Pre
Choose WP Code Highlight if…
You care most about active installs, download trend and reviews.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- No update in 12 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose WP Code Pre if…
You care most about downloads (30 days), last updated and tested up to.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 5 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.8 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: Code Highlight
FAQ
WP Code Highlight vs WP Code Pre: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 30, 2026
Which is better, WP Code Highlight or WP Code Pre?
WP Code Highlight comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP Code Pre. Choose WP Code Highlight if you care most about active installs, download trend and reviews. Choose WP Code Pre if you care most about downloads (30 days), last updated and tested up to.
Is WP Code Highlight more popular than WP Code Pre?
WP Code Highlight is the more popular of the two with 200+ active installs, compared with 10+ for WP Code Pre.
Can I use WP Code Highlight and WP Code Pre together?
Both plugins cover Code Highlight, 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 WP Code Highlight and WP Code Pre 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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