# Howdy

> Howdy has <10 active installs and 82 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 21/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Howdy shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 5 years ago, and scores 21/100 on our health check.

**Remove “Howdy” from the admin bar.**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** <10
- **Total downloads:** 3,368
- **Downloads (30 days):** 82 (+46.4% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** No ratings yet
- **Health score:** 21/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.0.0
- **Last updated:** Aug 23, 2021
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 5.8.18
- **Requires:** WordPress 5.2+, PHP 5.6+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Brad Parbs (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/bradparbs/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/howdy/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [admin](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/admin/) | >100 | 1,659 |
| [admin bar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/admin-bar/) | >100 | 173 |
| [dashboard](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/dashboard/) | >100 | 523 |
| [howdy](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/howdy/) | #17 | 17 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| admin | >100 | 10,000 |
| admin bar | >100 | 6,466 |
| dashboard | >100 | 10,000 |
| howdy | #39 | 76 |

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Loginizer](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/loginizer/) | 1M+ | 4.8/5 (1,033) | Oct 9, 2026 | 86/100 |
| 2 | [Redux Framework](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/redux-framework/) | 900K+ | 4.4/5 (273) | Oct 12, 2026 | 95/100 |
| 3 | [Admin Menu Editor](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/admin-menu-editor/) | 300K+ | 4.6/5 (312) | Aug 19, 2026 | 80/100 |
| 4 | [White Label CMS](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/white-label-cms/) | 200K+ | 4.7/5 (114) | Jul 9, 2026 | 65/100 |
| 5 | [Advanced Custom Fields: Extended](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/acf-extended/) | 100K+ | 4.8/5 (132) | Aug 27, 2026 | 76/100 |
| 6 | [Nested Pages](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-nested-pages/) | 90K+ | 4.7/5 (126) | Sep 25, 2026 | 85/100 |
| 7 | [Disable REST API](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/disable-json-api/) | 80K+ | 4.8/5 (38) | Sep 14, 2023 | 48/100 |
| 8 | [All In One Favicon](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/all-in-one-favicon/) | 60K+ | 4.5/5 (82) | Aug 8, 2023 | 46/100 |
| 9 | [Conditional Menus](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/conditional-menus/) | 60K+ | 4.4/5 (71) | Aug 12, 2026 | 68/100 |
| 10 | [Add From Server](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/add-from-server/) | 60K+ | 4.6/5 (239) | Dec 11, 2020 | 46/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Howdy free?
Yes. Howdy is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Howdy safe to use in 2026?
Howdy shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 5 years ago, and scores 21/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Howdy?
Howdy is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 3,368 times since it launched in August 2021. It was downloaded 82 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Howdy work with WordPress 7.1?
Howdy is officially tested up to WordPress 5.8.18, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### What PHP version does Howdy need?
Howdy requires PHP 5.6 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was Howdy last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.0, was released on August 23, 2021 (5 years ago).

### Who makes Howdy?
Howdy is developed and maintained by Brad Parbs.

### What are the best alternatives to Howdy?
The most popular alternatives to Howdy are Loginizer (1M+ installs), Redux Framework (900K+ installs) and Admin Menu Editor (300K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/howdy/ · Generated 2026-10-14 06:57 UTC by PageForge