Preloader
The ultimate Preloader plugin for WordPress. Smart, flexible, and made for easy control. Add a preloader to your website easily in only 3 steps.
Safe pick
Yes — Preloader is a safe, well-maintained plugin to use in 2026. It runs on 20K+ sites, is rated 4.1/5 and was last updated 1 month ago, and scores 82/100 on our health check.
- Proven at scale on 20K+ active sites
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Preloader stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| load | #63 |
| loader | #14 |
| loading | #35 |
| preload | #15 |
| preloader | #2 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.1 from 41 reviews
About Preloader
From the official readme · v2.0.2Description
Preloader
The ultimate Preloader plugin for WordPress. Smart, flexible, and made for easy control.
Add a preloader to your website easily in only 3 steps. Simple, fast, and compatible with all major browsers.
Features
On June 19, 2025, we released version “2.0.0”. Features:
- Easy to use – set up your preloader in just 3 steps.
- Upload your own GIF image or choose from 2 free templates.
- Customize preloader size and background color.
- Select where to show the preloader (entire site, blog page, posts, etc).
- Choose who sees the preloader: everyone, visitors only, or logged in users only.
- Works with any WordPress theme – no need to re-integrate after theme updates or changes.
- Compatible with all major browsers.
- Lightweight and optimized for performance.
- Clear documentation and helpful FAQ section.
- Upgrade to Premium version to get flexible display options, 30+ professional templates, and other features.
Live Demo & Usage Guide
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Installation
Installation & Configuration
- Upload the ‘the-preloader’ folder to the ‘/wp-content/plugins/’ directory.
- Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress.
- Go to the Preloader menu > General tab, enable the preloader, upload your GIF image, and adjust its settings.
- Or, go to the Templates tab to choose from two free templates.
- Go to the Display tab to select where to show the preloader (entire site, posts, etc), and choose who sees the preloader (everyone, visitors only, or logged in users only).
- Save changes.
- Clear your site’s cache if you’re using a caching plugin.
Finally, if the preloader doesn’t show, click on the “Integration” tab, and follow the instructions there.
For common issues and helpful tips, check the FAQ tab.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
For common issues and helpful tips, go to Preloader > FAQ tab. Usage Guide Contact us.
Changelog
2.0.2
- Improved performance.
The plugin is now faster with improved performance. After updating, no action is required on your part.
2.0.1
- Optimized plugin initialization.
- Added a new menu icon.
After updating, no action is required on your part. Enjoy!
2.0.0
- Everything has changed in this version! Explore it yourself.
- Go to the Preloader menu > General tab, enable the Preloader and adjust your settings.
- For common issues and helpful tips, go to Preloader > FAQ tab.
- How to Use v2.0.0
1.0.9
- Fixed header.php file URL in settings page.
- Improved preloader performance in JavaScript.
1.0.8
- Preloader Image Size Extension is ready!
1.0.7
- Added < noscript > tag in to hide preloader when JavaScript is disabled.
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Preloader alternatives
All load plugins →
FAQ
Preloader: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 27, 2026
Is Preloader free?
Yes. Preloader is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Preloader safe to use in 2026?
Yes — Preloader is a safe, well-maintained plugin to use in 2026. It runs on 20K+ sites, is rated 4.1/5 and was last updated 1 month ago, and scores 82/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Preloader?
Preloader is active on 20K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 294,438 times since it launched in July 2015. It was downloaded 1,534 times in the last 30 days.
Does Preloader work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested Preloader up to WordPress 7.1.2, the latest release. It requires WordPress 5.8 or newer.
What PHP version does Preloader need?
Preloader requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Preloader last updated?
The latest version, 2.0.2, was released on August 21, 2026 (1 month ago).
Who makes Preloader?
Preloader is developed and maintained by Alobaidi.
What are the best alternatives to Preloader?
The most popular alternatives to Preloader are Disable Lazy Load (9K+ installs), Native Lazyload (5K+ installs) and Custom Preloader (100+ installs).
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