# WP Pace

> WP Pace has 80+ active installs, a 5/5 rating from 8 reviews and 61 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 37/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** WP Pace shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 80+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 12 years ago, and scores 37/100 on our health check.

**Create an automatic page load progress bar. Based on Pace – Automatic page load progress bar. Javascript by Zack Bloom CSS by Adam Schwartz. Themes inspired by Mary Lou**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 80+
- **Total downloads:** 6,892
- **Downloads (30 days):** 61 (+24.5% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 5/5 from 8 reviews
- **Health score:** 37/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 2.0
- **Last updated:** Apr 28, 2014
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 3.6.1
- **Requires:** WordPress 3.0.1+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** jamesdbruner (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/jamesdbruner/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-pace/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [loading](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/loading/) | #12 | 38 |
| [loading animation](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/loading-animation/) | #2 | 6 |
| [pace](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/pace/) | #1 | 3 |
| [progress bar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/progress-bar/) | #13 | 73 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| loading | >100 | 9,852 |
| loading animation | >100 | 1,388 |
| pace | >100 | 136 |
| progress bar | >100 | 2,160 |

## Version adoption

- 2.0: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Preloader](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/the-preloader/) | 20K+ | 4.1/5 (41) | Aug 21, 2026 | 82/100 |
| 2 | [Native Lazyload](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/native-lazyload/) | 5K+ | 3/5 (31) | Dec 6, 2019 | 36/100 |
| 3 | [Flat Preloader](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/flat-preloader/) | 3K+ | 4.6/5 (18) | May 2, 2023 | 38/100 |
| 4 | [Preloader Awesome – Page Loading Animation with Spinner & Gif](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/preloader-awesome/) | 1K+ | 1/5 (1) | Jun 25, 2024 | 22/100 |
| 5 | [WP Page Loading](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-page-loading/) | 700+ | 4.5/5 (4) | May 26, 2025 | 42/100 |
| 6 | [KCSG Kartra Pages](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/kcsg-kartra-pages/) | 400+ | 5/5 (4) | Dec 22, 2025 | 49/100 |
| 7 | [Loading Bar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/loading-bar/) | 200+ | 4.9/5 (8) | Aug 20, 2016 | 38/100 |
| 8 | [WP PleaseWait – Loading Screen](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-pleasewait/) | 100+ | 5/5 (5) | Nov 10, 2020 | 37/100 |
| 9 | [ZD Pre Loader](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/zd-pre-loader/) | 100+ | 5/5 (6) | Feb 14, 2016 | 37/100 |
| 10 | [Custom Preloader](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wpcustom-preloader/) | 100+ | 4.5/5 (2) | Apr 8, 2025 | 34/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

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

### Is WP Pace safe to use in 2026?
WP Pace shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 80+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 12 years ago, and scores 37/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use WP Pace?
WP Pace is active on 80+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 6,892 times since it launched in September 2013. It was downloaded 61 times in the last 30 days.

### Does WP Pace work with WordPress 7.1?
WP Pace is officially tested up to WordPress 3.6.1, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### When was WP Pace last updated?
The latest version, 2.0, was released on April 28, 2014 (12 years ago).

### Who makes WP Pace?
WP Pace is developed and maintained by jamesdbruner.

### What are the best alternatives to WP Pace?
The most popular alternatives to WP Pace are Preloader (20K+ installs), Native Lazyload (5K+ installs) and Flat Preloader (3K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-pace/ · Generated 2026-09-30 09:04 UTC by PageForge