Apex vs Simplify
Two WordPress themes head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
At a glance
Apex leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,221, ahead of Simplify at #4,216. Over the last 7 days Apex slipped 1 place and Simplify climbed 12 places. Apex has the largest install base, roughly 4× the next: 2K+ active installs against 500+ for Simplify. Downloads this week: Apex 35 and Simplify 16. Ratings: Apex 4.9★ from 18 and Simplify 3.9★ from 35 reviews.
| Metric | Apex | Simplify |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,221 ▼ 1 | #4,216 ▲ 12 |
| Active installs | 2K+ | 500+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 35 | 16 |
| Rating | 4.9★ (18) | 3.9★ (35) |
| Type | Classic theme | Classic theme |
| Last updated | Jun 29, 2026 | Nov 14, 2024 |
| Current version | 1.42 | 5.5 |
| Best rank on record | #1,195 | #4,157 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Jul 2015 | Feb 2013 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Apex or Simplify?
By active installs, Apex: 2K+ sites run it against 500+ for Simplify, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 22, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Apex or Simplify?
Apex, at #1,221 on the WordPress.org popular themes list today, with Simplify at #4,216. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Is Apex a block theme or a classic theme? And Simplify?
Apex is a classic theme, Simplify is a classic theme. Block themes are built for the Site Editor; classic themes use the Customizer and widget areas.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each theme’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the themes have moved over time rather than a single day.