Axis FSE vs Mold
Two WordPress themes head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
At a glance
Mold leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #984, ahead of Axis FSE at #1,388. Over the last 7 days Mold slipped 111 places and Axis FSE slipped 137 places. Axis FSE has the largest install base, roughly 6.7× the next: 200+ active installs against 30+ for Mold. Downloads this week: Mold 11 and Axis FSE 7.
| Metric | Axis FSE | Mold |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,388 ▼ 137 | #984 ▼ 111 |
| Active installs | 200+ | 30+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 7 | 11 |
| Rating | 4★ (1) | no ratings |
| Type | Block theme | Block theme |
| Last updated | Aug 4, 2025 | Sep 3, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.0.3 | 1.0.5 |
| Best rank on record | #816 | #357 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Jul 2025 | Sep 2026 |
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, Axis FSE or Mold?
By active installs, Axis FSE: 200+ sites run it against 30+ for Mold, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 16, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Axis FSE or Mold?
Mold, at #984 on the WordPress.org popular themes list today, with Axis FSE at #1,388. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Is Axis FSE a block theme or a classic theme? And Mold?
Axis FSE is a block theme, Mold is a block 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.