Blockstarter vs Writer FSE
Two WordPress themes head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
At a glance
Blockstarter leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,361, ahead of Writer FSE at #3,487. Over the last 7 days Blockstarter slipped 11 places and Writer FSE climbed 20 places. Blockstarter has the largest install base, roughly 5× the next: 500+ active installs against 100+ for Writer FSE. Downloads this week: Blockstarter 33 and Writer FSE 12.
| Metric | Blockstarter | Writer FSE |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,361 ▼ 11 | #3,487 ▲ 20 |
| Active installs | 500+ | 100+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 33 | 12 |
| Rating | no ratings | no ratings |
| Type | Block theme | Block theme |
| Last updated | Feb 21, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.1.8 | 1.0.3 |
| Best rank on record | #1,265 | #2,829 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Nov 2023 | Nov 2023 |
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, Blockstarter or Writer FSE?
By active installs, Blockstarter: 500+ sites run it against 100+ for Writer FSE, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 25, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Blockstarter or Writer FSE?
Blockstarter, at #1,361 on the WordPress.org popular themes list today, with Writer FSE at #3,487. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Is Blockstarter a block theme or a classic theme? And Writer FSE?
Blockstarter is a block theme, Writer FSE 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.