CoverStory vs Newsum
Two WordPress themes head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
At a glance
Newsum leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #181, ahead of CoverStory at #2,565. Over the last 7 days Newsum slipped 18 places and CoverStory slipped 4 places. CoverStory has the largest install base, roughly 4× the next: 400+ active installs against 100+ for Newsum. Downloads this week: Newsum 204 and CoverStory 9.
| Metric | CoverStory | Newsum |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #2,565 ▼ 4 | #181 ▼ 18 |
| Active installs | 400+ | 100+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 9 | 204 |
| Rating | no ratings | no ratings |
| Type | Classic theme | Classic theme |
| Last updated | Feb 19, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.1.0 | 1.0.5 |
| Best rank on record | #2,536 | #85 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Feb 2021 | 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, CoverStory or Newsum?
By active installs, CoverStory: 400+ sites run it against 100+ for Newsum, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 25, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, CoverStory or Newsum?
Newsum, at #181 on the WordPress.org popular themes list today, with CoverStory at #2,565. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Is CoverStory a block theme or a classic theme? And Newsum?
CoverStory is a classic theme, Newsum 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.