Crosswinds Framework vs Nature21
Two WordPress themes head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
At a glance
Nature21 leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #342, ahead of Crosswinds Framework at #7,918. Over the last 7 days Nature21 slipped 16 places and Crosswinds Framework climbed 28 places. Nature21 has the largest install base, roughly 25× the next: 500+ active installs against 20+ for Crosswinds Framework. Downloads this week: Nature21 96 and Crosswinds Framework 7.
| Metric | Crosswinds Framework | Nature21 |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #7,918 ▲ 28 | #342 ▼ 16 |
| Active installs | 20+ | 500+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 7 | 96 |
| Rating | no ratings | no ratings |
| Type | Block theme | Block theme |
| Last updated | Jan 13, 2025 | Oct 9, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.1.1 | 2.2 |
| Best rank on record | #7,567 | #188 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Nov 2023 | Jan 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, Crosswinds Framework or Nature21?
By active installs, Nature21: 500+ sites run it against 20+ for Crosswinds Framework, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 26, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Crosswinds Framework or Nature21?
Nature21, at #342 on the WordPress.org popular themes list today, with Crosswinds Framework at #7,918. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Is Crosswinds Framework a block theme or a classic theme? And Nature21?
Crosswinds Framework is a block theme, Nature21 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.