Fernlight vs Prime 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
Prime FSE leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #992, ahead of Fernlight at #1,356. Over the last 7 days Prime FSE slipped 11 places and Fernlight slipped 118 places. Prime FSE has the largest install base, roughly 35× the next: 700+ active installs against 20+ for Fernlight. Downloads this week: Prime FSE 22 and Fernlight 11.
| Metric | Fernlight | Prime FSE |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,356 ▼ 118 | #992 ▼ 11 |
| Active installs | 20+ | 700+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 11 | 22 |
| Rating | no ratings | no ratings |
| Type | Block theme | Block theme |
| Last updated | Oct 10, 2026 | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.2.62 | 1.1.2 |
| Best rank on record | #500 | #947 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Aug 2026 | 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, Fernlight or Prime FSE?
By active installs, Prime FSE: 700+ sites run it against 20+ for Fernlight, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 24, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Fernlight or Prime FSE?
Prime FSE, at #992 on the WordPress.org popular themes list today, with Fernlight at #1,356. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Is Fernlight a block theme or a classic theme? And Prime FSE?
Fernlight is a block theme, Prime 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.