MetroNewspaper vs Pixl
Two WordPress themes head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
At a glance
MetroNewspaper leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #994, ahead of Pixl at #1,591. Over the last 7 days MetroNewspaper slipped 5 places and Pixl climbed 40 places. Pixl has the largest install base, roughly 3× the next: 600+ active installs against 200+ for MetroNewspaper. Downloads this week: Pixl 56 and MetroNewspaper 22.
| Metric | MetroNewspaper | Pixl |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #994 ▼ 5 | #1,591 ▲ 40 |
| Active installs | 200+ | 600+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 22 | 56 |
| Rating | no ratings | no ratings |
| Type | Block theme | Block theme |
| Last updated | Jan 23, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.0.3 | 1.0.11 |
| Best rank on record | #721 | #1,588 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 2025 | Sep 2022 |
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, MetroNewspaper or Pixl?
By active installs, Pixl: 600+ sites run it against 200+ for MetroNewspaper, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 20, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, MetroNewspaper or Pixl?
MetroNewspaper, at #994 on the WordPress.org popular themes list today, with Pixl at #1,591. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Is MetroNewspaper a block theme or a classic theme? And Pixl?
MetroNewspaper is a block theme, Pixl 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.