Async JavaScript vs Fast Velocity Minify
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
At a glance
Async JavaScript leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #619, ahead of Fast Velocity Minify at #928. Over the last 7 days Async JavaScript slipped 4 places and Fast Velocity Minify slipped 1 place. Async JavaScript has the largest install base, roughly 2× the next: 60K+ active installs against 30K+ for Fast Velocity Minify. Downloads this week: Fast Velocity Minify 1,443 and Async JavaScript 883. Ratings: Async JavaScript 4.7★ from 102 and Fast Velocity Minify 4.6★ from 195 reviews.
| Metric | Async JavaScript | Fast Velocity Minify |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #619 ▼ 4 | #928 ▼ 1 |
| Active installs | 60K+ | 30K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 883 | 1,443 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (102) | 4.6★ (195) |
| Last updated | Jun 22, 2023 | Jul 17, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.21.08.31 | 3.5.7 |
| Best rank on record | #603 | #901 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 2014 | Jun 2016 |
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
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Async JavaScript or Fast Velocity Minify?
By active installs, Async JavaScript: 60K+ sites run it against 30K+ for Fast Velocity Minify, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 28, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Async JavaScript or Fast Velocity Minify?
Async JavaScript, at #619 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Fast Velocity Minify at #928. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Async JavaScript or Fast Velocity Minify alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’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 plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.