Async JavaScript vs Speculative Loading
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
Speculative Loading leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #611, ahead of Async JavaScript at #615. Over the last 7 days Speculative Loading climbed 1 place and Async JavaScript slipped 2 places. Async JavaScript has the largest install base: 70K+ active installs against 70K+ for Speculative Loading. Downloads this week: Speculative Loading 2,704 and Async JavaScript 485. Ratings: Async JavaScript 4.7★ from 102 and Speculative Loading 5★ from 18 reviews.
| Metric | Async JavaScript | Speculative Loading |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #615 ▼ 2 | #611 ▲ 1 |
| Active installs | 70K+ | 70K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 485 | 2,704 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (102) | 5★ (18) |
| Last updated | Jun 22, 2023 | Aug 26, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.21.08.31 | 1.7.0 |
| Best rank on record | #603 | #602 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 2014 | Jan 2024 |
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 Speculative Loading?
By active installs, Async JavaScript: 70K+ sites run it against 70K+ for Speculative Loading, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 18, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Async JavaScript or Speculative Loading?
Speculative Loading, at #611 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Async JavaScript at #615. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Async JavaScript or Speculative Loading 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.