The SEO Framework vs Simple SEO
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
The SEO Framework leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #264, ahead of Simple SEO at #9,864. Over the last 7 days The SEO Framework climbed 3 places and Simple SEO climbed 429 places. The SEO Framework has the largest install base, roughly 500× the next: 200K+ active installs against 400+ for Simple SEO. Downloads this week: The SEO Framework 74,453 and Simple SEO 175. Ratings: The SEO Framework 4.9★ from 380 and Simple SEO 5★ from 2 reviews.
| Metric | The SEO Framework | Simple SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #264 ▲ 3 | #9,864 ▲ 429 |
| Active installs | 200K+ | 400+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 74,453 | 175 |
| Rating | 4.9★ (380) | 5★ (2) |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Current version | 5.2.0 | 1.5.0 |
| Best rank on record | #264 | #9,864 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | May 2015 | Aug 2010 |
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, The SEO Framework or Simple SEO?
By active installs, The SEO Framework: 200K+ sites run it against 400+ for Simple SEO, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 17, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, The SEO Framework or Simple SEO?
The SEO Framework, at #264 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Simple SEO at #9,864. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are The SEO Framework or Simple SEO 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.