Category Thumbnail List vs Media Library Categories
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
Media Library Categories leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,252, ahead of Category Thumbnail List at #11,450. Over the last 7 days Media Library Categories climbed 1 place and Category Thumbnail List slipped 11 places. Media Library Categories has the largest install base, roughly 100× the next: 20K+ active installs against 200+ for Category Thumbnail List. Downloads this week: Media Library Categories 710 and Category Thumbnail List 28. Ratings: Category Thumbnail List 3.5★ from 2 and Media Library Categories 4.2★ from 52 reviews.
| Metric | Category Thumbnail List | Media Library Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #11,450 ▼ 11 | #1,252 ▲ 1 |
| Active installs | 200+ | 20K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 28 | 710 |
| Rating | 3.5★ (2) | 4.2★ (52) |
| Last updated | Feb 21, 2024 | Aug 22, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.03 | 2.0.2 |
| Best rank on record | #11,416 | #1,252 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | May 2010 | Nov 2013 |
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, Category Thumbnail List or Media Library Categories?
By active installs, Media Library Categories: 20K+ sites run it against 200+ for Category Thumbnail List, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 20, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Category Thumbnail List or Media Library Categories?
Media Library Categories, at #1,252 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Category Thumbnail List at #11,450. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Category Thumbnail List or Media Library Categories 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.