Companion Auto Update vs MainWP Child
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
MainWP Child leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #86, ahead of Companion Auto Update at #804. Over the last 7 days MainWP Child held its place and Companion Auto Update slipped 3 places. MainWP Child has the largest install base, roughly 18× the next: 700K+ active installs against 40K+ for Companion Auto Update. Downloads this week: MainWP Child 412,965 and Companion Auto Update 1,384. Ratings: Companion Auto Update 4.8★ from 105 and MainWP Child 5★ from 70 reviews.
| Metric | Companion Auto Update | MainWP Child |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #804 ▼ 3 | #86 ▬ |
| Active installs | 40K+ | 700K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 1,384 | 412,965 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (105) | 5★ (70) |
| Last updated | Mar 21, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 |
| Current version | 3.9.4 | 6.2 |
| Best rank on record | #799 | #86 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | May 2016 | Aug 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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- MainWP Child vs WP Remote
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Companion Auto Update or MainWP Child?
By active installs, MainWP Child: 700K+ sites run it against 40K+ for Companion Auto Update, according to WordPress.org figures captured on September 14, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Companion Auto Update or MainWP Child?
MainWP Child, at #86 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Companion Auto Update at #804. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Companion Auto Update or MainWP Child 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.