Custom CSS and JavaScript vs WP-LESS
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
WP-LESS leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,908, ahead of Custom CSS and JavaScript at #1,973. Over the last 7 days WP-LESS climbed 2 places and Custom CSS and JavaScript climbed 5 places. Custom CSS and JavaScript has the largest install base: 10K+ active installs against 10K+ for WP-LESS. Downloads this week: WP-LESS 284 and Custom CSS and JavaScript 250. Ratings: Custom CSS and JavaScript 4.7★ from 60 and WP-LESS 4.6★ from 19 reviews.
| Metric | Custom CSS and JavaScript | WP-LESS |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,973 ▲ 5 | #1,908 ▲ 2 |
| Active installs | 10K+ | 10K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 250 | 284 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (60) | 4.6★ (19) |
| Last updated | Aug 12, 2024 | May 14, 2025 |
| Current version | 2.0.16 | 1.9.8 |
| Best rank on record | #1,927 | #1,901 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 2015 | Aug 2009 |
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
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Custom CSS and JavaScript or WP-LESS?
By active installs, Custom CSS and JavaScript: 10K+ sites run it against 10K+ for WP-LESS, according to WordPress.org figures captured on November 1, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Custom CSS and JavaScript or WP-LESS?
WP-LESS, at #1,908 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Custom CSS and JavaScript at #1,973. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Custom CSS and JavaScript or WP-LESS 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.