Custom Permalinks vs Permalink Shortcode
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
Custom Permalinks leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #407, ahead of Permalink Shortcode at #16,000. Over the last 7 days Custom Permalinks slipped 11 places and Permalink Shortcode climbed 22 places. Custom Permalinks has the largest install base, roughly 1000× the next: 100K+ active installs against 100+ for Permalink Shortcode. Downloads this week: Custom Permalinks 11,045 and Permalink Shortcode 17. Ratings: Custom Permalinks 4.1★ from 116 and Permalink Shortcode 4★ from 4 reviews.
| Metric | Custom Permalinks | Permalink Shortcode |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #407 ▼ 11 | #16,000 ▲ 22 |
| Active installs | 100K+ | 100+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 11,045 | 17 |
| Rating | 4.1★ (116) | 4★ (4) |
| Last updated | Oct 13, 2026 | May 2, 2013 |
| Current version | 3.3.3 | 1.0.0 |
| Best rank on record | #370 | #15,619 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Nov 2008 | May 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, Custom Permalinks or Permalink Shortcode?
By active installs, Custom Permalinks: 100K+ sites run it against 100+ for Permalink Shortcode, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 31, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Custom Permalinks or Permalink Shortcode?
Custom Permalinks, at #407 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Permalink Shortcode at #16,000. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Custom Permalinks or Permalink Shortcode 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.