Head Meta Data vs IndexNow
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
IndexNow leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #329, ahead of Head Meta Data at #1,711. Over the last 7 days IndexNow climbed 1 place and Head Meta Data slipped 4 places. IndexNow has the largest install base, roughly 10× the next: 100K+ active installs against 10K+ for Head Meta Data. Downloads this week: IndexNow 4,884 and Head Meta Data 395. Ratings: Head Meta Data 4.8★ from 19 and IndexNow 3.2★ from 47 reviews.
| Metric | Head Meta Data | IndexNow |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,711 ▼ 4 | #329 ▲ 1 |
| Active installs | 10K+ | 100K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 395 | 4,884 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (19) | 3.2★ (47) |
| Last updated | Aug 10, 2026 | Jun 26, 2026 |
| Current version | 20260810 | 1.0.4 |
| Best rank on record | #1,687 | #329 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Nov 2012 | Dec 2021 |
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, Head Meta Data or IndexNow?
By active installs, IndexNow: 100K+ sites run it against 10K+ for Head Meta Data, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 18, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Head Meta Data or IndexNow?
IndexNow, at #329 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Head Meta Data at #1,711. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Head Meta Data or IndexNow 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.