Highlighting Code Block vs Starter Templates by Kadence WP
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
Starter Templates by Kadence WP leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #207, ahead of Highlighting Code Block at #1,713. Over the last 7 days Starter Templates by Kadence WP slipped 1 place and Highlighting Code Block held its place. Starter Templates by Kadence WP has the largest install base, roughly 20× the next: 200K+ active installs against 10K+ for Highlighting Code Block. Downloads this week: Starter Templates by Kadence WP 7,216 and Highlighting Code Block 358. Ratings: Highlighting Code Block 4.5★ from 20 and Starter Templates by Kadence WP 4.3★ from 19 reviews.
| Metric | Highlighting Code Block | Starter Templates by Kadence WP |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,713 ▬ | #207 ▼ 1 |
| Active installs | 10K+ | 200K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 358 | 7,216 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (20) | 4.3★ (19) |
| Last updated | Jul 1, 2026 | Aug 12, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.2.1 | 2.3.4 |
| Best rank on record | #1,700 | #206 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 2018 | Aug 2020 |
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, Highlighting Code Block or Starter Templates by Kadence WP?
By active installs, Starter Templates by Kadence WP: 200K+ sites run it against 10K+ for Highlighting Code Block, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 18, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Highlighting Code Block or Starter Templates by Kadence WP?
Starter Templates by Kadence WP, at #207 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Highlighting Code Block at #1,713. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Highlighting Code Block or Starter Templates by Kadence WP 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.