Nginx Helper vs Permalink Manager Lite
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
Nginx Helper leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #274, ahead of Permalink Manager Lite at #398. Over the last 7 days Nginx Helper climbed 2 places and Permalink Manager Lite held its place. Nginx Helper has the largest install base, roughly 2× the next: 200K+ active installs against 100K+ for Permalink Manager Lite. Downloads this week: Nginx Helper 136,964 and Permalink Manager Lite 3,924. Ratings: Nginx Helper 4.4★ from 31 and Permalink Manager Lite 4.8★ from 176 reviews.
| Metric | Nginx Helper | Permalink Manager Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #274 ▲ 2 | #398 ▬ |
| Active installs | 200K+ | 100K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 136,964 | 3,924 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (31) | 4.8★ (176) |
| Last updated | Sep 9, 2026 | Aug 9, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.4.1 | 2.6.0 |
| Best rank on record | #274 | #396 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Sep 2012 | Jan 2016 |
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, Nginx Helper or Permalink Manager Lite?
By active installs, Nginx Helper: 200K+ sites run it against 100K+ for Permalink Manager Lite, according to WordPress.org figures captured on September 15, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Nginx Helper or Permalink Manager Lite?
Nginx Helper, at #274 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Permalink Manager Lite at #398. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Nginx Helper or Permalink Manager Lite 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.