Nginx Helper vs Speed Optimizer
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
Speed Optimizer leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #43, ahead of Nginx Helper at #274. Over the last 7 days Speed Optimizer held its place and Nginx Helper climbed 2 places. Speed Optimizer has the largest install base, roughly 5× the next: 1M+ active installs against 200K+ for Nginx Helper. Downloads this week: Nginx Helper 133,991 and Speed Optimizer 53,811. Ratings: Nginx Helper 4.4★ from 31 and Speed Optimizer 4.2★ from 640 reviews.
| Metric | Nginx Helper | Speed Optimizer |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #274 ▲ 2 | #43 ▬ |
| Active installs | 200K+ | 1M+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 133,991 | 53,811 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (31) | 4.2★ (640) |
| Last updated | Sep 9, 2026 | Aug 25, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.4.1 | 7.8.2 |
| Best rank on record | #274 | #43 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 52 |
| On WordPress.org since | Sep 2012 | Nov 2014 |
| Sites detected by our detector | 0 | 4 |
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, Nginx Helper or Speed Optimizer?
By active installs, Speed Optimizer: 1M+ sites run it against 200K+ for Nginx Helper, according to WordPress.org figures captured on September 14, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Nginx Helper or Speed Optimizer?
Speed Optimizer, at #43 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Nginx Helper at #274. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Nginx Helper or Speed Optimizer 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.