Syntax Highlight Nano vs SyntaxHighlighter Evolved
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
SyntaxHighlighter Evolved leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,372, ahead of Syntax Highlight Nano at #44,256. Over the last 7 days SyntaxHighlighter Evolved climbed 1 place and Syntax Highlight Nano slipped 521 places. SyntaxHighlighter Evolved has the largest install base, roughly 2000× the next: 20K+ active installs against 10+ for Syntax Highlight Nano. Downloads this week: SyntaxHighlighter Evolved 897 and Syntax Highlight Nano 19.
| Metric | Syntax Highlight Nano | SyntaxHighlighter Evolved |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #44,256 ▼ 521 | #1,372 ▲ 1 |
| Active installs | 10+ | 20K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 19 | 897 |
| Rating | no ratings | 4.3★ (86) |
| Last updated | Sep 17, 2026 | Mar 3, 2025 |
| Current version | 1.2.1 | 3.7.2 |
| Best rank on record | #34,022 | #1,357 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 2025 | Sep 2007 |
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, Syntax Highlight Nano or SyntaxHighlighter Evolved?
By active installs, SyntaxHighlighter Evolved: 20K+ sites run it against 10+ for Syntax Highlight Nano, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 28, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Syntax Highlight Nano or SyntaxHighlighter Evolved?
SyntaxHighlighter Evolved, at #1,372 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Syntax Highlight Nano at #44,256. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Syntax Highlight Nano or SyntaxHighlighter Evolved 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.