LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… vs Add External Media (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming…
500K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Add External Media has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 3 reviews) while LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… leads in active installations (500K+ vs 100). Both are free WordPress plugins. LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… has accumulated 19M+ total downloads while Add External Media has 17K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… | Add External Media | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ► | 4.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 860 | ◄ | 3 |
| Active Installs | 500K+ | ◄ | 100 |
| Total Downloads | 19M+ | ◄ | 17K+ |
| Support Resolution | 50% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 weeks ago | ◄ | 6 years ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2015 | |
| Age | 16 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.7+ | 4.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.1+ | 5.3+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.6.20 | 1.0.5 |
Rating Breakdown
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming…
Add External Media
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… Reviews
Not for the faint hearted or newbies
My isssue (which I’m currently waiting for help with)- is that it broke my Woocommerce/Divi Shop. The Maintenance Mode is still active on my Homepage even after deactivating Lightstart.I’m sure it wil
Installed Unwanted Plugins
The actual plugin I wanted to use worked fine but it installed two other plugins – an image optimization plugin and some other plugin called Otter. No prompts, notification or nothing. Very sketch.
Excellent Lightweight Easy to use
LightStart is a great addition to any WordPress site if you’re looking for a lightweight, reliable, and easy-to-use solution. It installs quickly, works smoothly without slowing down performance, and
Add External Media Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Add External Media more popular?
Which has better ratings — LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Add External Media?
Are LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… and Add External Media free?
Which plugin has better support — LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Add External Media?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.