Black Ribbon vs Alex Syntax Highlighter (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
VS
VS
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Black Ribbon has a higher user rating (5/5 from 2 reviews) and leads in active installations (400 vs 10). Both are free WordPress plugins. Black Ribbon has accumulated 10K+ total downloads while Alex Syntax Highlighter has 2.8K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Black Ribbon | Alex Syntax Highlighter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | ◄ | 2/5 |
| Total Reviews | 2 | ◄ | 1 |
| Active Installs | 400 | ◄ | 10 |
| Total Downloads | 10K+ | ◄ | 2.8K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 5 years ago | ◄ | 12 years ago |
| First Released | 2016 | 2012 | |
| Age | 10 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.0.1+ | 3.4.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.2 | 6.0 |
Rating
5/5Black Ribbon
◄Alex Syntax Highlighter2/5
Total Reviews
2Black Ribbon
◄Alex Syntax Highlighter1
Active Installs
400Black Ribbon
◄Alex Syntax Highlighter10
Total Downloads
10K+Black Ribbon
◄Alex Syntax Highlighter2.8K+
Support Resolution
N/ABlack Ribbon
Alex Syntax HighlighterN/A
Last Updated
5 years agoBlack Ribbon
◄Alex Syntax Highlighter12 years ago
First Released
2016Black Ribbon
Alex Syntax Highlighter2012
Age
10 yearsBlack Ribbon
Alex Syntax Highlighter14 years
WP Requires
3.0.1+Black Ribbon
Alex Syntax Highlighter3.4.1+
PHP Requires
false+Black Ribbon
Alex Syntax Highlighterfalse+
Business Model
FreeBlack Ribbon
Alex Syntax HighlighterFree
Latest Version
1.1.2Black Ribbon
Alex Syntax Highlighter6.0
Rating Breakdown
Black Ribbon
5/5(2 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Alex Syntax Highlighter
2/5(1 reviews)
5
0%
4
0%
3
0%
2
100%
1
0%
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Black Ribbon and Alex Syntax Highlighter
WP Realtime Sitemap
A sitemap plugin to make it easier for your site to show all your pages, posts, archives, categories and tags in an easy to read format.
4.610K+ installs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Ribbon or Alex Syntax Highlighter more popular?
Black Ribbon has 400 active installations while Alex Syntax Highlighter has 10. Black Ribbon is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Black Ribbon or Alex Syntax Highlighter?
Black Ribbon has a 5/5 rating from 2 reviews, while Alex Syntax Highlighter has a 2/5 rating from 1 reviews.
Are Black Ribbon and Alex Syntax Highlighter free?
Black Ribbon is free and Alex Syntax Highlighter is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Black Ribbon or Alex Syntax Highlighter?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Black Ribbon was last updated 5 years ago and Alex Syntax Highlighter was last updated 12 years ago.
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.