Starter Templates – AI-Powered… vs PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls… (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Starter Templates – AI-Powered…
2.0M+ active installs
Free
PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls…
20K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Starter Templates – AI-Powered… has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 4,728 reviews) and leads in active installations (2.0M+ vs 20K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Starter Templates – AI-Powered… has accumulated 91M+ total downloads while PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls… has 1.8M+. PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls… has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 86%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Starter Templates – AI-Powered… | PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 4,728 | ◄ | 202 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 20K+ |
| Total Downloads | 91M+ | ◄ | 1.8M+ |
| Support Resolution | 86% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 3 days ago | ◄ | 3 months ago |
| First Released | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Age | 9 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.6+ | 5.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.2.5+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.5.0 | 3.6.2 |
Rating Breakdown
Starter Templates – AI-Powered…
PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls…
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Starter Templates – AI-Powered… averaged approximately 54,759 daily downloads while PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls… averaged 98.
Recent Reviews
Starter Templates – AI-Powered… Reviews
thanks to the technical support
quick and professional support, a pleasure to work with Astra, very very good
Easy Template Pack
Really nice plugin for quickly starting a site. The templates are simple to use and save a lot of work. Helped me finish pages quicker, and everything felt smooth. very satisfied 👍
Very happy with the amazing service and support
Team Brain Force customer care Very happy with the amazing service and support, super fast response to my questions and my problem was solved. Great. I am very happy with ASTRA and your other products
PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls… Reviews
Basic functions blocked behind a paywall.
Downloaded the plugin to do one thing. Auto inject a block a couple paragraphs into posts. Blocked behind a paywall. Limited plugin. Block things that enhanced styling help etc not simple functions be
Vey usefull plug-in
Works good for many years.
Great addition to my site.
Awesome, and way easier to use than I thought it would be. No notes.
More Block Editor Worth Comparing
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Gutenberg block editor with AI. 70+ Gutenberg blocks, patterns, WooCommerce blocks, post grid, gallery, menu with Gutenberg block library.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.