MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress vs Essential Form – The lightest plugin… (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress
1.0M+ active installs
Free
Essential Form – The lightest plugin…
500 active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Essential Form – The lightest plugin… has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 19 reviews) while MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress leads in active installations (1.0M+ vs 500). Both are free WordPress plugins. MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress has accumulated 73M+ total downloads while Essential Form – The lightest plugin… has 5.8K+. MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress has a higher support resolution rate (89% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress | Essential Form – The lightest plugin… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 1,492 | ◄ | 19 |
| Active Installs | 1.0M+ | ◄ | 500 |
| Total Downloads | 73M+ | ◄ | 5.8K+ |
| Support Resolution | 89% | ◄ | 0% |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2023 | |
| Age | 13 years | 3 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 4.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.2+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.12.1 | 1.0.2 |
Rating Breakdown
MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress
Essential Form – The lightest plugin…
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress Reviews
Good but Limited
Works well for basic email setup & easy to connect with Mailchimp. UI is simple. But needs more flexibility in forms. Overall, a good plugin. tnx 👍
Simple Mailchimp Connect
Good plugin for connecting Mailchimp with WP. Setup was pretty easy and forms started collecting emails without much hassle. UI is clean too. A few more design options would be nice, but overall works
Just Started Using This API
I like it so far and will update this review as time goes on.
Essential Form – The lightest plugin… Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.