Header and Footer Scripts vs Cache External Scripts (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Header and Footer Scripts
200K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Cache External Scripts has a higher user rating (5/5 from 25 reviews) while Header and Footer Scripts leads in active installations (200K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Header and Footer Scripts has accumulated 1.6M+ total downloads while Cache External Scripts has 31K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Header and Footer Scripts | Cache External Scripts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 58 | ◄ | 25 |
| Active Installs | 200K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.6M+ | ◄ | 31K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 months ago | ◄ | 6 years ago |
| First Released | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Age | 12 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.4.2 | 0.4 |
Rating Breakdown
Header and Footer Scripts
Cache External Scripts
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Header and Footer Scripts averaged approximately 799 daily downloads while Cache External Scripts averaged 4.
Recent Reviews
Header and Footer Scripts Reviews
It’s okay… SAVE validation missing
Add a validation confirmation on save. Simple.No one can tell that it’s saved. This topic was modified 1 month ago by Yume.
Excellent plugin
One of the most useful plugins. I was looking for a plugin that allows adding Metadata. Then I founs this, and it is very useful. Thanks a lot for your efforts guys. P.S. Thank you for the last upd
Saved my bacon
I’ve recently switched themes, and my previous theme allowed me to add custom CSS directly from the page editor. Unfortunately, my new theme lacks this feature. This plugin appears to be the only one
Cache External Scripts Reviews
80
Very Good plugin
Great job for google analytics (only)
Would be great to also support facebook pixel code (at some point) 🙂
works like a charm!
I was a bit concerned about this plugin and its conflict with W3, but it gets the job done perfectly! thanks guys
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Header and Footer Scripts or Cache External Scripts more popular?
Which has better ratings — Header and Footer Scripts or Cache External Scripts?
Are Header and Footer Scripts and Cache External Scripts free?
Which plugin has better support — Header and Footer Scripts or Cache External Scripts?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.