Maintenance Mode vs Machete (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Machete has a higher user rating (5/5 from 52 reviews) while Maintenance Mode leads in active installations (8.0K+ vs 7.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Maintenance Mode has accumulated 130K+ total downloads while Machete has 84K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Maintenance Mode | Machete | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 14 | ► | 52 |
| Active Installs | 8.0K+ | ◄ | 7.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 130K+ | ◄ | 84K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2020 | 2016 | |
| Age | 6 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.1+ | 4.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.1.3 | 5.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Maintenance Mode
Machete
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Maintenance Mode averaged approximately 26 daily downloads while Machete averaged 47.
Recent Reviews
Maintenance Mode Reviews
Does what it purports to do with zero faff
An excellent option for a maintenance page or a development shield. Provides a suitable selection of comprehensive options and does not bombard the site owner / admin with obnoxious upgrade requests n
One of the best free maintenance page plugins
One of the best free maintenance page plugins
Clean, fast, effective
Exactly what I need.
Machete Reviews
Lightweight and useful
I use Machete mainly to clean up the <head> and remove unnecessary scripts. It does exactly what it promises: improves performance and reduces exposure to automated attacks, all from a simple, easy-to
Simplemente genial y gratis. Lo instalaré en todos mis sitios. Gracias
Simplemente genial y gratis. Lo instalaré en todos mis sitios. Muchas gracias Nilo. Solo faltaría que actualices el video explicativo, para los que entendemos poco. This topic was modified 1 y
Genial
¡He mejorado la velocidad de carga de mi web!
More Maintenance Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Maintenance Mode and Machete
Simplified WordPress management. Manage site info, maintenance, security, & redirects.
Great looking maintenance, coming soon & under construction pages. Put your site under maintenance in minutes.
Display a maintenance mode page and allow invited visitors to bypass the functionality to preview the site.
Under Construction is a simple plugin for setting up Under Construction, Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode using WordPress Customizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maintenance Mode or Machete more popular?
Which has better ratings — Maintenance Mode or Machete?
Are Maintenance Mode and Machete free?
Which plugin has better support — Maintenance Mode or Machete?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.