Classic Editor vs Markup Markdown (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

Classic Editor

Classic Editor

4.9(1,225)

9.0M+ active installs

Free

Updated 3 months ago
View Classic Editor
VS
Markup Markdown

Markup Markdown

5(11)

2.0K+ active installs

Free + Premium

Updated 4 months ago
View Markup Markdown

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Markup Markdown has a higher user rating (5/5 from 11 reviews) while Classic Editor leads in active installations (9.0M+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Editor has accumulated 85M+ total downloads while Markup Markdown has 49K+. Markup Markdown has a higher support resolution rate (0% vs 0%).

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Classic Editor
Markup Markdown5/5
Total Reviews
1,225Classic Editor
Markup Markdown11
Active Installs
9.0M+Classic Editor
Markup Markdown2.0K+
Total Downloads
85M+Classic Editor
Markup Markdown49K+
Support Resolution
0%Classic Editor
Markup Markdown0%
Last Updated
3 months agoClassic Editor
Markup Markdown4 months ago
First Released
2017Classic Editor
Markup Markdown2022
Age
9 yearsClassic Editor
Markup Markdown4 years
WP Requires
4.9+Classic Editor
Markup Markdown6.6+
PHP Requires
5.2.4+Classic Editor
Markup Markdown7.2.0+
Business Model
FreeClassic Editor
Markup MarkdownFree + Premium
Latest Version
1.6.7Classic Editor
Markup Markdown3.25.1

Rating Breakdown

Classic Editor

4.9/5(1,225 reviews)
5
95%
4
2%
3
1%
2
0%
1
1%

Markup Markdown

5/5(11 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

Recent Reviews

Classic Editor Reviews

by Shelton

Back to Simple

Really helpful if u don’t like the block editor. Feels familiar n easy to work with. Not fancy, but it makes editing way more comfortable for me.

by Get Homeservice Quotes

perfect for users who prefer the old WordPress

The Classic Editor plugin is perfect for users who prefer the old WordPress editing experience. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and works flawlessly without any setup. Highly recommended for a simple a

by tyriqsuth

Keeps It Simple

Installed this cz I prefer the old editor. Works exactly as expected, no issues so far. Makes writing posts much easier for me. Would be nicer if it had few more options, but still solid. tnkz devs.

Markup Markdown Reviews

by sovzhang

good…but…

my theme added some module needs gutenberg. sometimes i need those modules and sometimes i need markdown. is there some method to choose the editor before create an article?

by tedcurran

Returning JOY to writing in WordPress after Gutenberg

This plugin returned 1000% of the joy of writing back into WordPress that I haven’t experienced since the change to Gutenberg. Thank you so much it’s exactly what I wanted my writing practice to feel

by Gilbert

WordPress never felt to clean…

OMG, what an awesome plugin! It makes posting on WP an actual joy. I now wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, honey. I’ll kiss you right after my first post using Markup Markdown. But don’t

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Classic Editor or Markup Markdown more popular?
Classic Editor has 9.0M+ active installations while Markup Markdown has 2.0K+. Classic Editor is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Classic Editor or Markup Markdown?
Classic Editor has a 4.9/5 rating from 1,225 reviews, while Markup Markdown has a 5/5 rating from 11 reviews.
Are Classic Editor and Markup Markdown free?
Classic Editor is free and Markup Markdown is free + premium. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Classic Editor or Markup Markdown?
As of April 2026, Classic Editor has a 0% support resolution rate while Markup Markdown has a 0% rate.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Classic Editor was last updated 3 months ago and Markup Markdown was last updated 4 months ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.