Page Loader vs Preload Images (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Page Loader has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 8 reviews) and leads in active installations (3.0K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Page Loader has accumulated 35K+ total downloads while Preload Images has 12K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Page Loader | Preload Images | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.6/5 |
| Total Reviews | 8 | 8 | |
| Active Installs | 3.0K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 35K+ | ◄ | 12K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ◄ | 3 years ago |
| First Released | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Age | 9 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.0+ | 3.8+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.2 | 1.2.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Page Loader
Preload Images
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Page Loader averaged approximately 7 daily downloads while Preload Images averaged 3.
Recent Reviews
Page Loader Reviews
Perfectly minimalist
Perfectly minimalist, just what we need
Simple and Faster!
The plugin helped me a lot, but have something who can be upgraded, like more styles of loader animations and custom loader animations from gif’s and lotties.
it closed my head
big seo problem ! closed my head so bots could not read it €dit:They fixed the problem. I did not try it but belive it :p This topic was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by mktgwien.
Preload Images Reviews
Perfect to improve animated GIF trigger on mobile
I wanted to trigger an animated GIF on hover. To implement this, I followed a simple online guide to *swap* an image on hover – set initial image as the first frame of your GIF, and the second image a
Highly recommended!
I run a photo gallery website for hobby using fancybox, and I’m happy to find this plugin! Initially I was searching for a solution with JavaScript, etc., but this is much easier way to preload images
Doesn’t work to preload site background image +
Sadly, the plugin does not work to preload a site’s background image when that image is specified in common image urls. Plus, when there is no image specified in the common image urls, the site loads
More Preload Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Page Loader and Preload Images
Make website faster, speed up page load time and improve performance scores in tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, Pingdom, and more.
Easily add a pure CSS animated preloader to your WordPress website.
Take advantage of browser resource hints and plug-and-play features to improve page load time.
A Plugin to add awesome collection of Loaders and Spinners. Delightful and performance-focused Pure CSS animations.
Allows you to specify on individual pages or posts the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) Image on that page to preload, making the page load quicker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Page Loader or Preload Images more popular?
Which has better ratings — Page Loader or Preload Images?
Are Page Loader and Preload Images free?
Which plugin has better support — Page Loader or Preload Images?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.