Preloader vs Page Loader (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) while Preloader leads in active installations (10K+ vs 3.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Preloader has accumulated 285K+ total downloads while Page Loader has 35K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Preloader | Page Loader | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 41 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 3.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 285K+ | ◄ | 35K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2015 | 2017 | |
| Age | 11 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.8+ | 3.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.0.2 | 1.2 |
Rating Breakdown
Preloader
Page Loader
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Preloader averaged approximately 62 daily downloads while Page Loader averaged 7.
Recent Reviews
Preloader Reviews
So many affiliate spam
such simple thing as preloader, didn’t expect so many affiliate links This topic was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by Mohaymenul Islam.
Got stuck on preloading screen
Preloader got stuck and never disappeared to display the website. Also you are limited to 128x128px
Terrible, Don’t Waste Your Time.
Couldn’t get it to work on a very basic WP install. Better preloader plugins to choose from. Sadly it seems a quickly built plugin just designed to generate some ad revenue and waste people’s time. Ve
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.
More Loader Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Preloader and Page Loader
Easily add a pure CSS animated preloader to your WordPress website.
Preloader Awesome help You to create page loading animation WordPress with spinner or You can upload Your own GIF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Preloader or Page Loader more popular?
Which has better ratings — Preloader or Page Loader?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.