WP Crontrol vs Run External Crons (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Run External Crons has a higher user rating (5/5 from 2 reviews) while WP Crontrol leads in active installations (300K+ vs 70). Both are free WordPress plugins. WP Crontrol has accumulated 7.6M+ total downloads while Run External Crons has 6.4K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WP Crontrol | Run External Crons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 163 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 300K+ | ◄ | 70 |
| Total Downloads | 7.6M+ | ◄ | 6.4K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 months ago | ◄ | 13 years ago |
| First Released | 2008 | 2012 | |
| Age | 18 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.4+ | 3.3+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.21.0 | 1.0 |
Rating Breakdown
WP Crontrol
Run External Crons
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
WP Crontrol Reviews
Hmm. Nothing actually deletes
Not currently working for me, but developer points out that the issue is probably at my site rather than with the app. Which I will, of course, look into. This topic was modified 1 month, 3 we
Must-Use Plugin
Always use this plugin to debug my cron jobs. It’s extremely simple and easy to use.
Works
Does what it is supposed to.
Run External Crons Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.