Preloader vs Smooth Preloader (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Preloader has a higher user rating (4.1/5 from 41 reviews) and leads in active installations (10K+ vs 0). Both are free WordPress plugins. Preloader has accumulated 285K+ total downloads while Smooth Preloader has 702.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Preloader | Smooth Preloader | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ◄ | N/A |
| Total Reviews | 41 | ◄ | 0 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 0 |
| Total Downloads | 285K+ | ◄ | 702 |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2015 | 2025 | |
| Age | 11 years | 1 year | |
| WP Requires | 5.8+ | 5.8+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.0.2 | 1.0.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Preloader
Smooth Preloader
Download Trends
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
Smooth Preloader Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Preloader and Smooth Preloader
Easily add a pure CSS animated preloader to your WordPress website.
Flat Preloader helps you create the loading page with many excited gif icons.
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 Smooth Preloader more popular?
Which has better ratings — Preloader or Smooth Preloader?
Are Preloader and Smooth Preloader free?
Which plugin has better support — Preloader or Smooth Preloader?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.