LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… vs Post Category Filter (WP Admin) (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming…
500K+ active installs
Free
Post Category Filter (WP Admin)
1.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Post Category Filter (WP Admin) has a higher user rating (5/5 from 25 reviews) while LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… leads in active installations (500K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… has accumulated 19M+ total downloads while Post Category Filter (WP Admin) has 43K+. Post Category Filter (WP Admin) has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 50%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… | Post Category Filter (WP Admin) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 860 | ◄ | 25 |
| Active Installs | 500K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 19M+ | ◄ | 43K+ |
| Support Resolution | 50% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 2 weeks ago | ◄ | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2014 | |
| Age | 16 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.7+ | 6.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.1+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.6.20 | 1.7.3 |
Rating Breakdown
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming…
Post Category Filter (WP Admin)
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… averaged approximately 1,064 daily downloads while Post Category Filter (WP Admin) averaged 22.
Recent Reviews
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… Reviews
Not for the faint hearted or newbies
My isssue (which I’m currently waiting for help with)- is that it broke my Woocommerce/Divi Shop. The Maintenance Mode is still active on my Homepage even after deactivating Lightstart.I’m sure it wil
Installed Unwanted Plugins
The actual plugin I wanted to use worked fine but it installed two other plugins – an image optimization plugin and some other plugin called Otter. No prompts, notification or nothing. Very sketch.
Excellent Lightweight Easy to use
LightStart is a great addition to any WordPress site if you’re looking for a lightweight, reliable, and easy-to-use solution. It installs quickly, works smoothly without slowing down performance, and
Post Category Filter (WP Admin) Reviews
Must Have For Large Sites
This plugin was updated 03/01/026 and works perfectly as expected. I have used it for years and was pleased when this author took it over. Fast and professional responses to support requests too. T
It’s amazing and should be built-in feature in WordPress
Still working is WordPress 6.3.x Amazing
A life saver!
This plugin works perfectly for filtering WooCommerce categories. I have over 120 product categories and this plugin now makes it very easy to find the right category to assign. Thanks!
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… and Post Category Filter (WP Admin)
Redux is a simple, truly extensible, and fully responsive options framework for WordPress themes and plugins. It ships with an integrated demo.
Lets you edit the WordPress admin menu. You can re-order, hide or rename menus, add custom menus and more.
All-in-one enhancement suite that improves WordPress & Advanced Custom Fields.
Nested Pages provides a drag and drop interface for managing pages & posts in the WordPress admin, while maintaining quick edit functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Post Category Filter (WP Admin) more popular?
Which has better ratings — LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Post Category Filter (WP Admin)?
Are LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… and Post Category Filter (WP Admin) free?
Which plugin has better support — LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Post Category Filter (WP Admin)?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.