WP Updates Notifier vs WP Core Update Cleaner (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WP Core Update Cleaner has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 4 reviews) while WP Updates Notifier leads in active installations (30K+ vs 900). Both are free WordPress plugins. WP Updates Notifier has accumulated 236K+ total downloads while WP Core Update Cleaner has 9.3K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WP Updates Notifier | WP Core Update Cleaner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | ► | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 35 | ◄ | 4 |
| Active Installs | 30K+ | ◄ | 900 |
| Total Downloads | 236K+ | ◄ | 9.3K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 6 years ago | ► | 2 years ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2014 | |
| Age | 15 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.1+ | 3.3+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.6.0 | 1.2.0 |
Rating Breakdown
WP Updates Notifier
WP Core Update Cleaner
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, WP Updates Notifier averaged approximately 18 daily downloads while WP Core Update Cleaner averaged 3.
Recent Reviews
WP Updates Notifier Reviews
Essential plugin to manage many sites
A unique plugin of its kind but which I consider very useful and fundamental if you have to manage many websites (as in my case) in order to have a “memory” of the plugins to be updated! EXCELLENT!
Out-of date and not fully working
It’s ok for theme and plugins notifications, but notification about core updates does’t work for more than one year! This plugin probably won’t recieve an update anymore. This topic was modifi
Simple and effective
I get notified whenever a plugin needs to be updated. Perfect!
WP Core Update Cleaner Reviews
Excellent
It makes life much easier by doing it’s job perfectly.
Great, could be Greater!
Thank you for your plugin development. This plugin does what it says. Was using a read.me plugin remover on my sites. This is even better. Second the thought of a future update to add removal install.
Mostly Useful!
Glad I found this! It’s so annoying to have to remember to take these little steps every time WordPress core updates. It’s a real time-saver, so long as automatic updates are disabled. This plugin wor
More Upgrade Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as WP Updates Notifier and WP Core Update Cleaner
Easily upgrade your themes and plugins using zip files without removing the theme or plugin first.
Seamless rollback of WordPress Core to latest release or any outdated, secure release using the Core Update API and core update methods.
Activate automatic updates or weekly notifications for the site.
Fixes long filename problem on Windows systems when doing updates, such as updating from EDD based sites.
Removes the WordPress update nag that appears at the top of all admin pages when a new version of WordPress is released.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.