Classic Smilies

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

Directory rank vs rivals

wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 100% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price. A small install base leaves thin data to model from.

1. ★★★★★ Gulshan Kumar

   10.0y ago

   I have been using this plugin and I proudly recommend to everyone. PRO – It improve performance by removing inline JS and reducing HTTP requests. Cons – Smiley images shouldn’t be look dull. It could be appear clear like Original. Thanks & Regards, Gulshan

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Sobak

   10.9y ago

   It’s a shame that plugin like this is needed at all, but this one does its job very well. It’s lightweight and focused on a goal.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ kech61

   11.3y ago

   WordPress > 4.2 sems to call smilies in runtime from external resources. This adds external requests, increases loadtime and reduces page-speed-index. This plugin reinvents the old, well known smilies AND hosts them on your own site – no external calls! Works on WordPress and BBPress. Thanks a lot Christian

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ Polish Ladies Cleaning Service

   11.3y ago

   Thank goodness we can have the old smilies/emoticons back!!! Sad it takes yet another plugin to be installed, though. >:-[ The automatic substitution of emojis by the latest WP updates is absolutely ridiculous — ridiculous because, despite all the technical reasons given for the new sad state of affairs, we’re talking about computers here, folks: they do what they’re told by human coders! But WP developers are acting like they had no choice but to automatically substitute emojis as they tried improving WP support for Asian languages…geez, it feels like listening to politicians spin one of their latest inexcusable scandals!

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ Antonio Sanchez

   11.4y ago

   I also find ridiculous that the emojis are added to core by default. This plugin solves the problem 🙂

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ crzyhrse

   11.4y ago

   And thanks… 🙂

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ adnaniub

   11.4y ago

   Works very well, Thanks

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ Orlandoo

   11.4y ago

   Thank you for this plugin. Removes the most useless update from WordPress.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.2.16 · WP 5.3

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2024-11-11 300+ → 200+ down after 541 days in tier
2. 2023-05-20 400+ → 300+ down

Competes with

The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).

• Classic Menu in Navigation Block 2K+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag B
• Really Disable Emojis 700+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag D
• Keep Emoticons as Text 700+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag A
• G Gutenbye 700+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag D
• TinyMCE Smiley Button 600+ installs · 4.0★ · 1 shared tag D
• Snake Retro Game Shortcode by Eskim 90+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag C

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Drop a live Pulse card for Classic Smilies into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Classic Smilies: 200+ active installs, 4.9★ (13 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/classic-smilies