Simple CSS

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

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 99% 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.

1. ★★★★★ bmiller22000

   1.8y ago

   Easy to use and gives you the access to behind the scenes places you need (like css on this page, for this table, fast and effectively, without digging through mountains of native wp and plugin stylesheets. It has been a big help.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Paul Bradley

   2.7y ago

   This seems like a great idea, and it’s super to finally be clear of the small Additional CSS panel in native wordpress. What’s making me unsure if I should continue are 2 things: 1 – when you press Save, it shoots you back to the top of the CSS file. If you wanted to check and re-edit a bit you were working on, you’ve got to find it again. 2 – no code hints to help complete as you type. Both these things are present on the Additional CSS panel but not here. Hope they can introduce!

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ ws24

   2.9y ago

   By far the best plugin to add custom css, I have been using it for years now and in many websites. This topic was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by ws24.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ thessnake03

   3.4y ago

   great solution to give certain users CSS access without giving them too much access

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ itsmeagh

   3.6y ago

   Please update is amazing plugin.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ Keirwatson

   5.5y ago

   I had been struggling with page speed but could see in GT Metrix that custom CSS (Jetpack) was taking over 1 second to load. Copied it over to Simple CSS and page load dropped from 3.3 seconds to 0.8s! That’s a 75% reduction – fantastic!!! [Also, I love that I can drop a little bit of CSS into the meta box for some post-specific tweaks – so cool, saves CSS bloat for rarely used styling] This topic was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by Keirwatson.

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ digifix

   5.9y ago

   This solves so much for me/us. I regret not finding this before. Why did I not find this until today? I just clicked every single link on Toms website (generatepress.com) to figure out if I missed some other amazing things. Newsletter from Tom? Yes please.

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ Anonymous User

   6.0y ago

   Hello Tom, Any chance in future versions that custom CSS will work on index pages (Blog, archives …)? I think those are the only things this plugin lacks to be perfect. Thanks Tom for all your wonderful work 🙂 Cordially.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 1.1.1 Fix PHP notice when Simple CSS hasn’t been saved yet 1.1.1
2. — Version 1.1 Fix meta box saving issue 1.1
3. — Version 1.0 Show metabox only on public post types Add live preview to Customizer Code cleanup Better sanitizing/validation 1.0
4. — Version 0.4 Use browser search instead of CodeMirror dialog search Don’t show GeneratePress metabox if it’s already activated Make CSS box full height 0.4
5. — Version 0.3 Add CSS metabox to add CSS on specific pages and posts Adjust styling of dark theme Add tips to Simple CSS screen 0.3
6. — Version 0.2 Remove extra whitespace from CSS output Remove spellcheck from Customizer input Allow > characters in the CSS Add find (ctrl + f) functionality 0.2

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.2.16 · WP 5.4.2

Growth timeline

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

1. 2025-09-05 90K+ → 80K+ down after 280 days in tier
2. 2024-11-29 100K+ → 90K+ 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).

• Simple Custom CSS Plugin 100K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags C
• WP Add Custom CSS 60K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags B
• T TJ Custom CSS 8K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags D
• Custom CSS Pro 7K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A
• Custom CSS for Elementor 5K+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags B
• Instant CSS 3K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags D

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

Simple CSS: 80K+ active installs, 4.9★ (60 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-25. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-css