Preloader

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

Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.

wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.

28 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 16 listed. 12 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.

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 · 59% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Crossed into this band 8 days ago and a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, so the real count is still just under 20K.

At the current install trend, crossing 20K+ in roughly 175 days.

1. ★★★★★ Mohaymenul Islam

   1.4y ago

   such simple thing as preloader, didn’t expect so many affiliate links This topic was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by Mohaymenul Islam.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ RED_Android

   2.1y ago

   Preloader got stuck and never disappeared to display the website. Also you are limited to 128x128px

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ brian7997

   5.4y ago

   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. Very little features. Requires editing your theme files to work.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ Steve Pringle

   6.2y ago

   Not sure when this happened but now the Dashboard is littered with affiliates with this installed. Current version installed: 1.0.9 Date noticed: 2020/08/04 // Add plugin meta links function WPTime_preloader_plugin_row_meta( $links, $file ) { if ( strpos( $file, 'preloader.php' ) !== true ) { $new_links = array( '<a href="http://wp-plugins.in/the-preloader" target="_blank">Explanation of Use</a>', '<a href="http://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=24967&tid1=preloader_plugin_m&url=35248" target="_blank">Elegant Themes</a>', '<a href="https://www.bluehost.com/track/wptime/preloader-plugin-m" target="_blank">Bluehost</a>', '<a href="http://wp-plugins.in" target="_blank">More Plugins</a>' ); $links = array_merge( $links, $new_links ); } return $links; } add_filter( 'plugin_row_meta', 'WPTime_preloader_plugin_row_meta', 10, 2 );

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ whatanoisybird

   6.4y ago

   Well, the preloader background does not disappear after the content of the page has been loaded. Developer does not answer support requests on the support forum. So you’d better try a plugin where you can have support in case of problem.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ troyw2015

   6.4y ago

   Not sure what’s up with this plug in but when I added the code <div id=”wptime-plugin-preloader”></div> after <body> in header.php, the website died. Tried different locations in header.php file, but kills website mo matter where it is placed. ***PLUGIN DELETED***

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ marketmodelers

   6.6y ago

   Developers were responsive and helped me discover MY error quickly. Thanks.

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ vladraychev

   6.8y ago

   One of the best preloader plugin, easy to setup, and ideally work, thank guys!

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 2.0.2 Improved performance. The plugin is now faster with improved performance. After updating, no action is required on your part. 2.0.2
2. — Version 2.0.1 Optimized plugin initialization. Added a new menu icon. After updating, no action is required on your part. Enjoy! 2.0.1
3. — Version 2.0.0 Everything has changed in this version! Explore it yourself. Go to the Preloader menu > General tab, enable the Preloader and adjust your settings. For common issues and helpful tips, go to Preloader > FAQ tab. How to Us 2.0.0
4. — Version 1.0.9 Fixed header.php file URL in settings page. Improved preloader performance in JavaScript. 1.0.9
5. — Version 1.0.8 Preloader Image Size Extension is ready! 1.0.8
6. — Version 1.0.7 Added tag in to hide preloader when JavaScript is disabled. 1.0.7

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.8.2

Translated into 1 language, 0 at 90% or more

Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.

Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.

Growth timeline

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

1. 2026-10-23 20K+ → 10K+ down after 48 days in tier
2. 2026-09-05 10K+ → 20K+ up after 12 days in tier
3. 2026-08-24 20K+ → 10K+ down after 4 days in tier
4. 2026-08-20 10K+ → 20K+ up after 951 days in tier
5. 2024-01-12 20K+ → 10K+ down after 1633 days in tier
6. 2019-07-24 10K+ → 20K+ up after 869 days in tier
7. 2017-03-07 3K+ → 10K+ up after 344 days in tier
8. 2016-03-28 2K+ → 3K+ up after 90 days in tier

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).

Embed this report card

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

Preloader: 10K+ active installs, 4.1★ (41 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/the-preloader