Best code highlighting plugins for WordPress
The most popular code highlighting plugins for WordPress in November 2026, in WordPress.org’s own popular order, which follows active installs. Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) leads with 1K+ active installs, ahead of Code Block Syntax Highlighter for Elementor (500+) and Better WordPress Syntax Highlighter (60+). All 11 plugins tagged “code highlighting” are below, with figures from WordPress.org that update every day.
Installs aren’t everything: a recent release, a “Tested up to” that matches the current WordPress, and support threads that get resolved show a plugin is looked after. Open any plugin for its downloads, rank history and alternatives.
Research this niche or see all plugins.
Top 10 code highlighting plugins
- 1.
Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering)The most installed code highlighting plugin, with 1K+ active installs. Rated 5.0 from 26 reviews, updated 5 months ago.
- 2.
Code Block Syntax Highlighter for Elementor500+ active installs. Rated 5.0 from 8 reviews, last updated 3 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 6.3.14.
- 3.
Better WordPress Syntax Highlighter60+ active installs. Only 1 review so far, last updated 13 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 3.7.41.
- 4.
AH Code Highlighter50+ active installs. Only 1 review so far, last updated 8 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 5.0.0.
- 5.
Easy Syntax Highlighter30+ active installs. No reviews yet, updated 7 months ago. Tested only up to WordPress 6.9.11.
- 6.
FV Code Highlighter10+ active installs. Only 2 reviews so far, last updated 7 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 5.2.30.
- 7.
Youbou Code BlockFewer than 10 active installs. No reviews yet, updated 4 weeks ago.
- 8.
Code Snippets in CommentsFewer than 10 active installs. No reviews yet, last updated 6 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 5.4.25.
- 9.
Lazy Syntax HighlighterFewer than 10 active installs. No reviews yet, updated 1 month ago.
- 10.
{eac}Doojigger Readme Extension for WordPressFewer than 10 active installs. No reviews yet, updated 1 week ago.
All 11 plugins tagged “code highlighting”
Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering)
Up in the last 7 days:2#5,324by Weston Ruter5 months ago
Extending the Code block with syntax highlighting rendered on the server, thus being AMP-compatible and having faster frontend performance.
- Installs
- 1K+
- Rating
- 5.0(26)
- Downloads
- 40/day
Code Block Syntax Highlighter for Elementor
Down in the last 7 days:38#8,713by netninja22023 years ago
This is an drag & drop widget for syntax highlighting of code blocks.
- Installs
- 500+
- Rating
- 5.0(8)
- Downloads
- 101/day
Better WordPress Syntax Highlighter
Up in the last 7 days:133#19,077by Khang Minh13 years ago
This plugin allows you to highlight code syntax in your posts. There are plenty of options to choose.
- Installs
- 60+
- Rating
- 5.0(1)
- Downloads
- 0/day
AH Code Highlighter
#20,124by Andreas Hecht8 years ago
The easiest to use code highlighting ever. Choose between 8 different color themes to highlight your code snippets. Many programming languages are sup …
- Installs
- 50+
- Rating
- 5.0(1)
- Downloads
- 0/day
Easy Syntax Highlighter
Down in the last 7 days:32#23,583by tiptinker7 months ago
Modern, lightweight syntax highlighter for WordPress using Highlight.js
- Installs
- 30+
- Rating
- –
- Downloads
- 0/day
FV Code Highlighter
Down in the last 7 days:4,471#45,698by Frank Verhoeven7 years ago
Highlight your code with beautiful highlighters.
- Installs
- 10+
- Rating
- 4.0(2)
- Downloads
- 0/day
Youbou Code Block
Up in the last 7 days:7,321#58,079by Youssef Bouhlal28 days ago
Code block with syntax highlighting for gutenberg editor.
- Installs
- <10
- Rating
- –
- Downloads
- 0/day
Code Snippets in Comments
#58,582by yannyann6 years ago
Code Snippets in Comments plugin extends the Comments function by show code in highlighting without modifying the saving of comments in database.
- Installs
- <10
- Rating
- –
- Downloads
- 0/day
Lazy Syntax Highlighter
#65,244by Rudy Mens1 month ago
The lazy way to highlight code — rendered on the server, cached, and zero front-end JavaScript. Renders your existing Enlighter blocks as they are.
- Installs
- <10
- Rating
- –
- Downloads
- 0/day
{eac}Doojigger Readme Extension for WordPress
Down in the last 7 days:8,948#67,323by Kevin Burkholder9 days ago
{eac}Readme loads and translates a WordPress markdown 'readme' file providing shortcodes and embedding URLs to access header lines and section blocks.
- Installs
- <10
- Rating
- –
- Downloads
- 11/day
WebberZone Code Block Highlighting
Up in the last 7 days:3,161#68,844by Ajay28 days ago
Syntax highlighting for the Gutenberg Code block — Prism.js, 21 themes, 40+ languages, plus an optional server-side highlighting mode.
- Installs
- <10
- Rating
- –
- Downloads
- 11/day