Compact WP Audio Player

79 Quality Score

Active Installs

19/30

At 20,000 active installs and a strong popularity score, the plugin has a loyal but modest user base, well behind mainstream media plugins like Safe SVG at 1,000,000 installs.

Update Freshness

25/25

The plugin was last updated on 2025-12-02 and is tested against WordPress 6.9.4, signalling an actively maintained codebase despite the small team behind it.

User Rating

12/15

A rating of 82 out of 100 from 68 reviewers is solid and reflects generally positive user satisfaction, though the small sample size limits statistical confidence.

Support Health

8/15

With zero support threads opened and zero resolved, there is essentially no public track record of responsive help, which is a meaningful concern for users who may need guidance.

WP Compatibility

15/15

Full marks for compatibility, tested against the latest WordPress release and not gated by a strict PHP version requirement, so it should run on virtually any modern host.

Scores higher than 72% of indexed plugins

About

A Compact WP Audio Player Plugin that is compatible with all major browsers and devices (Android, iPhone, iPad)

Active Installs 20k+

Rating ★★★★ 4.1/5

Last Updated 2026-08-17 6:09am GMT

Requires WordPress 5.0+

Tested Up To 7.1

Security History

6 known vulnerabilities, all patched

6 Medium

Most recent: January 3, 2025

View details ▸

Compact WP Audio Player <= 1.9.14 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Server-Side Request Forgery Medium

January 3, 2025 Patched in ["1.9.15"] CVE-2024-56279

Compact WP Audio Player <= 1.9.13 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via sc_embed_player Shortcode Medium

October 23, 2024 Patched in ["1.9.14"] CVE-2024-10176

Compact WP Audio Player <= 1.9.9 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via fileurl Medium

March 25, 2024 Patched in ["1.9.10"] CVE-2024-29917

Compact WP Audio Player <= 1.9.7 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting Medium

December 27, 2022 Patched in ["1.9.8"] CVE-2022-4542

Compact WP Audio Player <= 1.9.6 - Setting Change via Cross-Site Request Forgery Medium

September 15, 2021 Patched in ["1.9.7"] CVE-2021-24735

Compact WP Audio Player <= 1.9.6 - Contributor+ Stored Cross-Site Scripting Medium

September 15, 2021 Patched in ["1.9.7"] CVE-2021-24734

What It Does

Compact WP Audio Player is a lightweight WordPress plugin that embeds a simple, HTML5-based audio player into posts and pages via a shortcode. It supports common audio formats including MP3, OGG, and WAV, and plays in mobile and desktop browsers without requiring Flash. The interface is intentionally minimal, focusing on basic playback rather than playlist management or analytics.

Who It's For

This plugin is well suited to bloggers, podcasters, and small site owners who want to drop a single audio file onto a page using a shortcode with minimal configuration. It fits use cases like sermon archives, music samples, language pronunciation clips, or meditation tracks where a basic player is sufficient. Users who value simplicity over customization will appreciate the no-frills approach.

Who Should Skip It

If you need playlist support, waveform visuals, analytics, or integration with podcast feeds, skip this plugin and choose a dedicated player like Presto Player or EmbedPress. Larger media operations and broadcasters should also look elsewhere, as 20,000 installs suggests a niche rather than enterprise-grade tool.

The Bottom Line

Compact WP Audio Player is a focused, well-maintained tool that does one thing, embedding a basic audio player, reasonably well, with a 77.02 quality score reflecting strong maintenance and compatibility offset by thin support documentation. It is a sensible pick for simple, single-file audio needs, but anyone requiring richer features should evaluate the alternatives listed above. The 0% support thread resolution rate is the biggest caveat and warrants caution for non-technical users.

Related Plugins

Safe SVG 89/100

Pick Safe SVG instead if your real need is SVG sanitization rather than audio playback, as it leads this category with 1,000,000 installs and a 89.07 score.

FileBird – WordPress Media Library Folders & File Manager 85/100

Choose FileBird if your priority is organizing media files into folders, since its 200,000 installs show strong adoption for library management tasks.

EmbedPress 84/100

Pick EmbedPress when you need to embed not only audio but also PDFs, YouTube videos, and 3D flipbooks from a single plugin.

Presto Player 84/100

Go with Presto Player for podcasters who want advanced features like chapter markers, analytics, and email capture alongside audio playback.

Media Library Assistant 84/100

Choose Media Library Assistant if you primarily need to enhance WordPress's built-in media library with taxonomies and bulk editing, not audio playback.