Classic Editor vs Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

Classic Editor

Classic Editor

4.9(1,225)

9.0M+ active installs

Free

Updated 3 months ago
View Classic Editor
VS
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg

Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg

4.8(20)

4.0K+ active installs

Free

Updated 7 years ago
View Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Classic Editor has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 1,225 reviews) and leads in active installations (9.0M+ vs 4.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Editor has accumulated 85M+ total downloads while Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg has 34K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg4.8/5
Total Reviews
1,225Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg20
Active Installs
9.0M+Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg4.0K+
Total Downloads
85M+Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg34K+
Support Resolution
0%Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for GutenbergN/A
Last Updated
3 months agoClassic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg7 years ago
First Released
2017Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg2018
Age
9 yearsClassic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg8 years
WP Requires
4.9+Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg5.1+
PHP Requires
5.2.4+Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg5.3+
Business Model
FreeClassic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for GutenbergFree
Latest Version
1.6.7Classic Editor
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg1.2.0

Rating Breakdown

Classic Editor

4.9/5(1,225 reviews)
5
95%
4
2%
3
1%
2
0%
1
1%

Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg

4.8/5(20 reviews)
5
90%
4
5%
3
0%
2
5%
1
0%

Recent Reviews

Classic Editor Reviews

by Shelton

Back to Simple

Really helpful if u don’t like the block editor. Feels familiar n easy to work with. Not fancy, but it makes editing way more comfortable for me.

by Get Homeservice Quotes

perfect for users who prefer the old WordPress

The Classic Editor plugin is perfect for users who prefer the old WordPress editing experience. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and works flawlessly without any setup. Highly recommended for a simple a

by tyriqsuth

Keeps It Simple

Installed this cz I prefer the old editor. Works exactly as expected, no issues so far. Makes writing posts much easier for me. Would be nicer if it had few more options, but still solid. tnkz devs.

Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg Reviews

by Jonathan Camp

Ignore this review – wrong plugin (sorry)

Ignore this review – wrong plugin (sorry) This topic was modified 5 years ago by Jonathan Camp.

by heinelg

Excellent addition to Gutemberg!

Gutenberg doesn’t allow me to add <sup> & </sup> even in the code editor but this plugin fills this surprising omission. Thanks!

by François Moreau

Most of the interface cannot be translated

Despite being the leading plugin for adding Subscript and Superscript to the Gutenberg editor, most of its UI has not be coded in a way to allow translation. A fix has been sent by a member of the com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Classic Editor or Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg more popular?
Classic Editor has 9.0M+ active installations while Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg has 4.0K+. Classic Editor is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Classic Editor or Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg?
Classic Editor has a 4.9/5 rating from 1,225 reviews, while Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg has a 4.8/5 rating from 20 reviews.
Are Classic Editor and Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg free?
Classic Editor is free and Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Classic Editor or Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Classic Editor was last updated 3 months ago and Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg was last updated 7 years ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.