Import / Export Customizer Settings vs Custom Global Variables (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Import / Export Customizer Settings
50K+ active installs
Free
Custom Global Variables
5.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Custom Global Variables has a higher user rating (5/5 from 10 reviews) while Import / Export Customizer Settings leads in active installations (50K+ vs 5.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Import / Export Customizer Settings has accumulated 1.0M+ total downloads while Custom Global Variables has 20K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Import / Export Customizer Settings | Custom Global Variables | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 6 | ► | 10 |
| Active Installs | 50K+ | ◄ | 5.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.0M+ | ◄ | 20K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 3 years ago |
| First Released | 2019 | 2016 | |
| Age | 7 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.4+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.4+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.0 | 1.1.2 |
Rating Breakdown
Import / Export Customizer Settings
Custom Global Variables
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Import / Export Customizer Settings averaged approximately 134 daily downloads while Custom Global Variables averaged 6.
Recent Reviews
Import / Export Customizer Settings Reviews
when you need it !
this is a life saver when you need it for your wpastra
Very useful
Copy Astra settings over from test site to staging site to production site, works like a charm. Not all settings are transferred though. – The sidebar in the blog/individual page has to be re-done man
Great stuff for Astra theme users. Time saver!
Very useful. Moved theme settings over to multiple sites in a snap.
Custom Global Variables Reviews
Thanks For This GREAT Plugin!!!
I am not one to leave reviews. But have to let you all know what a Godsend this plugin has been to me and my team!! So simple, yet so effective. Thanks again and keep up the great work.
The best custom shortcode plugin for agencies!
I’ve been using CGV for a few years now. At our agency, it’s become one of our go-to plugins and is installed on virtually all of our sites. No other plugin allows you to create and manage custom vari
Exactly what I was looking for.
I needed a way of presenting some data in multiple locations, being a web developer I knew I could use variables but didn’t want to edit the core app or theme, so this fitted my requirements like a gl
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.