Classic Widgets 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.
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg
4.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Classic Widgets has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 263 reviews) and leads in active installations (2.0M+ vs 4.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Widgets has accumulated 7.3M+ total downloads while Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg has 34K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Classic Widgets | Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 263 | ◄ | 20 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 4.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 7.3M+ | ◄ | 34K+ |
| Support Resolution | 25% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ◄ | 7 years ago |
| First Released | 2021 | 2018 | |
| Age | 5 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.9+ | 5.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | 5.3+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 0.3 | 1.2.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Classic Widgets
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Classic Widgets averaged approximately 2,118 daily downloads while Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg averaged 5.
Recent Reviews
Classic Widgets Reviews
Works Like Before
Does exactly what I needed. Brought back the old widget system without any issues. Super easy to use, no extra setup needed. tnx to devs, saved my time 👍
Old Widgets Back
Installed Classic Widgets cz I prefer the old widget screen. Works exactly like before and keeps things simple. No confusion with block widgets anymore. Really glad this exists. Tnkz devs!
Great and very helpful plugin
Great widget plugin. The widgets are flexible, easy to style, and they do not slow down the site.
Advanced Rich Text Tools for Gutenberg Reviews
Ignore this review – wrong plugin (sorry)
Ignore this review – wrong plugin (sorry) This topic was modified 5 years ago by Jonathan Camp.
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!
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
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.