Classic Widgets vs Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar… (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar…
100K+ 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 100K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Widgets has accumulated 7.3M+ total downloads while Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar… has 5.2M+. Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar… has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 25%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Classic Widgets | Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 263 | ► | 1,028 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 100K+ |
| Total Downloads | 7.3M+ | ◄ | 5.2M+ |
| Support Resolution | 25% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2021 | 2010 | |
| Age | 5 years | 16 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.9+ | 4.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 0.3 | 3.38 |
Rating Breakdown
Classic Widgets
Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar…
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Classic Widgets averaged approximately 2,118 daily downloads while Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar… averaged 199.
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.
Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar… Reviews
Perfect plugin
Sticky panel plugin is perfect. It keeps my CTA visible without breaking the layout, even on long pages.
Works OK
I have indiv. widgets for indiv. pages, setting this up works OK with this plugin. Also together with Polylang for different languages. One remark: the ads in the Widgets overview are a bit too large…
Broke the site.
Installing and activating “this” plugin, add a layer of blur canvas on whole admin pages (all pages). We can’t click on anything. The plugin can be disabled from dashboard, the only way to regain cont
More Classic Widgets Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Classic Widgets and Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar…
Widget Options gives you control over widgets and Gutenberg blocks across pages, posts, and custom post types to manage content visibility.
The "Classic Editor +" plugin disables the block editor, removes enqueued scripts/styles and brings back classic Widgets.
Display new sidebars on any post, page, category etc. Works with Classic Widgets, Block Widgets, and all themes!
Disables Gutenberg editor totally everywhere and enables Classic Editor and Classic Widgets.
Restore the classic widgets screen as a new menu item without replacing new block-based widgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.