PluginSift

Classic Widgets vs Disable Author Archives (2026)

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

Classic Widgets

Classic Widgets

4.9(263)

2.0M+ active installs

Free

Updated 3 months ago
View Classic Widgets
VS
Disable Author Archives

Disable Author Archives

4.4(7)

10K+ active installs

Free

Updated 4 months ago
View Disable Author Archives

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 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Widgets has accumulated 7.3M+ total downloads while Disable Author Archives has 72K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Classic Widgets
◄
Disable Author Archives4.4/5
Total Reviews
263Classic Widgets
◄
Disable Author Archives7
Active Installs
2.0M+Classic Widgets
◄
Disable Author Archives10K+
Total Downloads
7.3M+Classic Widgets
◄
Disable Author Archives72K+
Support Resolution
25%Classic Widgets
Disable Author ArchivesN/A
Last Updated
3 months agoClassic Widgets
◄
Disable Author Archives4 months ago
First Released
2021Classic Widgets
Disable Author Archives2018
Age
5 yearsClassic Widgets
Disable Author Archives8 years
WP Requires
4.9+Classic Widgets
Disable Author Archives2.9+
PHP Requires
5.6+Classic Widgets
Disable Author Archivesfalse+
Business Model
FreeClassic Widgets
Disable Author ArchivesFree
Latest Version
0.3Classic Widgets
Disable Author Archives1.3.5

Rating Breakdown

Classic Widgets

4.9/5(263 reviews)
5
96%
4
1%
3
1%
2
0%
1
2%

Disable Author Archives

4.4/5(7 reviews)
5
86%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
14%

Recent Reviews

Classic Widgets Reviews

by kinseykinsey

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 👍

by Tavian Hayes

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!

by jrulcova

Great and very helpful plugin

Great widget plugin. The widgets are flexible, easy to style, and they do not slow down the site.

Disable Author Archives Reviews

by net

Excellent plugin!

A simple and effective plugin. Excellent communication with the developer.

by dichternebel

Works!

Does the job. Thanks for sharing!

by nicklasbordum

Messed up my whole site

It messed up my whole site… Don’t know how to get the old site back

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Classic Widgets or Disable Author Archives more popular?
Classic Widgets has 2.0M+ active installations while Disable Author Archives has 10K+. Classic Widgets is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Classic Widgets or Disable Author Archives?
Classic Widgets has a 4.9/5 rating from 263 reviews, while Disable Author Archives has a 4.4/5 rating from 7 reviews.
Are Classic Widgets and Disable Author Archives free?
Classic Widgets is free and Disable Author Archives is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Classic Widgets or Disable Author Archives?
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 Widgets was last updated 3 months ago and Disable Author Archives was last updated 4 months ago.

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