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Classic Widgets vs Markdown Editor (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
Markdown Editor

Markdown Editor

4.3(6)

200 active installs

Free

Updated 8 years ago
View Markdown Editor

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 200). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Widgets has accumulated 7.3M+ total downloads while Markdown Editor has 21K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Classic Widgets
◄
Markdown Editor4.3/5
Total Reviews
263Classic Widgets
◄
Markdown Editor6
Active Installs
2.0M+Classic Widgets
◄
Markdown Editor200
Total Downloads
7.3M+Classic Widgets
◄
Markdown Editor21K+
Support Resolution
25%Classic Widgets
Markdown EditorN/A
Last Updated
3 months agoClassic Widgets
◄
Markdown Editor8 years ago
First Released
2021Classic Widgets
Markdown Editor2017
Age
5 yearsClassic Widgets
Markdown Editor9 years
WP Requires
4.9+Classic Widgets
Markdown Editor4.8+
PHP Requires
5.6+Classic Widgets
Markdown Editorfalse+
Business Model
FreeClassic Widgets
Markdown EditorFree
Latest Version
0.3Classic Widgets
Markdown Editor0.1.7

Rating Breakdown

Classic Widgets

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

Markdown Editor

4.3/5(6 reviews)
5
33%
4
67%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

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.

Markdown Editor Reviews

No reviews yet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Classic Widgets or Markdown Editor more popular?
Classic Widgets has 2.0M+ active installations while Markdown Editor has 200. Classic Widgets is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Classic Widgets or Markdown Editor?
Classic Widgets has a 4.9/5 rating from 263 reviews, while Markdown Editor has a 4.3/5 rating from 6 reviews.
Are Classic Widgets and Markdown Editor free?
Classic Widgets is free and Markdown Editor is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Classic Widgets or Markdown Editor?
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 Markdown Editor was last updated 8 years ago.

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