Classic Widgets vs Markup Markdown (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Markup Markdown has a higher user rating (5/5 from 11 reviews) while Classic Widgets leads in active installations (2.0M+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Widgets has accumulated 7.3M+ total downloads while Markup Markdown has 49K+. Classic Widgets has a higher support resolution rate (25% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Classic Widgets | Markup Markdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 263 | ◄ | 11 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 7.3M+ | ◄ | 49K+ |
| Support Resolution | 25% | ◄ | 0% |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Age | 5 years | 4 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.9+ | 6.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | 7.2.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free + Premium | |
| Latest Version | 0.3 | 3.25.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Classic Widgets
Markup Markdown
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Classic Widgets averaged approximately 2,118 daily downloads while Markup Markdown averaged 31.
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.
Markup Markdown Reviews
good…but…
my theme added some module needs gutenberg. sometimes i need those modules and sometimes i need markdown. is there some method to choose the editor before create an article?
Returning JOY to writing in WordPress after Gutenberg
This plugin returned 1000% of the joy of writing back into WordPress that I haven’t experienced since the change to Gutenberg. Thank you so much it’s exactly what I wanted my writing practice to feel
WordPress never felt to clean…
OMG, what an awesome plugin! It makes posting on WP an actual joy. I now wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, honey. I’ll kiss you right after my first post using Markup Markdown. But don’t
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.