Classic Widgets vs Advanced Editor Tools (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
Advanced Editor Tools

Advanced Editor Tools

4.5(352)

2.0M+ active installs

Free

Updated 3 months ago
View Advanced Editor Tools

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 2.0M+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Widgets has accumulated 7.3M+ total downloads while Advanced Editor Tools has 35M+. Classic Widgets has a higher support resolution rate (25% vs 20%).

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools4.5/5
Total Reviews
263Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools352
Active Installs
2.0M+Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools2.0M+
Total Downloads
7.3M+Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools35M+
Support Resolution
25%Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools20%
Last Updated
3 months agoClassic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools3 months ago
First Released
2021Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools2007
Age
5 yearsClassic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools19 years
WP Requires
4.9+Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools5.9+
PHP Requires
5.6+Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools5.6+
Business Model
FreeClassic Widgets
Advanced Editor ToolsFree
Latest Version
0.3Classic Widgets
Advanced Editor Tools5.9.2

Rating Breakdown

Classic Widgets

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

Advanced Editor Tools

4.5/5(352 reviews)
5
81%
4
7%
3
3%
2
1%
1
8%

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.

Advanced Editor Tools Reviews

by reedvieira

Useful for Editing

Nice plugin for bringing back extra editing tools. Makes the editor more comfortable to use and helps with quick formatting. A few things could be better, but still quite useful.

by Bennett

Helpful Editor Upgrade

Nice plugin for improving the WordPress editor. Adds some useful options that were missing before. Setup was simple and works fine on my site so far. Not perfect, but still a solid tool.

by gpotter

Destroys your editing of website when deactivated.

Do not use this plugin. It create a sister paragraph and insert all your content in there. If the it is deactivated, all the content in their container (which they automatically integrate into every

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Classic Widgets or Advanced Editor Tools more popular?
Classic Widgets has 2.0M+ active installations while Advanced Editor Tools has 2.0M+. Advanced Editor Tools is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Classic Widgets or Advanced Editor Tools?
Classic Widgets has a 4.9/5 rating from 263 reviews, while Advanced Editor Tools has a 4.5/5 rating from 352 reviews.
Are Classic Widgets and Advanced Editor Tools free?
Classic Widgets is free and Advanced Editor Tools is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Classic Widgets or Advanced Editor Tools?
As of April 2026, Classic Widgets has a 25% support resolution rate while Advanced Editor Tools has a 20% rate.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Classic Widgets was last updated 3 months ago and Advanced Editor Tools was last updated 3 months ago.

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