Classic Widgets vs Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page… (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page…
200K+ 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 200K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Classic Widgets has accumulated 7.3M+ total downloads while Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page… has 8.1M+. Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page… has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 25%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Classic Widgets | Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 263 | ◄ | 206 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 200K+ |
| Total Downloads | 7.3M+ | ► | 8.1M+ |
| Support Resolution | 25% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ► | 3 days ago |
| First Released | 2021 | 2018 | |
| Age | 5 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.9+ | 5.8+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 0.3 | 6.0.7 |
Rating Breakdown
Classic Widgets
Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page…
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Classic Widgets averaged approximately 2,118 daily downloads while Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page… averaged 8,209.
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.
Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page… Reviews
Great customer support
I had an issue integrating essential blocks with my blocksy theme. Specifically, the blocks were not loading correctly on my content hook pages. Eric from essential blocks was fantastic. He helped deb
Great collection of blocks
Essential Blocks offers a lot of great blocks for FSE/Gutenberg themes, and most of the useful ones are free, which is awesome. They offer a lot of customization and I haven’t experienced any bugs or
Works Well With Their Flexia Theme
I decided to switch themes and so as a pro user of the BetterDocs plugin I decided to jump in with Flexia FSE theme. The Essential Blocks plugin adds a lot of options even with the free version. Give
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Classic Widgets and Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page…
Enables the previous "classic" editor and the old-style Edit Post screen with TinyMCE, Meta Boxes, etc. Supports all plugins that extend this screen.
The growing library of 300+ ready-to-use templates that work with all WordPress themes including Astra, Hello, OceanWP, GeneratePress and more
Extends and enhances the block editor (Gutenberg) and the classic editor (TinyMCE).
Power-up Gutenberg with advanced blocks for faster website creation. Build your WordPress website effortlessly using powerful building blocks!
Disable Gutenberg Block Editor and restore the Classic Editor and original Edit Post screen (TinyMCE, meta boxes, etc.).
20+ AI-powered Gutenberg Blocks with endless options, enabling top-notch efficiency for high-performance dynamic website creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Classic Widgets or Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page… more popular?
Which has better ratings — Classic Widgets or Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page…?
Are Classic Widgets and Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page… free?
Which plugin has better support — Classic Widgets or Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page…?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.