Shortcode in Menus vs Hide Drafts in Menus (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Hide Drafts in Menus has a higher user rating (5/5 from 9 reviews) while Shortcode in Menus leads in active installations (50K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Shortcode in Menus has accumulated 502K+ total downloads while Hide Drafts in Menus has 15K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Shortcode in Menus | Hide Drafts in Menus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 82 | ◄ | 9 |
| Active Installs | 50K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 502K+ | ◄ | 15K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2016 | |
| Age | 13 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.6+ | 4.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.5.1 | 1.5.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Shortcode in Menus
Hide Drafts in Menus
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Shortcode in Menus averaged approximately 45 daily downloads while Hide Drafts in Menus averaged 7.
Recent Reviews
Shortcode in Menus Reviews
‘Please provide a valid link.’
Interesting concept but adding the shortcode to the link as the images show generates a wordpress error: ‘Please provide a valid link.’ So, unfortunately, cannot add the shortcode to nav bar as the ex
Please don’t let this plugin die..
I kindly ask the developers to maintain this plugin updated… please 🙂
Didn’t work for me
Didn’t work in shortcode menu item or custom link.
Hide Drafts in Menus Reviews
Excellent. Very useful plugin.
One of those plugins you can’t believe hasn’t been rolled into core by now. I’ve been using it as one of my standard install plugins and it’s very helpful for rolling out sites with multiple draft
Should be part of WordPress core
It’s hard to believe that this functionality is not part of WordPress core, since it simply does not make sense to show a menu item which links to an unpublished page.
Very helpfull!
Does what it says, I could easily extend it to hide also private posts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shortcode in Menus or Hide Drafts in Menus more popular?
Which has better ratings — Shortcode in Menus or Hide Drafts in Menus?
Are Shortcode in Menus and Hide Drafts in Menus free?
Which plugin has better support — Shortcode in Menus or Hide Drafts in Menus?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.