Public Post Preview vs Shortcode Preview Block (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Shortcode Preview Block
1.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Public Post Preview has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 79 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Public Post Preview has accumulated 1.6M+ total downloads while Shortcode Preview Block has 7.0K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Public Post Preview | Shortcode Preview Block | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ◄ | 3.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 79 | ◄ | 3 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.6M+ | ◄ | 7.0K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2009 | 2020 | |
| Age | 17 years | 6 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.6+ | 5.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 8.0+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.1.0 | 1.0.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Public Post Preview
Shortcode Preview Block
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Public Post Preview averaged approximately 1,451 daily downloads while Shortcode Preview Block averaged 7.
Recent Reviews
Public Post Preview Reviews
Awesome Plugin
Does the work as it is advertised. Thanks for this good plugin.
What Happened?!
The preview links no longer work. Users are forced to log in when using the public preview link – defeating the entire purpose of this plugin. This used to be a must-have plugin. Unless you fix this,
no longer working
Been using this plugin always then all of a sudden it stopped working..
Shortcode Preview Block Reviews
Does not work with any shortcode
For example, [ninja_form id=1] is not rendered.
Great plugin
It makes creating layout for complex pages and e.g. shortcodes for images referenced from DAM much easier!
Useful but not 100% accurate
Tested with NEXTGEN Gallery shortcodes that insert a pic…if I do “float right”, it doesn’t wrap text around this block nor does it centre if I float center. It shows a good preview that the regular ed
More Preview Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Public Post Preview and Shortcode Preview Block
MW WP Form is shortcode base contact form plugin. This plugin have many features. For example you can use many validation rules, inquiry data saving, …
Creates a 'Coming Soon' page that will show for all users who are not logged in
An Extension for WooCommerce that allows you to Preview Email Templates.
Enables you to configure the 'public post preview' plugin with a user interface.
Easily switch between themes for development and testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.