Widgets for Google Reviews vs Recent Posts by Category Widget (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Widgets for Google Reviews
900K+ active installs
Free
Recent Posts by Category Widget
4.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Widgets for Google Reviews has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 2,503 reviews) and leads in active installations (900K+ vs 4.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Widgets for Google Reviews has accumulated 17M+ total downloads while Recent Posts by Category Widget has 33K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Widgets for Google Reviews | Recent Posts by Category Widget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 2,503 | ◄ | 12 |
| Active Installs | 900K+ | ◄ | 4.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 17M+ | ◄ | 33K+ |
| Support Resolution | 93% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 weeks ago | ◄ | 8 years ago |
| First Released | 2019 | 2014 | |
| Age | 7 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.2+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 13.2.8 | 1.3 |
Rating Breakdown
Widgets for Google Reviews
Recent Posts by Category Widget
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Widgets for Google Reviews averaged approximately 13,984 daily downloads while Recent Posts by Category Widget averaged 5.
Recent Reviews
Widgets for Google Reviews Reviews
Excellent! Easy to use and so many great designs to choose from.
I am so happy with this plugin I am going to actually swap away from a rival plugin I use and renew with this company going forward. Excellent work! Thank you!
Totally recommended
Super easy, quick setup and good looking design
Great plugin
Really helpful plugin, works as expected, no issues
Recent Posts by Category Widget Reviews
Very usefull
Very good and simple plugin.
Does not work with Multisite
Installation and use is simple and practical (5 stars) but it does not support Multi Site, hence the 2 stars
very easy to use
Works fine, very helpful. Thanks
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Widgets for Google Reviews and Recent Posts by Category Widget
The official companion plugin for Blocksy theme, packed with starter sites, extra features, and integrations.
Display up to 10 Google reviews in less than a minute. Continue collecting new reviews. No limits on connected places, widgets, shortcodes and blocks.
Flexible sidebars for custom classic widget configurations on any page or post. Create custom sidebars with ease!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.