Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails vs Smart Recent Posts Widget (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails
100K+ active installs
Free
Smart Recent Posts Widget
9.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 212 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 9.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails has accumulated 3.6M+ total downloads while Smart Recent Posts Widget has 132K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails | Smart Recent Posts Widget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 212 | ◄ | 30 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 9.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 3.6M+ | ◄ | 132K+ |
| Support Resolution | 75% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2014 | 2016 | |
| Age | 12 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 5.8+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.2+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 7.1.1 | 1.0.4 |
Rating Breakdown
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails
Smart Recent Posts Widget
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails averaged approximately 136 daily downloads while Smart Recent Posts Widget averaged 16.
Recent Reviews
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails Reviews
Niiiiice, thanks
gotta have plugin, thanks
So many settings!
It’s great that your plugin has so many settings for widgets. Thanks for making it.
Simple but Invaluable Plugin
This plugin performs a simple task but one that I find to be invaluable.
Smart Recent Posts Widget Reviews
Excellent
Excellent plugin
Just perfect
works like a charm!
exactly what I need
very complete and with custom CSS avaliable
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.