Shortcode in Menus vs Advanced Sidebar Menu (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Shortcode in Menus has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 82 reviews) and leads in active installations (50K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Shortcode in Menus has accumulated 502K+ total downloads while Advanced Sidebar Menu has 1.4M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Shortcode in Menus | Advanced Sidebar Menu | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ◄ | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 82 | ◄ | 37 |
| Active Installs | 50K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 502K+ | ► | 1.4M+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2011 | |
| Age | 13 years | 15 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.6+ | 6.2.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | 7.4.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.5.1 | 9.8.3 |
Rating Breakdown
Shortcode in Menus
Advanced Sidebar Menu
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Shortcode in Menus averaged approximately 45 daily downloads while Advanced Sidebar Menu averaged 57.
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.
Advanced Sidebar Menu Reviews
Really useful product
I downloaded and installed it , and while there wasn’t an option of floating icons I wanted, it got the job done
Pro version is a disaster
The pro version of this plugin is a disaster. As soon as you activate it, it renders your menu items invisible. Also to get the full benefit of it you have to install the Classic Sidebar plugin as t
Doesn’t work
I’d love to have a plugin like this but I can’t make it work. Best I can do is make a list of categories, but I can’t get it to list individual posts within a category. Tried everything. Nothing works
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shortcode in Menus or Advanced Sidebar Menu more popular?
Which has better ratings — Shortcode in Menus or Advanced Sidebar Menu?
Are Shortcode in Menus and Advanced Sidebar Menu free?
Which plugin has better support — Shortcode in Menus or Advanced Sidebar Menu?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.