Lightweight Sidebar Manager vs SMK Sidebar Generator (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Lightweight Sidebar Manager
90K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, SMK Sidebar Generator has a higher user rating (4.4/5 from 5 reviews) while Lightweight Sidebar Manager leads in active installations (90K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Lightweight Sidebar Manager has accumulated 1.1M+ total downloads while SMK Sidebar Generator has 404K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Lightweight Sidebar Manager | SMK Sidebar Generator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | ► | 4.4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 21 | ◄ | 5 |
| Active Installs | 90K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.1M+ | ◄ | 404K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2017 | 2014 | |
| Age | 9 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.0+ | 4.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.3+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.0.0 | 3.6.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Lightweight Sidebar Manager
SMK Sidebar Generator
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Lightweight Sidebar Manager averaged approximately 133 daily downloads while SMK Sidebar Generator averaged 72.
Recent Reviews
Lightweight Sidebar Manager Reviews
Fantastic plugin, works perfectly, never an issue
Had it for years, always worked perfectly
Very Helpful and Works Nicely
Very helpful plugin and thank you to the developers!!!
Easy to use, works well
It took jut a few moments to figure out how to use this plugin (just follow the instructions), but then it was very easy. And it allows us to personalize our site to a much greater degree than ever be
SMK Sidebar Generator Reviews
Clashing with plugins
The plugin is great, but i can’t install other plugins for subscription forms or newsletters. Your plugin stops working properly when I install other plugins.
Superb!
Thank you for such a great plugin! The best I’ve used! Keep it up!
long expected update
Yeah man, you did it. Thank you so much for this update. I work since this plugin came up – ONLY with that one. Why? Simple: it works like a charme. Head up, keep rockin’
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lightweight Sidebar Manager or SMK Sidebar Generator more popular?
Which has better ratings — Lightweight Sidebar Manager or SMK Sidebar Generator?
Are Lightweight Sidebar Manager and SMK Sidebar Generator free?
Which plugin has better support — Lightweight Sidebar Manager or SMK Sidebar Generator?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.