Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… vs Lightweight Social Icons (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Social Icons Widget & Block – Social…
100K+ active installs
Free
Lightweight Social Icons
30K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 143 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 30K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… has accumulated 3.7M+ total downloads while Lightweight Social Icons has 464K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… | Lightweight Social Icons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 143 | ◄ | 63 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 30K+ |
| Total Downloads | 3.7M+ | ◄ | 464K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 weeks ago | ◄ | 6 years ago |
| First Released | 2015 | 2014 | |
| Age | 11 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.5+ | 4.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.5.9 | 1.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Social Icons Widget & Block – Social…
Lightweight Social Icons
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… averaged approximately 1,861 daily downloads while Lightweight Social Icons averaged 15.
Recent Reviews
Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… Reviews
excellent
It works as expected
Social Icons Widget & Block
Amazing. A god-send. You have every know social icons — in the universe! Never thought I would find Wiki! Made me a hero. Thank you!
Quick and easy
easy to use
Lightweight Social Icons Reviews
Affects Core Web Vitals creating Ensure Text Remains Visible During Webfont Load
I don’t recommend this plugin at all. It signs a useless font which is not displayed in the front end to the users but creates core web vitals issues on the back end. The font name is fontello.woff an
It’s Light!
Hasn’t been updated but super light and solid!
Fantastic Social Icons Plugin
Tom never fails to make amazing plugins and this social icons plugin is no different. I just hope that there are plans to add a discord icon in the near future. 5/5 plugin!
More Social Icons Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… and Lightweight Social Icons
Upload your own social media icons or choose from font-awesome. Use widget|shortcode to place icons anywhere(sidebar, header, footer, page) in theme.
This plugin allows you to add social media floating sidebar icons connected with your social media profiles.
Increase user engagement by incorporating sticky buttons that highlight relevant information on your website.
A collection of useful widgets, neatly bundled into a single plugin.
Add social media icon links to your sidebar with customizable styles, colors, hover effects, and animations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… or Lightweight Social Icons more popular?
Which has better ratings — Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… or Lightweight Social Icons?
Are Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… and Lightweight Social Icons free?
Which plugin has better support — Social Icons Widget & Block – Social… or Lightweight Social Icons?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.