Text Replace vs Special Text Boxes (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Text Replace has a higher user rating (4.4/5 from 18 reviews) and leads in active installations (3.0K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Text Replace has accumulated 80K+ total downloads while Special Text Boxes has 254K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Text Replace | Special Text Boxes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | ◄ | 3.2/5 |
| Total Reviews | 18 | ► | 21 |
| Active Installs | 3.0K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 80K+ | ► | 254K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 years ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2004 | 2009 | |
| Age | 22 years | 17 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.9+ | 5.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.0 | 6.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Text Replace
Special Text Boxes
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Text Replace averaged approximately 5 daily downloads while Special Text Boxes averaged 24.
Recent Reviews
Text Replace Reviews
Did not work
I could not get it to work with WordPress version: 5.8
100% free and useful
100% free and useful
Excellent plugin
Does well what it says in the tin. Search / Replace….bingo! Well done.
Special Text Boxes Reviews
Was Working Well, Until it Didn’t
I’ve been using this plugin for many years and it did exactly what I wanted it to, until recently. After a few updates to WordPress and the improves with PHP, I can no longer type into the “Content” b
old-fasioned
It looks as if the plugin was developed 10 years ago and has not been updated This topic was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Nikita.
Did not work for me
Gave error message. Don’t know why.
More Text Worth Comparing
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Manage custom fields using the insert shortcodes or HTML comment in text of post.
Search and Replace text within the WordPress Block Editor just like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. It's super fast, easy & just works!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Text Replace or Special Text Boxes more popular?
Which has better ratings — Text Replace or Special Text Boxes?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.