Search & Filter vs TW Recent Posts Widget (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
TW Recent Posts Widget
1.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Search & Filter has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 174 reviews) and leads in active installations (50K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search & Filter has accumulated 950K+ total downloads while TW Recent Posts Widget has 69K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search & Filter | TW Recent Posts Widget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ◄ | 4.4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 174 | ◄ | 15 |
| Active Installs | 50K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 950K+ | ◄ | 69K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ◄ | 8 years ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2012 | |
| Age | 13 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.5+ | 3.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.2.18 | 1.0.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Search & Filter
TW Recent Posts Widget
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search & Filter averaged approximately 182 daily downloads while TW Recent Posts Widget averaged 4.
Recent Reviews
Search & Filter Reviews
The instructions on how to change the settings to version 3.X are insufficient a
We were using version 2.X.The instructions on how to change the settings to version 3.X are insufficient and unclear. In addition, when upgrading from 2.X to 3.X, a database error occurs (in secret
Could be developed.
I tried to test the starter (free) version of the plugin with Kadence theme. It is great that is supports filtering via custom taxonomies. The UI of the plugin is outdated. The only way to define filt
The Support is Excellent!
I had an odd problem, which was certain posts and pages appearing in results despite not containing the search term. I submitted a support ticket and got a quick response. Their support was extremely
TW Recent Posts Widget Reviews
Bon plugin
Simple et efficace. Une bonne alternative au défunt Special Recent Posts FREE Edition. Merci
Excellent Plugin
I’m so glad I found it! The only thing I’d like to do is be able to centre the image in the widget.
Worked great until today.
Seems the category function no longer works with the most recent WP update? Anybody else have this issue?
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Search & Filter and TW Recent Posts Widget
Tags, Categories and WordPress terms are easy with TaxoPress. Add a Tag or Category to Pages, manage your WooCommerce Categories and Tags and more.
Adds a widget that shows the most recent posts from a single category.
Automatically toggle the parent categories when a sub category is selected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Search & Filter or TW Recent Posts Widget more popular?
Which has better ratings — Search & Filter or TW Recent Posts Widget?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.