Widget Importer & Exporter vs Search & Replace (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Widget Importer & Exporter
200K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Widget Importer & Exporter has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 117 reviews) and leads in active installations (200K+ vs 100K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Widget Importer & Exporter has accumulated 5.3M+ total downloads while Search & Replace has 3.2M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Widget Importer & Exporter | Search & Replace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ◄ | 4.3/5 |
| Total Reviews | 117 | ► | 282 |
| Active Installs | 200K+ | ◄ | 100K+ |
| Total Downloads | 5.3M+ | ◄ | 3.2M+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2007 | |
| Age | 13 years | 19 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.5+ | 4.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.2.4+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.6.1 | 3.2.3 |
Rating Breakdown
Widget Importer & Exporter
Search & Replace
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Widget Importer & Exporter averaged approximately 361 daily downloads while Search & Replace averaged 177.
Recent Reviews
Widget Importer & Exporter Reviews
Thanks for great plugin.
Simple and Easy to Use
Does what I need
Thanks for creating this!
Thank you very much
Thank you very much, 6 star plugin
Search & Replace Reviews
It still works great
I changed my url, 12 tables with 58 entries . While not a big site, but it was nice. it says not tested in the last 3 versions of WP. Welp, it works in php8.2x and WP 6.8.2
Works fine when changing the domain
I have used this plugin several times for different webpages. Especially when the webpage was moved to other domain. It works fine. Before replace, it’s possible to test and check the results. H
Bulk edits to the database
[Update 12/26/24] I tried using the bulk “CSV Format Search/Replace” feature, but it seems only the latest replacement string is applied. I’ll now try another method, such as using the WP-CLI.—This pl
More Import Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Widget Importer & Exporter and Search & Replace
Import your demo content, widgets and theme settings with one click. Theme authors! Enable simple theme demo import for your users.
Easily export or import your WordPress customizer settings!
Import and export users and customers including user meta, roles, and other. Compatible with many plugins. Do it from the front end or using cron.
Add From Server is designed to help ease the pain of bad web hosts, allowing you to upload files via FTP or SSH and later import them into WordPress.
Astra theme customizer offers several settings for header/footer layout, sidebar and blog designs, colors, backgrounds, typography and much more.
Complete Import & Export solution for Posts, Pages, Custom Post, Users, Taxonomies, Comments etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Widget Importer & Exporter or Search & Replace more popular?
Which has better ratings — Widget Importer & Exporter or Search & Replace?
Are Widget Importer & Exporter and Search & Replace free?
Which plugin has better support — Widget Importer & Exporter or Search & Replace?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.