Widgets on Pages vs Essential Widgets (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Widgets on Pages has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 161 reviews) and leads in active installations (20K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Widgets on Pages has accumulated 670K+ total downloads while Essential Widgets has 489K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Widgets on Pages | Essential Widgets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ◄ | 3.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 161 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 670K+ | ◄ | 489K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ► | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Age | 16 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 2.8+ | 5.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.9.0 | 3.0.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Widgets on Pages
Essential Widgets
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Widgets on Pages averaged approximately 31 daily downloads while Essential Widgets averaged 66.
Recent Reviews
Widgets on Pages Reviews
Works Great!
Just what I needed … easy and stable.
Good Stuff
I wasn’t sure if this is what I needed. Talking to support, they made sure to understand my issue, and what I was trying to accomplish. You don’t get that level of help anywhere these days. Very much
Easily Add Widgets to PAGES
So, this is a great light-weight plugin if you want to add a Widget with [shortcode] to a Page. I don’t know why WordPress or themes only allow a Widget in a Post or Sidebar. Kinda silly. But this
Essential Widgets Reviews
alot of useful widgets but in the paid version
A lot of useful widgets but in the paid version. The free one is limited. This topic was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by KJA4U.
Excellent
Excellent
More Pages Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Widgets on Pages and Essential Widgets
Nested Pages provides a drag and drop interface for managing pages & posts in the WordPress admin, while maintaining quick edit functionality.
Add a listing of content on your website using a simple shortcode. Filter the results by category, author, and more.
Adds a tree view of all pages & custom posts. Get a great overview + options to drag & drop to reorder & option to add multiple pages.
Insert Pages lets you embed any WordPress content (e.g., pages, posts, custom post types) into other WordPress content using the Shortcode API.
Adds the built in WordPress categories and tags to your pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Widgets on Pages or Essential Widgets more popular?
Which has better ratings — Widgets on Pages or Essential Widgets?
Are Widgets on Pages and Essential Widgets free?
Which plugin has better support — Widgets on Pages or Essential Widgets?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.