Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables vs Shortcode Widget
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
At a glance
Shortcode Widget leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,622, ahead of Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables at #8,420. Over the last 7 days Shortcode Widget slipped 1 place and Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables climbed 10 places. Shortcode Widget has the largest install base, roughly 17× the next: 10K+ active installs against 600+ for Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables. Downloads this week: Shortcode Widget 375 and Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables 122. Ratings: Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables 1.8★ from 5 and Shortcode Widget 4.9★ from 34 reviews.
| Metric | Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables | Shortcode Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #8,420 ▲ 10 | #1,622 ▼ 1 |
| Active installs | 600+ | 10K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 122 | 375 |
| Rating | 1.8★ (5) | 4.9★ (34) |
| Last updated | Oct 7, 2026 | Mar 22, 2026 |
| Current version | 26.10.06.21 | 1.5.3 |
| Best rank on record | #8,277 | #1,616 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Aug 2015 | Feb 2013 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables or Shortcode Widget?
By active installs, Shortcode Widget: 10K+ sites run it against 600+ for Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 18, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables or Shortcode Widget?
Shortcode Widget, at #1,622 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables at #8,420. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Blocks: Reusable Content, Shortcodes & Site Variables or Shortcode Widget alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.