Custom Sidebars vs Search by Google
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
Custom Sidebars leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #446, ahead of Search by Google at #14,051. Over the last 7 days Custom Sidebars held its place and Search by Google climbed 403 places. Custom Sidebars has the largest install base, roughly 1000× the next: 100K+ active installs against 100+ for Search by Google. Downloads this week: Custom Sidebars 1,135 and Search by Google 19. Ratings: Custom Sidebars 4.7★ from 1,028 and Search by Google 4.8★ from 9 reviews.
| Metric | Custom Sidebars | Search by Google |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #446 ▬ | #14,051 ▲ 403 |
| Active installs | 100K+ | 100+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 1,135 | 19 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (1,028) | 4.8★ (9) |
| Last updated | Aug 16, 2026 | Sep 5, 2020 |
| Current version | 3.38 | 1.9 |
| Best rank on record | #439 | #13,824 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Aug 2010 | Jul 2011 |
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
More comparisons
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- Search by Google vs SMK Sidebar Generator
- Search by Google vs Content Aware Sidebars
- Search by Google vs Image Widget
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Custom Sidebars or Search by Google?
By active installs, Custom Sidebars: 100K+ sites run it against 100+ for Search by Google, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 16, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Custom Sidebars or Search by Google?
Custom Sidebars, at #446 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Search by Google at #14,051. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Custom Sidebars or Search by Google 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.