Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets 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 #1,623, ahead of Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets at #19,391. Over the last 7 days Shortcode Widget climbed 1 place and Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets climbed 107 places. Shortcode Widget has the largest install base, roughly 167× the next: 10K+ active installs against 60+ for Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets. Downloads this week: Shortcode Widget 395 and Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets 17.
| Metric | Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets | Shortcode Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #19,391 ▲ 107 | #1,623 ▲ 1 |
| Active installs | 60+ | 10K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 17 | 395 |
| Rating | no ratings | 4.9★ (34) |
| Last updated | Nov 8, 2010 | Mar 22, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.0 | 1.5.3 |
| Best rank on record | #18,581 | #1,616 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Nov 2010 | 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, Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets or Shortcode Widget?
By active installs, Shortcode Widget: 10K+ sites run it against 60+ for Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 27, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets or Shortcode Widget?
Shortcode Widget, at #1,623 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets at #19,391. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets 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.