Search Meter 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
Search Meter leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,355, ahead of Shortcode Widget at #1,623. Over the last 7 days Search Meter climbed 3 places and Shortcode Widget climbed 1 place. Search Meter has the largest install base, roughly 2× the next: 20K+ active installs against 10K+ for Shortcode Widget. Downloads this week: Search Meter 1,226 and Shortcode Widget 395. Ratings: Search Meter 4.3★ from 29 and Shortcode Widget 4.9★ from 34 reviews.
| Metric | Search Meter | Shortcode Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,355 ▲ 3 | #1,623 ▲ 1 |
| Active installs | 20K+ | 10K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 1,226 | 395 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (29) | 4.9★ (34) |
| Last updated | Dec 3, 2025 | Mar 22, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.14.1 | 1.5.3 |
| Best rank on record | #1,353 | #1,616 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Jun 2008 | 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, Search Meter or Shortcode Widget?
By active installs, Search Meter: 20K+ sites run it against 10K+ for Shortcode Widget, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 28, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Search Meter or Shortcode Widget?
Search Meter, at #1,355 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Shortcode Widget at #1,623. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Search Meter 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.