Shortcode Widget vs Widget Alias
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 Widget Alias at #11,940. Over the last 7 days Shortcode Widget slipped 2 places and Widget Alias slipped 69 places. Shortcode Widget has the largest install base, roughly 50× the next: 10K+ active installs against 200+ for Widget Alias. Downloads this week: Shortcode Widget 405 and Widget Alias 21. Ratings: Shortcode Widget 4.9★ from 34 and Widget Alias 4.3★ from 8 reviews.
| Metric | Shortcode Widget | Widget Alias |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,623 ▼ 2 | #11,940 ▼ 69 |
| Active installs | 10K+ | 200+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 405 | 21 |
| Rating | 4.9★ (34) | 4.3★ (8) |
| Last updated | Mar 22, 2026 | Mar 10, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.5.3 | 1.7.3 |
| Best rank on record | #1,616 | #11,775 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Feb 2013 | Nov 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, Shortcode Widget or Widget Alias?
By active installs, Shortcode Widget: 10K+ sites run it against 200+ for Widget Alias, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 19, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Shortcode Widget or Widget Alias?
Shortcode Widget, at #1,623 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Widget Alias at #11,940. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Shortcode Widget or Widget Alias 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.