Shortcode Widget vs WP Dash Message
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 #1,621, ahead of WP Dash Message at #11,158. Over the last 7 days Shortcode Widget climbed 3 places and WP Dash Message climbed 83 places. Shortcode Widget has the largest install base, roughly 50× the next: 10K+ active installs against 200+ for WP Dash Message. Downloads this week: Shortcode Widget 345 and WP Dash Message 27. Ratings: Shortcode Widget 4.9★ from 34 and WP Dash Message 5★ from 2 reviews.
| Metric | Shortcode Widget | WP Dash Message |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,621 ▲ 3 | #11,158 ▲ 83 |
| Active installs | 10K+ | 200+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 345 | 27 |
| Rating | 4.9★ (34) | 5★ (2) |
| Last updated | Mar 22, 2026 | Dec 22, 2011 |
| Current version | 1.5.3 | 1.1.2 |
| Best rank on record | #1,616 | #11,158 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Feb 2013 | 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
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Shortcode Widget or WP Dash Message?
By active installs, Shortcode Widget: 10K+ sites run it against 200+ for WP Dash Message, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 29, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Shortcode Widget or WP Dash Message?
Shortcode Widget, at #1,621 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with WP Dash Message at #11,158. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Shortcode Widget or WP Dash Message 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.