Head-to-head · October 2026
ABD Dashboard Widget Mana… vs Custom Widget Area
ABD Dashboard Widget Manager comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against Custom Widget Area.
ABD Dashboard Widget Manager
Take control of your admin dashboard! This plugin gives you an easy way to customize your WordPress…
Custom Widget Area
A simple plugin to create custom widget area. Simply copy and paste these lines where you want to show custom…
| Metric | ABD Dashboard Widget Mana… | Custom Widget Area |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 300+ | 200+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 149 | 151 |
| Download trend | +5.7% | +29.1% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 1 |
| Health score | 33/100 | 30/100 |
| Last updated | 12 years ago | 15 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.9.40 | WP 3.2.1 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Apr 2013 | Nov 2011 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
ABD Dashboard Widget Ma…Custom Widget Area
Choose ABD Dashboard Widget Mana… if…
You care most about active installs, health score and last updated.
- Small user base (300+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 12 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Custom Widget Area if…
You care most about downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.2 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: custom widget
FAQ
ABD Dashboard Widget Mana… vs Custom Widget Area: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Which is better, ABD Dashboard Widget Manager or Custom Widget Area?
ABD Dashboard Widget Manager comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against Custom Widget Area. Choose ABD Dashboard Widget Manager if you care most about active installs, health score and last updated. Choose Custom Widget Area if you care most about downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is ABD Dashboard Widget Manager more popular than Custom Widget Area?
ABD Dashboard Widget Manager is the more popular of the two with 300+ active installs, compared with 200+ for Custom Widget Area.
Can I use ABD Dashboard Widget Manager and Custom Widget Area together?
Both plugins cover custom widget, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are ABD Dashboard Widget Manager and Custom Widget Area free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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