Head-to-head · October 2026
Advanced Custom Widget vs Custom Widget Area
Custom Widget Area comes out ahead, winning 3 of 6 head-to-head checks against Advanced Custom Widget.
Advanced Custom Widget
Advanced Custom Widget is a plugin that allows flexible widget customization without touching a single line…
Custom Widget Area
A simple plugin to create custom widget area. Simply copy and paste these lines where you want to show custom…
| Metric | Advanced Custom Widget | Custom Widget Area |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 200+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 50 | 150 |
| Download trend | -23.1% | +27.1% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Reviews | 2 | 1 |
| Health score | 30/100 | 30/100 |
| Last updated | 7 years ago | 15 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 5.2.29 | WP 3.2.1 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6+ | Any |
| First released | Aug 2018 | Nov 2011 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Advanced Custom WidgetCustom Widget Area
Choose Advanced Custom Widget if…
You care most about reviews, last updated and tested up to.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 7 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.2 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Custom Widget Area if…
You care most about active installs, 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 widget
FAQ
Advanced Custom Widget vs Custom Widget Area: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, Advanced Custom Widget or Custom Widget Area?
Custom Widget Area comes out ahead, winning 3 of 6 head-to-head checks against Advanced Custom Widget. Choose Advanced Custom Widget if you care most about reviews, last updated and tested up to. Choose Custom Widget Area if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Advanced Custom Widget more popular than Custom Widget Area?
Custom Widget Area is the more popular of the two with 200+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Advanced Custom Widget.
Can I use Advanced Custom Widget and Custom Widget Area together?
Both plugins cover custom widget and 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 Advanced Custom Widget 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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