Head-to-head · October 2026
Advanced Custom Widget vs WP Categories Widget
WP Categories Widget comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 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…
WP Categories Widget
The “WP Categories Widget” is a simple plugin to display the list of categories for any taxonomies type…
| Metric | Advanced Custom Widget | WP Categories Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 6K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 50 | 644 |
| Download trend | -23.1% | +7.7% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 2 | 27 |
| Health score | 30/100 | 59/100 |
| Last updated | 7 years ago | 8 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 5.2.29 | WP 6.9.10 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6+ | 8.0+ |
| First released | Aug 2018 | Sep 2016 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Advanced Custom WidgetWP Categories Widget
Choose Advanced Custom Widget if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- 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 WP Categories Widget if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Loved by users — 4.5/5 from 27 reviews
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: custom widget
FAQ
Advanced Custom Widget vs WP Categories Widget: 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 WP Categories Widget?
WP Categories Widget comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Advanced Custom Widget. Choose WP Categories Widget if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Advanced Custom Widget more popular than WP Categories Widget?
WP Categories Widget is the more popular of the two with 6K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Advanced Custom Widget.
Can I use Advanced Custom Widget and WP Categories Widget 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 Advanced Custom Widget and WP Categories Widget free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
Powered by PageForge
Want thousands of pages that rank like these? Build them in an afternoon.
This directory runs on the same engine as PageForge. Turn any spreadsheet, CSV or API into thousands of fast, SEO-ready WordPress pages — with schema, internal links and AI-written copy baked in.
- CSV, Google Sheets & API data sources
- AI content, schema & internal links per page
- Works with Elementor, Gutenberg, Yoast & Rank Math
- Free on WordPress.org — no credit card
