# bbPress Protected Forums vs Content Aware Sidebars

> bbPress Protected Forums vs Content Aware Sidebars compared on installs, downloads, ratings, updates, compatibility and support. Content Aware Sidebars comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against bbPress Protected Forums.

**Content Aware Sidebars comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against bbPress Protected Forums.** Choose bbPress Protected Forums if you care most about download trend. Choose Content Aware Sidebars if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.

| | bbPress Protected Forums | Content Aware Sidebars – Fastest Widget Area Plugin |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 90+ | 30K+ ✅ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 181 | 2.2K ✅ |
| Download trend | +11.7% ✅ | +0.4% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.9/5 |
| Reviews | 3 | 724 ✅ |
| Health score | 32/100 | 52/100 ✅ |
| Last updated | 14 years ago | 10 months ago ✅ |
| Tested up to | WP 3.4.2 | WP 6.9.10 ✅ |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.1+ |
| First released | Sep 2012 | Aug 2011 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, bbPress Protected Forums or Content Aware Sidebars?
Content Aware Sidebars comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against bbPress Protected Forums. Choose bbPress Protected Forums if you care most about download trend. Choose Content Aware Sidebars if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.

### Is bbPress Protected Forums more popular than Content Aware Sidebars?
Content Aware Sidebars is the more popular of the two with 30K+ active installs, compared with 90+ for bbPress Protected Forums.

### Can I use bbPress Protected Forums and Content Aware Sidebars together?
Both plugins cover bbPress, 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 bbPress Protected Forums and Content Aware Sidebars 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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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/compare/bbpress-protected-forums-vs-content-aware-sidebars/ · Generated 2026-10-11 05:47 UTC by PageForge