Head-to-head · October 2026
Classic Editor vs Full Width Editor
Classic Editor comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Full Width Editor.
Classic Editor
Classic Editor is an official plugin maintained by the WordPress team that restores the previous (“classic”)…
| Metric | Classic Editor | Full Width Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 8M+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 711.3K | 56 |
| Download trend | -6.3% | -16.4% |
| Rating | 4.9/5 | — |
| Reviews | 1,249 | 0 |
| Health score | 70/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 5 months ago | 8 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.7 | WP 5.0.30 |
| Support resolved | 0% | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.2.4+ | Any |
| First released | Oct 2017 | Feb 2019 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Classic EditorFull Width Editor
Choose Classic Editor if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- One of the most-used plugins on the web — 8M+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 1,249 reviews
Choose Full Width Editor 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 5.0 (latest is 7.1)
FAQ
Classic Editor vs Full Width Editor: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Which is better, Classic Editor or Full Width Editor?
Classic Editor comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Full Width Editor. Choose Classic Editor if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Classic Editor more popular than Full Width Editor?
Classic Editor is the more popular of the two with 8M+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Full Width Editor.
Can I use Classic Editor and Full Width Editor together?
Both plugins cover editor and gutenberg, 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 Classic Editor and Full Width Editor 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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