Head-to-head · October 2026
Classic Widgets vs Rich Text Formats Block
Classic Widgets comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Rich Text Formats Block.
Classic Widgets
Classic Widgets is an official plugin maintained by the WordPress team that restores the previous (“classic”)…
Rich Text Formats Block
Magic Text Block enhances your WordPress Gutenberg editor with powerful text formatting options that go…
| Metric | Classic Widgets | Rich Text Formats Block |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 2M+ | 100+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 57.1K | 129 |
| Download trend | +5.3% | +21.7% |
| Rating | 4.9/5 | — |
| Reviews | 272 | 0 |
| Health score | 56/100 | 53/100 |
| Last updated | 10 months ago | 4 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.9.10 | WP 7.0.7 |
| Support resolved | 0% | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | May 2021 | May 2025 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Classic WidgetsRich Text Formats Block
Choose Classic Widgets if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- One of the most-used plugins on the web — 2M+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 272 reviews
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Rich Text Formats Block if…
You care most about download trend, last updated and tested up to.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: gutenberg
FAQ
Classic Widgets vs Rich Text Formats Block: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 9, 2026
Which is better, Classic Widgets or Rich Text Formats Block?
Classic Widgets comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Rich Text Formats Block. Choose Classic Widgets if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Rich Text Formats Block if you care most about download trend, last updated and tested up to.
Is Classic Widgets more popular than Rich Text Formats Block?
Classic Widgets is the more popular of the two with 2M+ active installs, compared with 100+ for Rich Text Formats Block.
Can I use Classic Widgets and Rich Text Formats Block together?
Both plugins cover 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 Widgets and Rich Text Formats Block 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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