Head-to-head · October 2026
Codegear Starter vs Widget Importer & Exporter
Widget Importer & Exporter comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Codegear Starter.
Codegear Starter
Import Codegear Themes official themes starter content, widgets and theme settings with just one click.
Widget Importer & Exporter
Widget Importer & Exporter is useful for moving widgets from one WordPress site to another, backing up…
| Metric | Codegear Starter | Widget Importer & Exporter |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 50+ | 200K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 206 | 8.5K |
| Download trend | +23.4% | +3.4% |
| Rating | — | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 117 |
| Health score | 28/100 | 65/100 |
| Last updated | 1 year ago | 5 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.6.10 | WP 7.0.7 |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | 7.2+ | 5.2.4+ |
| First released | May 2022 | Jul 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Codegear StarterWidget Importer & Expor…
Choose Codegear Starter if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (50+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.6 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Widget Importer & Exporter if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 200K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.7/5 from 117 reviews
Both compete in: import
FAQ
Codegear Starter vs Widget Importer & Exporter: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 11, 2026
Which is better, Codegear Starter or Widget Importer & Exporter?
Widget Importer & Exporter comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Codegear Starter. Choose Codegear Starter if you care most about download trend. Choose Widget Importer & Exporter if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Codegear Starter more popular than Widget Importer & Exporter?
Widget Importer & Exporter is the more popular of the two with 200K+ active installs, compared with 50+ for Codegear Starter.
Can I use Codegear Starter and Widget Importer & Exporter together?
Both plugins cover import, 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 Codegear Starter and Widget Importer & Exporter 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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