Head-to-head · October 2026
Custom Widget Area vs rtWidgets
Custom Widget Area comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against rtWidgets.
Custom Widget Area
A simple plugin to create custom widget area. Simply copy and paste these lines where you want to show custom…
rtWidgets
This plugin is assortment of custom widgets. On activating this, we can install multiple custom widgets at…
| Metric | Custom Widget Area | rtWidgets |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 200+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 150 | 47 |
| Download trend | +27.1% | +4.4% |
| Rating | 4/5 | — |
| Reviews | 1 | 0 |
| Health score | 30/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 15 years ago | 12 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.2.1 | WP 4.0.38 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Nov 2011 | Dec 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Custom Widget AreartWidgets
Choose Custom Widget Area if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.2 (latest is 7.1)
Choose rtWidgets if…
You care most about last updated and tested up to.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.0 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: custom widget widget
FAQ
Custom Widget Area vs rtWidgets: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, Custom Widget Area or rtWidgets?
Custom Widget Area comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against rtWidgets. Choose Custom Widget Area if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend. Choose rtWidgets if you care most about last updated and tested up to.
Is Custom Widget Area more popular than rtWidgets?
Custom Widget Area is the more popular of the two with 200+ active installs, compared with 10+ for rtWidgets.
Can I use Custom Widget Area and rtWidgets together?
Both plugins cover custom widget and 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 Custom Widget Area and rtWidgets 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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