Head-to-head · October 2026
Design Import/Export vs Widget Importer & Exporter
Widget Importer & Exporter comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against Design Import/Export.
Design Import/Export
Import and export your block based theme design: global/custom styles, templates, template parts and patterns.
Widget Importer & Exporter
Widget Importer & Exporter is useful for moving widgets from one WordPress site to another, backing up…
| Metric | Design Import/Export | Widget Importer & Exporter |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 200+ | 200K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 268 | 56.3K |
| Download trend | +40.3% | +579.3% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 6 | 117 |
| Health score | 53/100 | 80/100 |
| Last updated | 10 months ago | 2 days ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.9.10 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 5.2.4+ |
| First released | Jul 2021 | Jul 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Design Import/ExportWidget Importer & Expor…
Choose Design Import/Export if…
You care most about rating.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Widget Importer & Exporter if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 200K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.7/5 from 117 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 2 days ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 579.3% vs the previous 30 days
FAQ
Design Import/Export vs Widget Importer & Exporter: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, Design Import/Export or Widget Importer & Exporter?
Widget Importer & Exporter comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against Design Import/Export. Choose Design Import/Export if you care most about rating. Choose Widget Importer & Exporter if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Design Import/Export more popular than Widget Importer & Exporter?
Widget Importer & Exporter is the more popular of the two with 200K+ active installs, compared with 200+ for Design Import/Export.
Can I use Design Import/Export and Widget Importer & Exporter together?
Both plugins cover export and 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 Design Import/Export 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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