Head-to-head · October 2026
Empty Widget Areas vs Text Truncator
Text Truncator comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against Empty Widget Areas.
Empty Widget Areas
Many times while developing themes for WordPress I had to empty widget areas after cloning a site/setting up…
Text Truncator
Do you have too long text elements sticking out and breaking the web site layout?
| Metric | Empty Widget Areas | Text Truncator |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 41 | 38 |
| Download trend | +36.7% | -15.6% |
| Rating | — | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 2 |
| Health score | 23/100 | 30/100 |
| Last updated | 12 years ago | 11 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.9.40 | WP 4.2.39 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Jul 2014 | Jul 2015 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Empty Widget AreasText Truncator
Choose Empty Widget Areas if…
You care most about downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 12 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Text Truncator if…
You care most about reviews, health score and last updated.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.2 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: truncate
FAQ
Empty Widget Areas vs Text Truncator: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Which is better, Empty Widget Areas or Text Truncator?
Text Truncator comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against Empty Widget Areas. Choose Empty Widget Areas if you care most about downloads (30 days) and download trend. Choose Text Truncator if you care most about reviews, health score and last updated.
Is Empty Widget Areas more popular than Text Truncator?
Empty Widget Areas is the more popular of the two with 10+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Text Truncator.
Can I use Empty Widget Areas and Text Truncator together?
Both plugins cover truncate, 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 Empty Widget Areas and Text Truncator 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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