Head-to-head · October 2026
Export Categories vs Widget Importer & Exporter
Widget Importer & Exporter comes out ahead, winning 6 of 8 head-to-head checks against Export Categories.
Export Categories
export you wordpress categories only to another wordpress site.WordPress export not provide export only…
Widget Importer & Exporter
Widget Importer & Exporter is useful for moving widgets from one WordPress site to another, backing up…
| Metric | Export Categories | Widget Importer & Exporter |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 1K+ | 200K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 294 | 8.6K |
| Download trend | +8.5% | +3.1% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 12 | 117 |
| Health score | 38/100 | 80/100 |
| Last updated | 8 years ago | 9 hours ago |
| Tested up to | WP 5.1.27 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 5.2.4+ |
| First released | Aug 2013 | Jul 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Export CategoriesWidget Importer & Expor…
Choose Export Categories if…
You care most about download trend and rating.
- No update in 7 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.1 (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
- Actively developed — last update 9 hours ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: export
FAQ
Export Categories vs Widget Importer & Exporter: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Which is better, Export Categories or Widget Importer & Exporter?
Widget Importer & Exporter comes out ahead, winning 6 of 8 head-to-head checks against Export Categories. Choose Export Categories if you care most about download trend and rating. Choose Widget Importer & Exporter if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Export Categories more popular than Widget Importer & Exporter?
Widget Importer & Exporter is the more popular of the two with 200K+ active installs, compared with 1K+ for Export Categories.
Can I use Export Categories and Widget Importer & Exporter together?
Both plugins cover export, 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 Export Categories 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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