Head-to-head · September 2026
HW Image Widget vs Simple Image Widget
Simple Image Widget comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against HW Image Widget.
HW Image Widget
This widget requires WordPress 3.5 or newer. Primary features of HW Image Widget:
Simple Image Widget
Simple Image Widget is what the name implies — the easiest way to add images to your sidebars. Display…
| Metric | HW Image Widget | Simple Image Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 1K+ | 10K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 224 | 468 |
| Download trend | +39.1% | +15.6% |
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 14 | 39 |
| Health score | 37/100 | 54/100 |
| Last updated | 9 years ago | 1 year ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.2.39 | WP 6.8.10 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Mar 2013 | Sep 2008 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
HW Image WidgetSimple Image Widget
Choose HW Image Widget if…
You care most about download trend.
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.2 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Simple Image Widget if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and rating.
- Proven at scale on 10K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.5/5 from 39 reviews
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: image widget widget
FAQ
HW Image Widget vs Simple Image Widget: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 30, 2026
Which is better, HW Image Widget or Simple Image Widget?
Simple Image Widget comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against HW Image Widget. Choose HW Image Widget if you care most about download trend. Choose Simple Image Widget if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and rating.
Is HW Image Widget more popular than Simple Image Widget?
Simple Image Widget is the more popular of the two with 10K+ active installs, compared with 1K+ for HW Image Widget.
Can I use HW Image Widget and Simple Image Widget together?
Both plugins cover image 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 HW Image Widget and Simple Image Widget free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
Powered by PageForge
Want thousands of pages that rank like these? Build them in an afternoon.
This directory runs on the same engine as PageForge. Turn any spreadsheet, CSV or API into thousands of fast, SEO-ready WordPress pages — with schema, internal links and AI-written copy baked in.
- CSV, Google Sheets & API data sources
- AI content, schema & internal links per page
- Works with Elementor, Gutenberg, Yoast & Rank Math
- Free on WordPress.org — no credit card
