Head-to-head · October 2026
Icon Widget vs WP Simple Menu Icons
Icon Widget comes out ahead, winning 6 of 6 head-to-head checks against WP Simple Menu Icons.
Icon Widget
Icon Widget creates a new WordPress widget that displays an icon, title and description. Select the size…
WP Simple Menu Icons
WP Simple Menu Icons provides an easy way to add icons to your WordPress powered navigation menus with the…
| Metric | Icon Widget | WP Simple Menu Icons |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 4K+ | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 533 | 33 |
| Download trend | +26.9% | +26.9% |
| Rating | 5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 2 | 0 |
| Health score | 36/100 | 21/100 |
| Last updated | 3 years ago | 6 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.5.13 | WP 5.6.22 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6+ | 7.2+ |
| First released | Sep 2017 | Dec 2020 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Icon WidgetWP Simple Menu Icons
Choose Icon Widget if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Momentum — downloads up 26.9% vs the previous 30 days
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 2 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.5 (latest is 7.1)
Choose WP Simple Menu Icons if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 5 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.6 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: FontAwesome
FAQ
Icon Widget vs WP Simple Menu Icons: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, Icon Widget or WP Simple Menu Icons?
Icon Widget comes out ahead, winning 6 of 6 head-to-head checks against WP Simple Menu Icons. Choose Icon Widget if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Icon Widget more popular than WP Simple Menu Icons?
Icon Widget is the more popular of the two with 4K+ active installs, compared with <10 for WP Simple Menu Icons.
Can I use Icon Widget and WP Simple Menu Icons together?
Both plugins cover FontAwesome, 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 Icon Widget and WP Simple Menu Icons 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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