Head-to-head · October 2026
Simple Side Tab vs Sitewide Message
Simple Side Tab comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Sitewide Message.
Simple Side Tab
Add a “Global Call To Action” on your website. Simple Side Tab adds a vertical tab to the left or right side…
Sitewide Message
Simply. Display a message at the top of every page on your website. You can change the background colour…
| Metric | Simple Side Tab | Sitewide Message |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10K+ | 100+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 3.8K | 78 |
| Download trend | +222% | +13% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 22 | 2 |
| Health score | 89/100 | 32/100 |
| Last updated | 6 days ago | 12 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 4.0.38 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Aug 2012 | May 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Simple Side TabSitewide Message
Choose Simple Side Tab if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 10K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 22 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 6 days ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 222% vs the previous 30 days
Choose Sitewide Message if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 12 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.0 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: call to action
FAQ
Simple Side Tab vs Sitewide Message: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 20, 2026
Which is better, Simple Side Tab or Sitewide Message?
Simple Side Tab comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Sitewide Message. Choose Simple Side Tab if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Simple Side Tab more popular than Sitewide Message?
Simple Side Tab is the more popular of the two with 10K+ active installs, compared with 100+ for Sitewide Message.
Can I use Simple Side Tab and Sitewide Message together?
Both plugins cover call to action, 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 Simple Side Tab and Sitewide Message 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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