Head-to-head · October 2026
WP Categories Widget vs WP Widget Styler
WP Categories Widget comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP Widget Styler.
WP Categories Widget
The “WP Categories Widget” is a simple plugin to display the list of categories for any taxonomies type…
WP Widget Styler
Power-up your WordPress widgets using these awesome styler configurations.
| Metric | WP Categories Widget | WP Widget Styler |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 6K+ | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 644 | 41 |
| Download trend | +7.7% | +51.9% |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 27 | 0 |
| Health score | 59/100 | 21/100 |
| Last updated | 8 months ago | 6 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.9.10 | WP 5.5.23 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 8.0+ | 5.6+ |
| First released | Sep 2016 | Sep 2020 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
WP Categories WidgetWP Widget Styler
Choose WP Categories Widget if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Loved by users — 4.5/5 from 27 reviews
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose WP Widget Styler if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 6 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.5 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: custom widget
FAQ
WP Categories Widget vs WP Widget Styler: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, WP Categories Widget or WP Widget Styler?
WP Categories Widget comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against WP Widget Styler. Choose WP Categories Widget if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose WP Widget Styler if you care most about download trend.
Is WP Categories Widget more popular than WP Widget Styler?
WP Categories Widget is the more popular of the two with 6K+ active installs, compared with <10 for WP Widget Styler.
Can I use WP Categories Widget and WP Widget Styler together?
Both plugins cover custom 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 WP Categories Widget and WP Widget Styler 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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