# Design Experiments

> Design Experiments has 20+ active installs, a 5/5 rating from 2 reviews and 117 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 31/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Design Experiments shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 20+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 7 years ago, and scores 31/100 on our health check.

**The Design Experiments plugin is a tool for prototyping designs within the context of WP-Admin. It contains a number of proof of concepts that the WordPress Design Team is exploring.**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 20+
- **Total downloads:** 17,281
- **Downloads (30 days):** 117 (+41% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 5/5 from 2 reviews
- **Health score:** 31/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.3
- **Last updated:** Sep 9, 2019
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 5.2.28
- **Requires:** WordPress 4.6+, PHP 5.2.4+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Kjell Reigstad (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/kjellr/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/design-experiments/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [design](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/design/) | #39 | 112 |
| [experiments](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/experiments/) | #2 | 7 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| design | >100 | 10,000 |
| experiments | >100 | 331 |

## Version adoption

- 1.3: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Layout Grid Block](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/layout-grid/) | 200K+ | 4.7/5 (13) | Jul 11, 2023 | 43/100 |
| 2 | [Visual CSS Style Editor](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/yellow-pencil-visual-theme-customizer/) | 30K+ | 4.1/5 (90) | Aug 23, 2026 | 83/100 |
| 3 | [Child Theme Creator by Orbisius](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/orbisius-child-theme-creator/) | 10K+ | 4/5 (44) | Dec 10, 2024 | 45/100 |
| 4 | [Adobe Fonts (formerly Typekit) for WordPress](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/typekit-fonts-for-wordpress/) | 10K+ | 4.9/5 (7) | Jul 17, 2024 | 42/100 |
| 5 | [Customify](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/customify/) | 10K+ | 3.8/5 (9) | Aug 13, 2026 | 76/100 |
| 6 | [Elementor Blocks for Gutenberg](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/block-builder/) | 9K+ | 4.8/5 (17) | Nov 26, 2024 | 32/100 |
| 7 | [Generate Child Theme](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/generate-child-theme/) | 9K+ | 4.3/5 (15) | May 27, 2026 | 66/100 |
| 8 | [SureFeedback Client Site](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/projecthuddle-child-site/) | 5K+ | 4/5 (39) | Aug 25, 2026 | 69/100 |
| 9 | [Blocks CSS: CSS Editor for Gutenberg Blocks](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/blocks-css/) | 5K+ | 4.9/5 (25) | Sep 29, 2026 | 88/100 |
| 10 | [Shape Dividers Plus for Elementor](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/shape-dividers-plus/) | 2K+ | 5/5 (2) | Feb 14, 2026 | 50/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Design Experiments free?
Yes. Design Experiments is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Design Experiments safe to use in 2026?
Design Experiments shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 20+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 7 years ago, and scores 31/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Design Experiments?
Design Experiments is active on 20+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 17,281 times since it launched in June 2019. It was downloaded 117 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Design Experiments work with WordPress 7.1?
Design Experiments is officially tested up to WordPress 5.2.28, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### What PHP version does Design Experiments need?
Design Experiments requires PHP 5.2.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was Design Experiments last updated?
The latest version, 1.3, was released on September 9, 2019 (7 years ago).

### Who makes Design Experiments?
Design Experiments is developed and maintained by Kjell Reigstad.

### What are the best alternatives to Design Experiments?
The most popular alternatives to Design Experiments are Layout Grid Block (200K+ installs), Visual CSS Style Editor (30K+ installs) and Child Theme Creator by Orbi… (10K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/design-experiments/ · Generated 2026-10-02 20:30 UTC by PageForge