# Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets

> Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets has 60+ active installs and 51 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 25/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 60+ sites and was last updated 16 years ago, and scores 25/100 on our health check.

**This plugin provides the option to enable/disable the usage of shortcodes in the default text widget provided by WordPress along with smilies if enabled for the blog.**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 60+
- **Total downloads:** 5,506
- **Downloads (30 days):** 51 (+4.1% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** No ratings yet
- **Health score:** 25/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.0
- **Last updated:** Nov 8, 2010
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 3.0.5
- **Requires:** WordPress 2.9+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** CodeAndReload (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/codeandreload/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/parse-shortcodes/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [emoticon](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/emoticon/) | #6 | 14 |
| [shortcode](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/shortcode/) | >100 | 1,381 |
| [smilie](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/smilie/) | #1 | 1 |
| [smilies](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/smilies/) | #5 | 7 |
| [text widget](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/text-widget/) | #8 | 16 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| emoticon | #70 | 78 |
| shortcode | >100 | 10,000 |
| smilie | #2 | 3 |
| smilies | #38 | 44 |
| text widget | >100 | 8,602 |

## Version adoption

- 1.0: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Emoji Settings](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/emoji-settings/) | 2K+ | 5/5 (12) | May 5, 2025 | 49/100 |
| 2 | [Emoji Toolbar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/emoji-toolbar/) | 2K+ | 4/5 (3) | Feb 12, 2026 | 47/100 |
| 3 | [wp-Monalisa](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-monalisa/) | 600+ | 4.8/5 (25) | Dec 6, 2025 | 47/100 |
| 4 | [TinyMCE Smiley Button](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tinymce-smiley-button/) | 600+ | 5/5 (1) | Sep 7, 2020 | 34/100 |
| 5 | [TinyMCE Emoticons](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tinymce-emoticons/) | 100+ | 3.3/5 (6) | Feb 23, 2015 | 30/100 |
| 7 | [Disable WP Emojis](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/disable-wp-emojis/) | 50+ | — | May 25, 2019 | 25/100 |
| 8 | [Kaskus Emoticons](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/kaskus-emoticons/) | 20+ | 4/5 (3) | Dec 19, 2012 | 28/100 |
| 9 | [Convert Emoticons Font Awesome](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/convert-emoticons-font-awesome/) | 10+ | — | Apr 4, 2020 | 23/100 |
| 10 | [Stylish Smilies](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/stylish-smilies/) | 10+ | — | Sep 1, 2012 | 23/100 |
| 11 | [Locco Emoticons](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/locco-emoticons/) | 10+ | 5/5 (4) | Nov 2, 2016 | 30/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets free?
Yes. Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets safe to use in 2026?
Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 60+ sites and was last updated 16 years ago, and scores 25/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets?
Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets is active on 60+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 5,506 times since it launched in November 2010. It was downloaded 51 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets work with WordPress 7.1?
Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets is officially tested up to WordPress 3.0.5, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### When was Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets last updated?
The latest version, 1.0, was released on November 8, 2010 (16 years ago).

### Who makes Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets?
Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets is developed and maintained by CodeAndReload.

### What are the best alternatives to Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets?
The most popular alternatives to Allow Shortcodes in Text Widgets are Emoji Settings (2K+ installs), Emoji Toolbar (2K+ installs) and wp-Monalisa (600+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/parse-shortcodes/ · Generated 2026-09-28 05:51 UTC by PageForge