Shortcode Widget
Adds a text-like widget that allows you to write shortcode in it.
Solid choice
Shortcode Widget is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 10K+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 6 months ago, and scores 69/100 on our health check.
- Proven at scale on 10K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 34 reviews
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Shortcode Widget stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| shortcode | #2 |
| widget | #17 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.9 from 34 reviews
About Shortcode Widget
From the official readme · v1.5.3Description
Adds a text-like widget that allows you to write shortcode in it. (Just whats missing in the default text widget)
To test the widget you can add the widget and use the shortcode “[shortcode_widget_test]”, it will display “It works” on the frontend and this will confirm the widget does work.
Installation
- Add the plugin’s folder in the WordPress’ plugin directory.
- Activate the plugin.
- You are now ready to use the Shortcode Widget from the Widgets section.
- To test the widget you can add the widget and use the shortcode “[shortcode_widget_test]”, it will display “It works” on the frontend and this will confirm the widget does work.
Changelog
1.5.3
- Strict PHPCS ruleset adherence.
- More documentation in widget class.
- Testing with WordPress 5.6
1.5.2
- Some PHPCS corrections, making code adhering to WordPress coding standards.
- Replaced strip_tags function with wp_strip_all_tags.
1.5.1
- Unescaped title back in the code as escaping it was creating issues with other plugins.
1.5
- Added icon and screenshots.
- Escaping some values that could have been overridden by the translations.
- Added pot file for translations.
- Change in calling of widget_text filter with new parameter that was added in WordPress 4.4.1
1.4
- Updated compatibility with WordPress 4.8
- Reversed the order of changelog.
1.3
- Minor bug fix.
- Changed tested up to version number.
- Made it translation ready, constant was being used for text domains, silly error, I know 🙂
Screenshots
For developers
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Best Shortcode Widget alternatives
All shortcode plugins →
FAQ
Shortcode Widget: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 26, 2026
Is Shortcode Widget free?
Yes. Shortcode Widget is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Shortcode Widget safe to use in 2026?
Shortcode Widget is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 10K+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 6 months ago, and scores 69/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Shortcode Widget?
Shortcode Widget is active on 10K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 441,531 times since it launched in February 2013. It was downloaded 1,585 times in the last 30 days.
Does Shortcode Widget work with WordPress 7.1?
Shortcode Widget is officially tested up to WordPress 7.0.6, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Shortcode Widget need?
Shortcode Widget requires PHP 5.6 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Shortcode Widget last updated?
The latest version, 1.5.3, was released on March 22, 2026 (6 months ago).
Who makes Shortcode Widget?
Shortcode Widget is developed and maintained by Gagan Deep Singh.
What are the best alternatives to Shortcode Widget?
The most popular alternatives to Shortcode Widget are Shortcodes Ultimate (400K+ installs), MW WP Form (200K+ installs) and Shortcoder (100K+ installs).
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