Simple Shortcode Block
A simple block to the new WordPress editor Gutenberg to insert and show also in the backend all your old shortcodes.
Consider an alternative
Simple Shortcode Block shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 30+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 7 years ago, and scores 30/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (30+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 6 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.3 (latest is 7.1)
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 Simple Shortcode Block stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| block | >100 |
| dynamic shortcode | >100 |
| gutenberg | >100 |
| shortcode | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5 from 2 reviews
About Simple Shortcode Block
From the official readme · v1.0.2Description
A simple block to the new WordPress editor Gutenberg to insert and show also in the backend all your old shortcodes.
This block allows you to work with shortcodes into Gutenberg like the native WordPress Block, but with a new feature: You can see ( in many case ) the shortcodes in the backend in a similar way as render in the frontend of the web
Now is very easy to see what your shortcodes are going to show in the web thanks of Gutenberg and this dynamic simple shortcode block.
Do not you see what you expected? Not always is possible to see the shortcode in the backend as in the frontend because of it is depend on each plugin and also your active theme, but this plugin allow you to try with some options to improve this:
*Select to include some CSS of the plugin into Gutenberg editor for each shortcode block.
*Select to include some JS of the plugin into Gutenberg editor for each shortcode block.
*Hide / Show the input where you put the shortcode to avoid to see it into the editor (see the third Screenshot).
What You See in the backend with Gutenberg editor Is ( in many case ) What You Get! and the plugin only enqueue the selected assets if it is necesary to improve the apparience between backend and frontend.
Feedback and support
I would be happy to receive your feedback to improve this plugin.
Please let me know through support forums if you like it and please be sure to leave a review..
Also you can contact me on my personal page Pablo Cianes or even visit Github of Simple Shortcode Block where you can find all the development code of this plugin.
I hope it is useful for you and look forward to reading your reviews! 😉 Thanks!
Installation
- Upload
simple-shortcode-block.phpto the/wp-content/plugins/directory - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- Search into post the blue block
Dynanmic ShortcodeintoWidgetscategory.
Changelog
Fix notice.
1.0.2
- Fix notice.
1.0.1
- Compatible with WP5.0
1.0.0
- First publicly available version.
Screenshots
For developers
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Best Simple Shortcode Block alternatives
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FAQ
Simple Shortcode Block: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 1, 2026
Is Simple Shortcode Block free?
Yes. Simple Shortcode Block is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Simple Shortcode Block safe to use in 2026?
Simple Shortcode Block shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 30+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 7 years ago, and scores 30/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Simple Shortcode Block?
Simple Shortcode Block is active on 30+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 9,651 times since it launched in October 2018. It was downloaded 68 times in the last 30 days.
Does Simple Shortcode Block work with WordPress 7.1?
Simple Shortcode Block is officially tested up to WordPress 5.3.25, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Simple Shortcode Block need?
Simple Shortcode Block requires PHP 5.2.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Simple Shortcode Block last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.2, was released on November 16, 2019 (7 years ago).
Who makes Simple Shortcode Block?
Simple Shortcode Block is developed and maintained by pablocianes.
What are the best alternatives to Simple Shortcode Block?
The most popular alternatives to Simple Shortcode Block are Spectra Legacy (1M+ installs), Breadcrumb NavXT (800K+ installs) and PDF Embedder (300K+ installs).
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