Widget Magic
Implements a set of WordPress shortcodes and theme additions that allow widget content (initially just sidebars but eventually any text) to be used in any page or post using simple shortcodes.
Consider an alternative
Widget Magic shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 15 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 15 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.2 (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 Widget Magic stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| magic | >100 |
| widget | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
About Widget Magic
From the official readme · v1.1.0Description
Implements a set of WordPress shortcodes and theme additions that allow widget content (initially just sidebars but eventually any text) to be used in any page or post using simple shortcodes.
Usage
For a sidebar:
[show_sidebar id="<sidebar id>"]
Attributes
- id: the id or name of the sidebar to be shown.
Installation
- Install Widget Magic either via the WordPress.org plugin directory, or by uploading the files to your server. If uploading the files to your server create a
widget_magicdirectory in your/wp-content/plugins/directory and uploadwidget_magic.phpinto that directory. - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
Changelog
Readme changes.
1.1
- Readme changes.
1.0
- Initial implementation.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Widget Magic alternatives
All magic plugins →
FAQ
Widget Magic: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 29, 2026
Is Widget Magic free?
Yes. Widget Magic is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Widget Magic safe to use in 2026?
Widget Magic shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 15 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Widget Magic?
Widget Magic is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 4,603 times since it launched in July 2011. It was downloaded 177 times in the last 30 days.
Does Widget Magic work with WordPress 7.1?
Widget Magic is officially tested up to WordPress 3.2.1, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Widget Magic last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.0, was released on July 11, 2011 (15 years ago).
Who makes Widget Magic?
Widget Magic is developed and maintained by Femi.
What are the best alternatives to Widget Magic?
The most popular alternatives to Widget Magic are Magic Login Link (90+ installs), Magic Food (40+ installs) and Mana Symbols (20+ installs).
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