WordPress plugin comparison
Essential Widgets vs Show Widget Area Names (SWAN)
Essential Widgets
by Catch Themes
10K+ installs3.5
Show Widget Area Names (SWAN)
by Amplitude Design
40+ installs4.3
At a glance
- Essential Widgets has more active installs: 10K+, against 40+ for Show Widget Area Names (SWAN).
- On a typical day, Essential Widgets is downloaded about 75 times, Show Widget Area Names (SWAN) about 3.
- Show Widget Area Names (SWAN) is rated higher: 4.3 out of 5 from 4 reviews, against 3.5 from 2 reviews.
- Essential Widgets was updated more recently: Jun 18, 2026, against Feb 10, 2015 for Show Widget Area Names (SWAN).
- Essential Widgets is tested with a newer WordPress: 7.0.8, against 4.1.42 for Show Widget Area Names (SWAN).
- Show Widget Area Names (SWAN) has been around longer: since 2012, against 2017 for Essential Widgets.
Line by line
Essential Widgets leads on 6 of 7 comparable lines.
| Metric | Essential Widgets | Show Widget Area Names (SWAN) |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank | #1,809 | #22,766 |
| Active installs | 10K+ | 40+ |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 1.7K | 69 |
| Rating | 3.5(2) | 4.3(4) |
| Support threads resolved | 100% | – |
| Tested up to | 7.0.8 | 4.1.42 |
| Search multiplier | ×0.86 | ×0.00 |
| Last release | 4 months ago | 11 years ago |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
From WordPress.org's public data, refreshed every night. Downloads are WordPress.org's official daily figures for the last 30 days.
Tags they share
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