📊 Data-Driven Comparison · Updated 2026

Starter Templates or Vertical Timeline Widget for? How to Choose the Right One

Honest Breakdown

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By PluginMatch Editorial
· ⏱ 3 min read
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ST
Starter Templates

1.0M+ installs

WP.org rating 4.9/5
VE
WP.org rating 4.8/5

At a glance

Plugin A

Starter Templates – AI-Powered Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg

The growing library of 300+ ready-to-use templates that work with all WordPress themes including Astra, Hello, OceanWP, GeneratePress and more

Rating
4.9/5
Active Installs 1.0M+
Author Brainstorm Force
Version v4.6.3
Last Updated Jun 2026
Plugin B

Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor

Use a vertical timeline widget for Elementor to showcase your journey, story, milestones, or roadmap directly inside Elementor.

Rating
4.8/5
Active Installs 10K+
Author Satinder Singh
Version v2.7.5
Last Updated Jun 2026

Full Comparison

Technical Specs

Starter Templates vs Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor: Key Statistics
MetricStarter TemplatesVertical Timeline Widget for Elementor
Requires WP6.6+5.2+
Requires PHP7.4+7.2+
Tested up to WP7.07.0.1
Plugin age9 yrs8 yrs

Quick Verdict

Pick Starter Templates if you need a full site foundation. It offers 300+ ready-to-use templates and has 1.0M+ active installs, which is 100x more than Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor. Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor is a narrow tool for one specific layout type. For the vast majority of WordPress users building real sites, Starter Templates is the clear winner.

Feature Comparison: Starter Templates vs Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor

Functional feature comparison between Starter Templates and Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor
Feature Starter Templates Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor
Template library size 300+ ready-to-use templates Single widget (timeline layout)
Primary use case Import full site designs or single page templates Create vertical timeline content blocks
Compatible page builders Elementor, Gutenberg block editor Elementor only
Theme compatibility Astra, Hello, OceanWP, GeneratePress, and others Any Elementor-compatible theme
Content type served Full page layouts, starter sites, block patterns Vertical timeline widget for milestones, roadmaps, journeys
Tags on WordPress.org astra-starter-sites, block-editor, elementor, gutenberg, templates elementor, elementor-timeline, timeline, vertical-timeline, widget

Who Should Use Starter Templates

  • Freelancers building multiple client sites who need a fast starting point, the library of 300+ templates works with Astra, Hello, OceanWP, and GeneratePress.
  • Anyone who wants to import elementor template wordpress content without coding. 98% of reviewers gave it 5 stars, showing consistent delivery.
  • Site owners using Gutenberg who need gutenberg starter templates free of extra bloat, Starter Templates supports both Elementor and the block editor.

Who Should Use Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor

  • Users who specifically need to learn how to make a timeline in elementor and want a dedicated widget for that single purpose.
  • Storytellers or business owners building a company history page, product roadmap, or career timeline inside Elementor.
  • Anyone who values a lightweight, single-purpose tool, 92% of reviewers gave it 5 stars for doing one thing well.

Community & Support

Starter Templates has a 98% five-star rating and only 1% one-star reviews from its 4743 total reviews. Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor holds a 92% five-star rating with 4% one-star reviews. Both plugins show limited support thread volume over the last 2 months, so your experience will depend on documentation and community forums rather than rapid ticket responses.

Verdict: Starter Templates or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor for WordPress sites?

Pick Starter Templates if you are building a complete site and need elementor templates for woocommerce store pages, blog layouts, or landing pages. Its 300+ templates and 100x more installs than Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor make it the proven choice for real-world projects. Pick Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor only if your sole requirement is a vertical timeline block and you already have a site builder in place. For anyone else, Starter Templates delivers far more value with a 98% five-star satisfaction rate.

How this comparison was made

This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Q How many people use Starter Templates compared to Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Starter Templates has 1.0M+ active installs while Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor has 10K+, meaning Starter Templates is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Starter Templates or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Starter Templates averages 4.9/5 from 4,743 reviews, while Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor averages 4.8/5 from 26 reviews — Starter Templates has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Starter Templates or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor was last updated on Jun 10, 2026 and Starter Templates on Jun 2, 2026, so Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor received the more recent update.

Q Are Starter Templates and Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor both free?

Yes — both Starter Templates and Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.

Q Is Starter Templates or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor better for WordPress sites?

Starter Templates is better for building an entire site from scratch, as it gives you complete pre-built websites and pages. Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor is better only if your specific goal is to add a timeline section to a page you already have. For most sites, Starter Templates offers far more value.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Starter Templates or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Starter Templates is easier for a beginner because you import a full site with one click and everything is styled for you. Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor requires you to already know how to use Elementor and manually add content to each timeline item. Most beginners will find Starter Templates much more straightforward.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Starter Templates and Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Starter Templates provides complete pre-built websites and pages for Elementor, Gutenberg, and the Block Editor, while Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor only adds a single timeline widget to Elementor. Starter Templates is a site builder, whereas the other is a single-purpose content widget.

Q Can you switch from Starter Templates to Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor (or the other way) without losing data?

You can install both plugins at the same time without losing any data, as they serve completely different functions. Switching from Starter Templates to the timeline widget just means you stop using the template library, but your imported pages remain. The reverse is also true; the timeline widget only affects the timeline elements you create.

Q Which type of site should choose Starter Templates, and which should choose Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Choose Starter Templates if you are building a new site, a WooCommerce store, or any site that needs a complete design foundation. Choose Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor if you already have a finished site and just need to display a history, roadmap, or chronological list of events. Starter Templates is for building the whole house; the timeline widget is for furnishing one room.