Black Studio TinyMCE vs Widget Content Blocks

At a glance

Plugin A

Black Studio TinyMCE Widget

The visual editor widget for WordPress.

Rating

4.8/5

Active Installs 200K+

Author Black Studio

Version v2.7.3

Last Updated Mar 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Plugin B

Widget Content Blocks

Edit widget content using the default WordPress visual editor and media uploading functionality. Create widgets like you would create posts or pages.

Rating

4.8/5

Active Installs 10K+

Author Danny van Kooten

Version v2.3.13

Last Updated Jun 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

Black Studio TinyMCE Widget vs Widget Content Blocks: Key Statistics
Metric	Black Studio TinyMCE Widget	Widget Content Blocks
Requires WP	3.1+	4.1+
Requires PHP	5.2+	7.4+
Tested up to WP	6.9.4	7.0.1
Plugin age	15 yrs	15 yrs

Quick Verdict

Black Studio TinyMCE Widget is the clear winner for most WordPress sites. It has 20x more installs than Widget Content Blocks, which reflects years of proven reliability. If you need a visual editor widget that simply works, Black Studio TinyMCE Widget is your best bet. Widget Content Blocks is a newer option, but its smaller user base makes it a riskier choice for production sites. Pick Black Studio TinyMCE Widget unless you have a very specific reason to choose the alternative.

Feature Comparison: Black Studio TinyMCE Widget vs Widget Content Blocks

Core functional differences between the two visual editor widgets
Feature	Black Studio TinyMCE Widget	Widget Content Blocks
Editor type	Uses TinyMCE, the classic WordPress visual editor	Uses the default WordPress visual editor
Media upload support	Full media library integration within the widget	Full media upload and library access
Widget area compatibility	Works with classic widget areas and block themes via a legacy widget block	Designed for classic widget areas; no block theme mention
Text mode fallback	Includes a text/HTML tab alongside the visual tab	Visual editor only, no separate text mode
Shortcode support	Renders shortcodes inside the widget editor preview	Renders shortcodes inside the widget editor preview
Multi-widget support	Supports multiple instances of the same widget	Supports multiple instances of the same widget
Plugin tags	editor, tinymce, visual, widget, wysiwyg	rich-text, visual-editor, widget, widgets, wysiwyg

Who Should Use Black Studio TinyMCE Widget

Site owners who want a proven plugin with 20x more installs than its closest competitor, that scale means more bug reports have been caught and fixed over time.
Anyone who needs to enable visual editor in text widget areas without upgrading to the block editor. Black Studio TinyMCE Widget handles this exact scenario for 200K+ active sites.
Developers or agencies building client sites where stability matters more than novelty. 90% of its 192 reviews are 5-star, showing consistent satisfaction across a large user base.

Who Should Use Widget Content Blocks

Users who prefer a plugin that mirrors the post-editing experience exactly. Widget Content Blocks lets you create widgets like you would create posts or pages, which some editors find more intuitive.
Site owners who want a plugin with a slightly higher 5-star ratio. 92% of its 60 reviews give it 5 stars, though the sample size is much smaller than Black Studio TinyMCE Widget.
Anyone testing alternatives to Black Studio TinyMCE Widget and wanting a tinymce widget alternative that feels more modern. Widget Content Blocks was updated more recently (Jun 23, 2026), which may appeal to early adopters.

Community & Support

Black Studio TinyMCE Widget has a 90% 5-star rating and only 3% 1-star reviews across 192 total ratings. That ratio indicates a mature plugin with few critical bugs. Widget Content Blocks shows 92% 5-star and 5% 1-star from 60 reviews. The 1-star rate for Widget Content Blocks is slightly higher, though the review count is too small to draw firm conclusions.

Verdict: Black Studio TinyMCE Widget or Widget Content Blocks for WordPress sites?

Pick Black Studio TinyMCE Widget if you value a plugin that 90% of reviewers rate 5 stars and that runs on 200K+ sites. It is the standard answer for how to add tinymce editor to wordpress widget areas. Its 20x install lead over Widget Content Blocks gives it a track record that no competitor matches.

Pick Widget Content Blocks if you want a plugin that treats widget editing like post editing and you are comfortable with a smaller user base. It has 92% 5-star reviews, but that stat comes from only 60 ratings. For production sites, Black Studio TinyMCE Widget remains the safer, more battle-tested choice.

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 Black Studio TinyMCE Widget compared to Widget Content Blocks?

Black Studio TinyMCE Widget has 200K+ active installs while Widget Content Blocks has 10K+, meaning Black Studio TinyMCE Widget is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Black Studio TinyMCE Widget or Widget Content Blocks?

Both plugins average 4.8/5 on WordPress.org — Black Studio TinyMCE Widget from 192 reviews and Widget Content Blocks from 60 reviews.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Black Studio TinyMCE Widget or Widget Content Blocks?

Widget Content Blocks was last updated on Jun 23, 2026 and Black Studio TinyMCE Widget on Mar 8, 2026, so Widget Content Blocks received the more recent update.

Q Are Black Studio TinyMCE Widget and Widget Content Blocks both free?

Yes — both Black Studio TinyMCE Widget and Widget Content Blocks 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 Black Studio TinyMCE Widget or Widget Content Blocks better for WordPress sites?

Widget Content Blocks is the better choice for most sites because it was updated more recently and offers a modern approach to adding visual editors in widgets. Black Studio TinyMCE Widget is a classic option that still works fine, but Widget Content Blocks gives you a cleaner interface that fits better with the current WordPress block editor.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Black Studio TinyMCE Widget or Widget Content Blocks?

Widget Content Blocks is easier for a beginner because it integrates directly with the WordPress block editor you already use for posts and pages. Black Studio TinyMCE Widget requires you to learn a separate TinyMCE toolbar, which adds an extra step for new users.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Black Studio TinyMCE Widget and Widget Content Blocks?

The biggest difference is that Widget Content Blocks uses the native WordPress block editor, while Black Studio TinyMCE Widget relies on the older TinyMCE editor interface. This means Widget Content Blocks gives you access to all the same blocks and formatting tools you already use in your content.

Q Can you switch from Black Studio TinyMCE Widget to Widget Content Blocks (or the other way) without losing data?

You can switch between them without losing your widget content because both plugins store the same rich text in the WordPress database. After switching, you may need to re-save each widget to activate the new editor, but your text, images, and formatting will remain intact.

Q Which type of site should choose Black Studio TinyMCE Widget, and which should choose Widget Content Blocks?

Choose Black Studio TinyMCE Widget if you prefer the classic TinyMCE toolbar and want a lightweight plugin that has been stable for years. Choose Widget Content Blocks if you want a modern editor that matches the rest of your WordPress experience and gives you access to the full block library in your widgets.