Classic Editor vs Widget Content Blocks

At a glance

Plugin A

Classic Editor

Enables the previous "classic" editor and the old-style Edit Post screen with TinyMCE, Meta Boxes, etc. Supports all plugins that extend this screen.

Rating

4.9/5

Active Installs 9.0M+

Author WordPress.org

Version v1.7.0

Last Updated May 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

Classic Editor vs Widget Content Blocks: Key Statistics
Metric	Classic Editor	Widget Content Blocks
Requires WP	4.9+	4.1+
Requires PHP	5.2.4+	7.4+
Tested up to WP	7.0	7.0.1
Plugin age	9 yrs	15 yrs

Quick Verdict

Choose Classic Editor if you need to disable Gutenberg across your entire site. It has 9.0M+ active installs, which is Classic Editor has 900x more installs than Widget Content Blocks. This plugin restores the familiar TinyMCE editing screen and works with any plugin that extends it. Widget Content Blocks only adds a visual editor to widgets, a much narrower use case. For most intermediate WordPress users, Classic Editor is the practical choice.

Feature Comparison: Classic Editor vs Widget Content Blocks

Core functional differences between Classic Editor and Widget Content Blocks
Feature	Classic Editor	Widget Content Blocks
Primary function	Replaces the block editor with the classic TinyMCE editor for posts, pages, and custom post types	Adds a visual editor to widget areas, letting you edit widget content like a post
Scope of change	Site-wide: affects all post types that use the block editor	Widget areas only: does not change post or page editing
Editor interface	Classic WordPress editor with TinyMCE, Meta Boxes, and the old Edit Post screen	Default WordPress visual editor with media upload functionality inside widget panels
Plugin compatibility	Supports all plugins that extend the classic editing screen	Works with standard widget areas; compatibility depends on the theme's widget system
Content type support	Posts, pages, custom post types, and any content type using the block editor	Widget content only (text, HTML, rich media via visual editor)
Custom post type control	Yes, can enable or disable the classic editor per post type	Not applicable; does not affect post types
Media management	Uses the classic media library modal with upload, edit, and insert workflow	Adds media upload functionality to widget editing

Who Should Use Classic Editor

Site owners who want to know how to switch back to classic editor in WordPress site-wide. With 9.0M+ installs, this is the most trusted method to disable Gutenberg.
Developers managing sites with many custom post types. Classic Editor lets you enable classic editing for specific post types, such as WooCommerce product pages, without affecting the rest of the site.
Teams that rely on plugins extending the classic editing screen (custom fields, page builders, SEO meta boxes). The plugin preserves full backward compatibility with these tools.

Who Should Use Widget Content Blocks

Users who want to edit widget content with visual editor tools, such as adding images or formatted text to sidebars without writing HTML. 92% of reviewers give it 5 stars for this specific task.
Site builders who need a rich text widget plugin for WordPress but want to keep the block editor for posts and pages. Widget Content Blocks does not change your post editing experience.
Anyone managing a site with complex widget areas (footer columns, custom sidebars) who finds the default text widget too limiting. The visual editor makes widget content creation faster.

Community & Support

Classic Editor has substantial support data. Over the past 2 months, 13 support threads were opened with 1 resolved, giving an 8% resolution rate. The plugin's rating of 4.9/5 from 1242 reviews reflects strong user satisfaction: 95% of reviews are 5-star, and only 1% are 1-star. Widget Content Blocks has a 4.8/5 rating from 60 reviews, with 92% 5-star and 5% 1-star ratings. Its support sample over 2 months is too small to draw conclusions.

Verdict: Classic Editor or Widget Content Blocks for WordPress sites?

Pick Classic Editor if you need to restore the classic editing experience across your site. It has 9.0M+ active installs, a 4.9/5 rating from 1242 reviews, and 95% of users rate it 5 stars. It is the definitive answer to how to switch back to classic editor in WordPress for posts, pages, and custom post types.

Pick Widget Content Blocks if your only pain point is widget editing. It solves one specific problem: adding a visual editor to widget areas. It has 4.8/5 from 60 reviews, and 92% of those are 5-star. But its scope is limited to widgets, and its install base is much smaller.

For most intermediate users, Classic Editor is the better choice because it addresses the larger need: controlling the editing interface site-wide. Use Widget Content Blocks only as a classic editor alternative for widget content when you want to keep the block editor for everything else.

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 Classic Editor compared to Widget Content Blocks?

Classic Editor has 9.0M+ active installs while Widget Content Blocks has 10K+, meaning Classic Editor is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Classic Editor or Widget Content Blocks?

Classic Editor averages 4.9/5 from 1,242 reviews, while Widget Content Blocks averages 4.8/5 from 60 reviews — Classic Editor has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Classic Editor or Widget Content Blocks?

Widget Content Blocks was last updated on Jun 23, 2026 and Classic Editor on May 28, 2026, so Widget Content Blocks received the more recent update.

Q Are Classic Editor and Widget Content Blocks both free?

Yes — both Classic Editor 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 Classic Editor or Widget Content Blocks better for WordPress sites?

Classic Editor is better if you want to restore the old editing experience site-wide, including for WooCommerce product pages and custom post types. Widget Content Blocks is better if you only need rich text editing inside your widget areas and sidebars. For most users who just want to write posts without the block editor, Classic Editor is the clear choice.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Classic Editor or Widget Content Blocks?

Classic Editor is easier for a beginner because it activates immediately with no configuration needed, instantly replacing the block editor with the familiar tinyMCE toolbar. Widget Content Blocks requires you to understand where widgets live and how to replace individual widget text areas. A beginner who just wants to write posts without learning blocks should pick Classic Editor.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Classic Editor and Widget Content Blocks?

Classic Editor replaces the entire post and page editing screen with the old editor, while Widget Content Blocks only adds a visual editor to your widget areas. Classic Editor works with all content types including WooCommerce products and custom post types, but Widget Content Blocks is limited to sidebars and widget zones. They solve completely different problems: one is a full editor replacement, the other is a widget enhancement.

Q Can you switch from Classic Editor to Widget Content Blocks (or the other way) without losing data?

Yes, you can switch between them without losing any existing content because both plugins save data as standard WordPress content. Classic Editor stores posts in the same database format as the block editor, and Widget Content Blocks stores widget content as normal widget text. Uninstalling one and installing the other will not delete your posts, pages, or widget content.

Q Which type of site should choose Classic Editor, and which should choose Widget Content Blocks?

Choose Classic Editor if you run a site where authors need the old post editor for articles, WooCommerce products, or custom post types, and you want to disable the block editor entirely. Choose Widget Content Blocks if you are happy with the block editor for posts but want rich text formatting in your sidebars and footer widgets. They serve different purposes, so pick based on where you need the classic editing experience.