Classic Widgets vs Vertical Timeline Widget

At a glance

Plugin A

Classic Widgets

Enables the previous "classic" widgets settings screens in Appearance - Widgets and the Customizer. Disables the block editor from managing widgets.

Rating

4.9/5

Active Installs 2.0M+

Author Tonya Mork

Version v0.3

Last Updated Dec 2025

Source WordPress.org ↗

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

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

Classic Widgets vs Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor: Key Statistics
Metric	Classic Widgets	Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor
Requires WP	4.9+	5.2+
Requires PHP	5.6+	7.2+
Tested up to WP	6.9.4	7.0.1
Plugin age	5 yrs	8 yrs

Quick Verdict

Classic Widgets is the clear winner for the majority of WordPress site owners. With 2.0M+ active installs and a 95% five-star rating, it solves a specific problem reliably: it restores the original widgets screen and disables the block editor for widgets. Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor serves a narrower audience, offering a single visual component for Elementor users. If you need to disable Gutenberg widgets across your site, choose Classic Widgets. If you build timelines inside Elementor, the Vertical Timeline Widget is a solid specialist tool.

Feature Comparison: Classic Widgets vs Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor

Functional feature comparison
Feature	Classic Widgets	Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor
Primary function	Restores classic widgets settings screens in Appearance > Widgets and the Customizer	Adds a vertical timeline widget for Elementor to showcase journeys, milestones, or roadmaps
Block editor impact	Disables the block editor from managing widgets	Does not affect block editor functionality
Page builder requirement	Works without any page builder	Requires Elementor to function
Admin screen changes	Changes the widget management interface back to the pre-Gutenberg layout	Adds a widget to the Elementor editor, no admin screen changes
Use case focus	Site-wide administrative setting for widget management	Front-end content display for timelines and stories
Plugin tags	Classic widgets, disable, disable-gutenberg, editor, gutenberg	Elementor, elementor-timeline, timeline, vertical-timeline, widget

Who Should Use Classic Widgets

Site owners who want to disable Gutenberg widgets across their entire WordPress installation. With 2.0M+ active installs, this is the most trusted solution for restoring the classic interface.
Developers managing client sites who prefer the traditional drag-and-drop widget management screen. 95% of reviewers gave it five stars, indicating strong satisfaction among users who made the switch back.
Multisite network administrators who need a consistent widget experience across dozens of sites. The plugin's single toggle approach makes it ideal for how to disable gutenberg widgets in wordpress at scale.

Who Should Use Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor

Elementor users who need to add a vertical timeline elementor widget to their pages without writing custom code. 92% of reviewers rated it five stars, showing it delivers on its core promise.
Business owners building "About Us" or "Our Journey" pages who want a visual timeline to display company milestones. The widget lets you add vertical timeline to elementor in a few clicks.
Freelancers creating portfolio or case study layouts who need a free solution for how to make a timeline in elementor. The plugin provides a dedicated widget rather than forcing workarounds with other elements.

Community & Support

Classic Widgets holds a 95% five-star rating and only 2% one-star reviews from 271 total ratings. This distribution suggests the plugin consistently meets user expectations for its narrow purpose. The Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor shows a 92% five-star rating with 4% one-star reviews from 26 ratings. Both plugins have minimal recent support activity, with Classic Widgets showing 5 open threads over two months and Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor showing 1 open thread over the same period. These sample sizes are too small to draw conclusions about support quality, so focus on the feature fit rather than support responsiveness.

Verdict: Classic Widgets or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor for WordPress sites?

Pick Classic Widgets if you want to restore classic widgets in wordpress and disable the block editor for widgets site-wide. Its Classic Widgets has 200x more installs than Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor and 95% five-star rating reflect a proven track record for this specific task. Pick Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor only if you actively build timelines inside Elementor pages and need a free widget to do it. Its 92% five-star rating shows it works well for that niche. For most WordPress administrators, the decision is clear: Classic Widgets solves a common frustration, while Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor solves a specialized design need. Choose based on whether your priority is admin workflow or front-end content display.

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 Widgets compared to Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Classic Widgets has 2.0M+ active installs while Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor has 10K+, meaning Classic Widgets is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Classic Widgets or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Classic Widgets averages 4.9/5 from 271 reviews, while Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor averages 4.8/5 from 26 reviews — Classic Widgets has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Classic Widgets or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor was last updated on Jun 10, 2026 and Classic Widgets on Dec 8, 2025, so Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor received the more recent update.

Q Are Classic Widgets and Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor both free?

Yes — both Classic Widgets 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 Classic Widgets or Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor better for WordPress sites?

For most sites, Classic Widgets is better if you want to restore the old widget screen and disable the block editor entirely. Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor is better if you already use Elementor and need a specific timeline layout. They solve completely different problems, so the better choice depends on whether you need to simplify your admin area or add a visual timeline to your pages.

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

Classic Widgets is easier for a beginner because you just activate it and your widget screen instantly reverts to the classic interface with no extra steps. Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor requires you to already have Elementor installed and be comfortable using its page builder to place and style the timeline. If you want a one-click fix for the widget editor, Classic Widgets wins hands down.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Classic Widgets and Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor?

Classic Widgets removes the block editor from your widgets screen and brings back the old drag-and-drop interface, it does not add any new content to your site. Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor adds a new visual element that lets you display a vertical timeline of events or posts inside Elementor pages. One is a utility for changing your admin experience, the other is a design tool for your front-end content.

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

Yes, you can switch between them without losing data because they affect completely different parts of your site. Classic Widgets only changes how you manage widgets in the admin area, while Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor only adds a new widget for use in Elementor pages. Deactivating one will not remove any content or settings from the other.

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

Choose Classic Widgets if you run a site where you or your clients prefer the old widget management screen and want to disable the block editor for widgets. Choose Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor if you build sites with Elementor and need a dedicated timeline widget to show company history, project milestones, or a blog timeline. They serve different audiences, so pick based on whether you need admin simplicity or a specific front-end layout.