Classic Widgets vs ShopBuilder

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

ShopBuilder – WooCommerce Builder For Elementor

WooCommerce builder for Elementor includes 80+ widgets, WooCommerce templates, quick view, compare, wishlist, shop & archive page builder and more.

Rating

4.7/5

Active Installs 10K+

Author RadiusTheme

Version v3.3.0

Last Updated Jun 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

Classic Widgets vs ShopBuilder: Key Statistics
Metric	Classic Widgets	ShopBuilder
Requires WP	4.9+	5.5+
Requires PHP	5.6+	7.4+
Tested up to WP	6.9.4	7.0.1
Plugin age	5 yrs	4 yrs

Quick Verdict

Classic Widgets is the clear winner for most WordPress sites. It has 200x more installs than ShopBuilder, with 2.0M+ active users trusting it to restore the classic widgets interface. If you need to disable Gutenberg widgets across your site, this plugin delivers that single function with a 95% five-star rating from 271 reviews. ShopBuilder serves a niche audience building WooCommerce stores with Elementor, but it solves a completely different problem.

Feature Comparison: Classic Widgets vs ShopBuilder

Functional feature comparison between Classic Widgets and ShopBuilder
Feature	Classic Widgets	ShopBuilder
Primary function	Restores classic widget screens, disables block editor for widgets	WooCommerce builder for Elementor with 80+ widgets
Target user	Any WordPress site wanting the pre-Gutenberg widget interface	Elementor users building custom WooCommerce stores
WooCommerce support	None, affects widgets only	Full WooCommerce templates, shop and archive page builder
Built-in wishlist	Not included	Included as part of the plugin
Quick view functionality	Not included	Included as part of the plugin
Compare products feature	Not included	Included as part of the plugin
Customizer compatibility	Works with the classic Customizer widgets panel	No Customizer widgets, relies on Elementor interface
Plugin tags	classic-widgets, disable, disable-gutenberg, editor, gutenberg	elementor, woocommerce-builder, woocommerce, woocommerce-product

Who Should Use Classic Widgets

Site owners who want to disable Gutenberg widgets and return to the classic drag-and-drop interface they already know, 95% of reviewers gave it five stars, indicating high satisfaction among users who make this switch.
Anyone searching for how to disable Gutenberg widgets in WordPress without installing a heavy page builder, Classic Widgets is a focused solution trusted by 2.0M+ sites.
Teams managing a multisite network who need to restore classic widgets in WordPress across all subsites with a single plugin activation, backed by a 2% one-star rate showing minimal reported issues.

Who Should Use ShopBuilder

Elementor users who want to build a custom WooCommerce product page in Elementor without writing code, ShopBuilder provides 80+ widgets specifically for product layouts.
Store owners needing an Elementor WooCommerce wishlist plugin and quick view functionality bundled into one solution, with 88% of reviewers giving it five stars.
Developers building Elementor-based shops who need WooCommerce templates, a compare feature, and archive page builder all from one plugin rather than assembling separate tools.

Community & Support

Classic Widgets holds a 95% five-star rating from 271 reviews, with only 2% of users leaving a one-star rating. This distribution suggests the plugin reliably solves its single purpose for the vast majority of users. ShopBuilder shows an 88% five-star rate with 0% one-star ratings from its smaller review base, indicating solid performance among its Elementor-focused audience.

Verdict: Classic Widgets or ShopBuilder for WordPress sites?

Pick Classic Widgets if your priority is to disable block editor for widgets and restore the classic interface you prefer. It is the data-driven winner with 2.0M+ active installs and a 95% five-star satisfaction rate. Pick ShopBuilder if you are building a WooCommerce store inside Elementor and need product-specific tools like wishlists, quick view, and custom templates. These plugins solve unrelated problems, Classic Widgets is for anyone tired of Gutenberg widgets, while ShopBuilder is for Elementor WooCommerce builders only. For the majority of WordPress users who simply want to switch back to classic widgets WordPress, Classic Widgets is the clear recommendation.

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 ShopBuilder?

Classic Widgets has 2.0M+ active installs while ShopBuilder has 10K+, meaning Classic Widgets is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Classic Widgets or ShopBuilder?

Classic Widgets averages 4.9/5 from 271 reviews, while ShopBuilder averages 4.7/5 from 17 reviews — Classic Widgets has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Classic Widgets or ShopBuilder?

ShopBuilder was last updated on Jun 16, 2026 and Classic Widgets on Dec 8, 2025, so ShopBuilder received the more recent update.

Q Are Classic Widgets and ShopBuilder both free?

Yes — both Classic Widgets and ShopBuilder 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 ShopBuilder better for WordPress sites?

ShopBuilder is better for sites that need to customize WooCommerce product pages and layouts with Elementor. Classic Widgets is better if you simply want to disable the block editor and restore the old widget screen. Your choice depends entirely on whether you need WooCommerce design tools or just a simpler backend.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Classic Widgets or ShopBuilder?

Classic Widgets is easier for a beginner because you just activate it and the old widget screen returns immediately with no configuration. ShopBuilder requires you to learn Elementor and its WooCommerce builder tools, which has a steeper learning curve. Most users find Classic Widgets plug-and-play simple.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Classic Widgets and ShopBuilder?

Classic Widgets only brings back the classic widget editor and disables Gutenberg for widgets, while ShopBuilder is a full WooCommerce builder that works with Elementor to design product pages. The core difference is that Classic Widgets is a restoration tool and ShopBuilder is a design tool for ecommerce.

Q Can you switch from Classic Widgets to ShopBuilder (or the other way) without losing data?

Yes, you can switch between them without losing your existing widget content or WooCommerce data because they operate on different parts of WordPress. Classic Widgets affects the widget admin screen, while ShopBuilder creates Elementor templates for product pages. Deactivating one plugin simply returns you to the default editor for that area.

Q Which type of site should choose Classic Widgets, and which should choose ShopBuilder?

Choose Classic Widgets if you run a blog, business site, or any site where you just want the old widget screen back without any extra features. Choose ShopBuilder if you run a WooCommerce store and need to visually design product pages, category layouts, and checkout templates with Elementor. These plugins serve completely different purposes.