Template Kit vs Widget Content Blocks

At a glance

Plugin A

Template Kit – Import

Use this plugin to import Template Kits to WordPress

Rating

3.4/5

Active Installs 400K+

Author envato

Version v1.0.16

Last Updated Aug 2024

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

Template Kit vs Widget Content Blocks: Key Statistics
Metric	Template Kit	Widget Content Blocks
Requires WP	5.3+	4.1+
Requires PHP	5.6+	7.4+
Tested up to WP	6.4.8	7.0.1
Plugin age	6 yrs	15 yrs

Quick Verdict

Widget Content Blocks is the clear winner for most WordPress users. It holds a 92% five-star rating from its user base, while Template Kit sits at 56%. For anyone who needs to edit widget content with the visual editor, Widget Content Blocks delivers a polished, reliable experience. Template Kit serves a narrow purpose: importing Elementor kits. If you do not build sites with Elementor templates from Envato, you do not need it. Pick Widget Content Blocks for daily content work.

Feature Comparison: Template Kit vs Widget Content Blocks

Functional feature comparison between Template Kit and Widget Content Blocks
Feature	Template Kit	Widget Content Blocks
Primary use case	Import pre-built Elementor template kits	Edit widget content using the WordPress visual editor
Content editing method	Relies on Elementor's builder for edits after import	Uses the default WordPress visual editor and media uploader
Widget creation workflow	Not applicable, plugin imports kits, not individual widgets	Create widgets like you create posts or pages
Rich text support	No dedicated rich-text widget feature	Full WYSIWYG editor for widget content
Media upload in widgets	Not a core feature	Built-in media uploading functionality
Plugin tags	Elementor, template, templates	Rich-text, visual-editor, widget, widgets, wysiwyg
Template kit import	Core function, imports.zip kit files	Not supported

Who Should Use Template Kit

Elementor users who frequently purchase or download pre-made template kits from marketplaces like Envato. The plugin is designed specifically to handle the import process for those files.
Developers or site builders who need to quickly deploy a full page layout from a kit rather than building from scratch. Template Kit has 40x more installs than Widget Content Blocks, showing strong adoption in the Elementor ecosystem.
Anyone who values a plugin focused on a single task. It does one thing, import Elementor templates, and avoids feature creep. Its 56% five-star rating reflects satisfaction among users who stay within that workflow.

Who Should Use Widget Content Blocks

Site owners who want to edit widget content with the visual editor instead of writing HTML in a text box. This plugin lets you treat widgets like posts, with full formatting controls. 92% of reviewers give it five stars.
Content teams who need a WYSIWYG widget for sidebars, footers, or custom widget areas. The media uploading functionality means you can add images directly inside a widget block without extra plugins.
Anyone tired of the default WordPress text widget's limitations. If you have ever searched for a "best rich text widget plugin WordPress", this is the solution. It turns every widget area into a mini page editor.

Community & Support

Widget Content Blocks shows a strong satisfaction signal from its user base. 92% of its reviews are five-star, and only 5% are one-star. This suggests the plugin meets expectations for its target audience. Template Kit has a more polarized rating distribution with 56% five-star and 38% one-star. The one-star proportion is high, indicating that many users encountered problems with imports or compatibility. Support thread data for both plugins is too limited to draw conclusions about response times or resolution rates.

Verdict: Template Kit or Widget Content Blocks for WordPress sites?

Pick Template Kit if your workflow depends on importing Elementor kits from external sources. It handles that specific job and has a large install base (40x more installs than Widget Content Blocks). You will use it occasionally, not daily.

Pick Widget Content Blocks if you edit widget content regularly and want a visual editor experience. With a 92% five-star rating and built-in media uploads, it solves a common frustration in WordPress. For most site owners who need to manage sidebar content, footers, or custom widget areas, Widget Content Blocks is the better long-term choice. It wins on user satisfaction and everyday utility.

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 Template Kit compared to Widget Content Blocks?

Template Kit has 400K+ active installs while Widget Content Blocks has 10K+, meaning Template Kit is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Template Kit or Widget Content Blocks?

Widget Content Blocks averages 4.8/5 from 60 reviews, while Template Kit averages 3.4/5 from 16 reviews — Widget Content Blocks has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Template Kit or Widget Content Blocks?

Widget Content Blocks was last updated on Jun 23, 2026 and Template Kit on Aug 1, 2024, so Widget Content Blocks received the more recent update.

Q Are Template Kit and Widget Content Blocks both free?

Yes — both Template Kit 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 Template Kit or Widget Content Blocks better for WordPress sites?

Widget Content Blocks is better for most WordPress sites because it gives you direct control over individual pieces of content on any page or post. Template Kit is only useful if you are building pages with Elementor and need pre-designed layouts to start from. For general site editing without a page builder dependency, Widget Content Blocks is the more versatile choice.

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

Widget Content Blocks is easier for a beginner because it works right out of the box with the standard WordPress editor and lets you add formatted text or images anywhere. Template Kit requires you to first install Elementor, then upload a zip file and import a full page layout, which adds extra steps. Most beginners find the simple widget approach less intimidating than managing template imports.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Template Kit and Widget Content Blocks?

The biggest difference is that Template Kit is built specifically for Elementor and delivers complete page templates you can import, while Widget Content Blocks is a general-purpose tool that adds a rich-text editor block to any widget area. Template Kit focuses on full page design, whereas Widget Content Blocks focuses on editing small content snippets within your existing layout.

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

You can switch from Template Kit to Widget Content Blocks without losing data because Template Kit only stores imported page designs in Elementor, and Widget Content Blocks works with standard WordPress widgets. However, if you switch from Widget Content Blocks to Template Kit, any content you created with Widget Content Blocks will remain in your widget areas but won't be editable through Template Kit. There is no automatic conversion between the two systems.

Q Which type of site should choose Template Kit, and which should choose Widget Content Blocks?

Sites built entirely with Elementor should choose Template Kit to quickly import professional page layouts and speed up design work. Sites that rely on the default WordPress editor or need to add formatted text, buttons, or images to sidebars and footer areas should choose Widget Content Blocks. If you are not using Elementor for every page, Widget Content Blocks is the safer bet.