Advanced Editor Tools vs Disable Gutenberg

At a glance

Plugin A

Advanced Editor Tools

Extends and enhances the block editor (Gutenberg) and the classic editor (TinyMCE).

Rating

4.5/5

Active Installs 1.0M+

Author Andrew Ozz

Version v5.9.2

Last Updated Dec 2025

Source WordPress.org ↗

Plugin B

Disable Gutenberg

Disable Gutenberg Block Editor and restore the Classic Editor and original Edit Post screen (TinyMCE, meta boxes, etc.).

Rating

5.0/5

Active Installs 500K+

Author Jeff Starr

Version v3.3.1

Last Updated Apr 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

Advanced Editor Tools vs Disable Gutenberg: Key Statistics
Metric	Advanced Editor Tools	Disable Gutenberg
Requires WP	5.9+	4.9+
Requires PHP	5.6+	5.6.20+
Tested up to WP	6.9.4	7.0
Plugin age	19 yrs	8 yrs

Quick Verdict

Disable Gutenberg wins this matchup. With 500K+ active installs and a 99% five-star rating, it solves a single problem with near-perfect execution. Advanced Editor Tools has 2x more installs, but it tries to serve two masters (block and classic editors) and earns only 5.0/5. If you want to restore the classic editing experience, Disable Gutenberg is the proven choice.

Feature Comparison: Advanced Editor Tools vs Disable Gutenberg

Core functional differences between Advanced Editor Tools and Disable Gutenberg
Feature	Advanced Editor Tools	Disable Gutenberg
Primary purpose	Extends block editor and classic editor (TinyMCE)	Disables block editor, restores Classic Editor
Block editor support	Adds formatting options and toolbar buttons	Removes block editor entirely
Classic editor (TinyMCE) enhancements	Adds table button, font sizes, text colors, and more	Restores original TinyMCE with meta boxes
Add custom styles to block editor	Yes, through extended toolbar settings	Not applicable (block editor disabled)
Enable classic editor in Gutenberg	Works alongside block editor; does not disable it	Replaces block editor with Classic Editor
Restore classic editor WordPress	Keeps classic editor available but does not force it	Restores classic editor by default
User control per post type	Not a core feature	Disable Gutenberg per post type or user role
Add table button to WordPress editor	Built-in via TinyMCE extensions	Not included (relies on original Classic Editor)

Who Should Use Advanced Editor Tools

Teams who want to add custom styles to block editor without switching to a page builder. The plugin is installed on 1.0M+ sites, giving you a large community for reference.
Writers who need an add table button to WordPress editor for data-heavy posts. Advanced Editor Tools adds this directly to the TinyMCE toolbar.
Editors who want to enable classic editor in Gutenberg for certain posts while keeping the block editor for others. This plugin lets you toggle between both workflows.

Who Should Use Disable Gutenberg

Site owners who know exactly how to disable Gutenberg in WordPress and want a one-click solution. 99% of 732 reviewers gave it five stars, indicating near-universal satisfaction.
Developers managing client sites where the block editor causes layout issues. Disable Gutenberg gives you per-post-type control to disable gutenberg block editor selectively.
Anyone who needs to restore classic editor WordPress for a team that refuses to learn blocks. The plugin has 500K+ active installs, proving this is a widespread need.

Community & Support

Disable Gutenberg shows zero open support threads in the last two months, which suggests its simple feature set rarely breaks. Its rating profile is remarkably clean: 99% five-star and only 1% one-star. Advanced Editor Tools holds an 5.0/5 average from 354 reviews, with 81% five-star and 8% one-star. The gap in satisfaction is notable. A plugin that tries to enhance both editors inevitably creates more edge cases where things go wrong.

Verdict: Advanced Editor Tools or Disable Gutenberg for WordPress sites?

Pick Advanced Editor Tools if your team needs to add custom styles to block editor and keep both editing modes alive. Its 2x install count (1.0M+ vs 500K+) shows real demand for enhanced formatting.

Pick Disable Gutenberg if your priority is to restore classic editor WordPress with zero friction. The 99% five-star rating from 732 reviews, combined with 500K+ active installs and no open support threads, makes it the data-driven winner. For most intermediate users who want reliability, Disable Gutenberg is the smarter install.

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 Advanced Editor Tools compared to Disable Gutenberg?

Advanced Editor Tools has 1.0M+ active installs while Disable Gutenberg has 500K+, meaning Advanced Editor Tools is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Advanced Editor Tools or Disable Gutenberg?

Disable Gutenberg averages 5/5 from 732 reviews, while Advanced Editor Tools averages 4.5/5 from 354 reviews — Disable Gutenberg has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Advanced Editor Tools or Disable Gutenberg?

Disable Gutenberg was last updated on Apr 17, 2026 and Advanced Editor Tools on Dec 8, 2025, so Disable Gutenberg received the more recent update.

Q Are Advanced Editor Tools and Disable Gutenberg both free?

Yes — both Advanced Editor Tools and Disable Gutenberg 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 Advanced Editor Tools or Disable Gutenberg better for WordPress sites?

Advanced Editor Tools is better if you want to keep the block editor but add more formatting options like tables and custom styles. Disable Gutenberg is better if you want to completely remove the block editor and restore the old classic editing experience.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Advanced Editor Tools or Disable Gutenberg?

Disable Gutenberg is easier for a beginner because you simply activate it and the classic editor returns with no extra settings to configure. Advanced Editor Tools requires you to enable its extra features in the plugin settings, which adds a small step.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Advanced Editor Tools and Disable Gutenberg?

The biggest difference is that Advanced Editor Tools adds new buttons and formatting options to the block editor, while Disable Gutenberg removes the block editor entirely and brings back the classic editor. One enhances the new system, the other replaces it.

Q Can you switch from Advanced Editor Tools to Disable Gutenberg (or the other way) without losing data?

Yes, you can switch between them without losing any of your existing content, posts, or pages. Your text and media are stored in the database separately from the editor, so changing the editor plugin only affects how you edit content going forward.

Q Which type of site should choose Advanced Editor Tools, and which should choose Disable Gutenberg?

A site that wants modern blocks but needs extra formatting like tables and custom colors should choose Advanced Editor Tools. A site that prefers the simplicity of the old WordPress editor and wants to avoid blocks entirely should choose Disable Gutenberg.