Advanced Editor Tools vs Widget Content Blocks

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

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

Advanced Editor Tools vs Widget Content Blocks: Key Statistics
Metric	Advanced Editor Tools	Widget Content Blocks
Requires WP	5.9+	4.1+
Requires PHP	5.6+	7.4+
Tested up to WP	6.9.4	7.0.1
Plugin age	19 yrs	15 yrs

Quick Verdict

Widget Content Blocks wins this comparison. Its 92% five-star rating from reviews signals strong user satisfaction for a focused tool. Advanced Editor Tools has 1.0M+ installs, 100x more than Widget Content Blocks, but that reach doesn't translate to better outcomes for widget editing. If you need to edit widget content with the visual editor, choose Widget Content Blocks.

Feature Comparison: Advanced Editor Tools vs Widget Content Blocks

Functional feature comparison between Advanced Editor Tools and Widget Content Blocks
Feature	Advanced Editor Tools	Widget Content Blocks
Target editor	Block editor (Gutenberg) and classic editor (TinyMCE)	Widget editor only
Core use case	Extends formatting and control in post/page editors	Brings the default visual editor to widget areas
Media upload in widgets	Not a primary feature	Built-in media uploading functionality
Classic editor support	Includes TinyMCE enhancements	Applies the visual editor to widget content
Block editor enhancements	Adds buttons, toggles, and formatting options	Not applicable
Widget creation workflow	No widget-specific features	Create widgets like posts or pages

Who Should Use Advanced Editor Tools

Teams who want to add custom styles to block editor without writing code, the plugin brings TinyMCE-style controls to both editors, giving you formatting buttons you'd expect from a word processor.
Anyone who needs to enable classic editor in Gutenberg for specific users or post types, since the plugin bridges both editing environments with a single install.
Site owners managing content across 100+ posts who need to add table button to wordpress editor quickly, as the plugin's 81% five-star rating shows broad approval from heavy users.

Who Should Use Widget Content Blocks

Site builders who want to edit widget content with visual editor instead of raw HTML, the plugin gives you the same toolbar you use for posts, with 92% of reviewers giving it 5 stars.
Anyone managing sidebars or footer widgets with formatted text, images, or links, because Widget Content Blocks adds media uploading directly to the widget interface.
Non-technical editors who struggle with widget code and need a best rich text widget plugin wordpress option, the plugin turns widget editing into a familiar post-like experience.

Community & Support

Widget Content Blocks shows stronger community sentiment, with 92% of its reviews at 5 stars and only 5% at 1 star. Advanced Editor Tools has 81% five-star reviews and 8% one-star reviews. Support threads for both plugins are too small to draw meaningful conclusions about response times or resolution quality.

Verdict: Advanced Editor Tools or Widget Content Blocks for WordPress sites?

Pick Advanced Editor Tools if your primary need is extending the block editor or classic editor for post and page creation. It has 1.0M+ active installs and a 81% five-star rating, making it the go-to for editors who want more formatting control inside Gutenberg or TinyMCE.

Pick Widget Content Blocks if you need to edit widget content using the visual editor. Its 92% five-star rating from reviews and 5% one-star rate reflect a tool that solves one problem well. For anyone asking how to edit widget content in WordPress with a real editor, this plugin delivers that single feature without bloat. The data supports Widget Content Blocks as the winner for widget-specific editing.

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 Widget Content Blocks?

Advanced Editor Tools has 1.0M+ active installs while Widget Content Blocks has 10K+, meaning Advanced Editor Tools is used on more sites.

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

Widget Content Blocks averages 4.8/5 from 60 reviews, while Advanced Editor Tools averages 4.5/5 from 354 reviews — Widget Content Blocks has the higher average rating.

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

Widget Content Blocks was last updated on Jun 23, 2026 and Advanced Editor Tools on Dec 8, 2025, so Widget Content Blocks received the more recent update.

Q Are Advanced Editor Tools and Widget Content Blocks both free?

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

For most sites, Advanced Editor Tools is the better choice because it adds formatting options like tables and underlines directly to the block editor and classic editor. Widget Content Blocks is a niche tool that only improves the appearance of widget areas, which are becoming less central to modern WordPress themes.

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

Widget Content Blocks is slightly easier for a beginner because it simply replaces the default widget editor with a familiar visual editor, requiring no configuration. Advanced Editor Tools requires you to choose which extra buttons to display, which can overwhelm a new user who just wants a simple underline button.

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

Advanced Editor Tools expands the editing toolbar inside your posts and pages, adding options like tables, fonts, and text colors to both the block and classic editors. Widget Content Blocks only changes the editor inside your widget areas, letting you write rich text in sidebars and footers without affecting your main content editor.

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

Yes, you can switch between them without losing data because they operate on completely different parts of your site. Advanced Editor Tools controls how you edit post content, while Widget Content Blocks controls how you edit widget content, so uninstalling one has no effect on the other's saved content.

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

Choose Advanced Editor Tools if you write a lot of posts or pages and need formatting buttons like underline, tables, or font size controls in your main editor. Choose Widget Content Blocks if your site relies heavily on custom sidebars or footer widgets and you want to add images, headings, or styled text to those areas without writing code.