WP Editor Widget

What is WP Editor Widget?

WP Editor Widget is a lightweight plugin that brings the full WordPress visual editor into your widget areas. Developed by feedmeastraycat, it has been available for 13 years and currently holds 9K+ active installs. Despite its age, the plugin maintains a strong 4.6/5 rating from 18 reviews, with 83% of users giving it five stars. The plugin was last updated on Nov 7, 2020 and runs version 0.6.0. It is designed to replace the default Text widget with a proper WYSIWYG interface, making it easier to format content without touching HTML.

The developer openly states that the plugin "still works" but notes it lacks major features beyond what the native Text widget now offers. This honesty is reflected in the 6% one-star ratings, likely from users expecting ongoing updates. For those needing a rich text widget wordpress solution that leverages the core wp_editor() function, this plugin remains functional even on older WordPress installations.

Key Features of WP Editor Widget

• Standard Visual Editor Integration: Uses the familiar WordPress editor interface, so no learning curve is required for content creation.
• No Custom Post Types: Avoids adding CPTs for each widget, keeping your database lean and editing faster.
• WPML Compatible: Works with the WPML multilingual plugin, allowing translated content within widgets.
• Lightweight Footprint: Adds minimal overhead since it relies on core wp_editor() rather than a custom editor build.
• Simple Installation: A straightforward plugin folder upload with no complex configuration required after activation.
• Multi-Language Support: Ships with translations for English, Swedish, German, and Danish out of the box.
• Legacy Compatibility: Tested up to WordPress 5.5.18, making it viable for older sites that cannot upgrade further.
• GitHub Development: Open-source development and issue tracking available on GitHub for community contributions.

Who Should Use WP Editor Widget?

This plugin is best suited for site owners running older WordPress installations (3.5.1 through 5.5.x) who need a visual editor widget for sidebar content. It is ideal for bloggers, small business sites, or non-profits that want to add formatted text, images, or links to widget areas without learning shortcodes or HTML. The 83% five-star rating suggests it served many users well during its active years, particularly those who needed a wordpress widget with visual editor before WordPress improved its native Text widget.

However, users on modern WordPress versions (6.x and above) should consider alternatives. The plugin has not been updated since Nov 7, 2020, and its "tested up to" version is 5.5.18. If you are running a legacy site with strict compatibility requirements, this plugin offers a proven, simple way to add wysiwyg editor to widget wordpress without breaking existing functionality. Beginners will find the setup trivial, while developers may appreciate the GitHub source code for customization.

Installation & Setup

Installation is beginner-friendly: download the ZIP, extract it, and upload the "wp-editor-widget" folder to /wp-content/plugins/. Activate the plugin under the Plugins menu, and a new "Rich Text" widget will appear in your Appearance > Widgets panel. No additional settings or shortcodes are needed. Simply drag the widget to a sidebar, and you will see the standard WordPress editor ready for content input.

Support & Community

The support data tells a clear story. Over the past two months, the plugin recorded 0 open threads and 0 resolved threads, yielding a 0% resolution rate. This is unsurprising given the last update was Nov 7, 2020 and the developer has marked the plugin as no longer in active development. The 6% one-star ratings likely reflect frustration from users who encountered issues on newer WordPress versions or expected modern features. The 83% five-star ratings, however, indicate that many users found the plugin perfectly functional for their needs at the time. If you need to use wp editor in text widget on a legacy site, this plugin works as advertised—but you should not expect active support or compatibility updates moving forward.