Customizer Export/Import vs Widget Importer & Exporter (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Import Plugins top 10: Customizer Export/Import at #3 and Widget Importer & Exporter at #8. Customizer Export/Import leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Customizer Export/Import
Easily export or import your WordPress customizer settings!
Widget Importer & Exporter
Import and export your widgets.
Who leads on what
Customizer Export/Import leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Customizer Export/Import ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Import Plugins.
Widget Importer & Exporter has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Customizer Export/Import is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 115 reviews, against 4.7 from 117 reviews.
Widget Importer & Exporter has more reviews behind its score: 117 against 115.
Customizer Export/Import was updated more recently, on June 16, 2026; Widget Importer & Exporter on May 23, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Customizer Export/Import
Pick Customizer Export/Import if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Widget Importer & Exporter
Pick Widget Importer & Exporter if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Customizer Export/Import vs Widget Importer & Exporter side by side
| Customizer Export/Import | Widget Importer & Exporter | |
|---|---|---|
| Import Plugins ranking | #3 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 115 | 117 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 200,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,825,880 | 5,332,353 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jun 16, 2026 | May 23, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 20, 2014 | Jul 15, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | – | 5.2.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Customizer Export/Import ratings
Widget Importer & Exporter ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Customizer Export/Import nor Widget Importer & Exporter can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Import Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Customizer Export/Import vs Widget Importer & Exporter: common questions
Is Customizer Export/Import better than Widget Importer & Exporter?
Customizer Export/Import leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Customizer Export/Import ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Import Plugins.
Which has more users, Customizer Export/Import or Widget Importer & Exporter?
Customizer Export/Import ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Import Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Customizer Export/Import or Widget Importer & Exporter?
Widget Importer & Exporter has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Customizer Export/Import and Widget Importer & Exporter free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Customizer Export/Import may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Widget Importer & Exporter may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Customizer Export/Import and Widget Importer & Exporter
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
One Click Demo Import
1 million+ installs · 4.3 from 79 reviews
-
WP Import Export Lite
40,000+ installs · 4.0 from 113 reviews
-
Import / Export Customizer Settings
50,000+ installs · 4.7 from 6 reviews
-
Advanced Import
80,000+ installs · 4.4 from 7 reviews
-
WordPress Importer
2 million+ installs · 3.1 from 327 reviews
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.