Customizer Export/Import vs WordPress Importer (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 WordPress Importer at #9. WordPress Importer 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!
WordPress Importer
Import posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, tags and more from a WordPress export file.
Who leads on what
WordPress Importer leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Customizer Export/Import ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in Import Plugins.
WordPress Importer has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Customizer Export/Import is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 115 reviews, against 3.1 from 327 reviews.
WordPress Importer has more reviews behind its score: 327 against 115.
WordPress Importer was updated more recently, on August 27, 2026; Customizer Export/Import on June 16, 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 or the review score matters most to you.
WordPress Importer
Pick WordPress Importer if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Customizer Export/Import vs WordPress Importer side by side
| Customizer Export/Import | WordPress Importer | |
|---|---|---|
| Import Plugins ranking | #3 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 3.1 |
| Reviews | 115 | 327 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 2 million+ |
| Total downloads | 2,825,880 | 70,992,584 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jun 16, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 20, 2014 | May 20, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 6.8.8 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Customizer Export/Import ratings
WordPress Importer 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 WordPress Importer can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Import Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Customizer Export/Import vs WordPress Importer: common questions
Is Customizer Export/Import better than WordPress Importer?
WordPress Importer 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 #9 in Import Plugins.
Which has more users, Customizer Export/Import or WordPress Importer?
Customizer Export/Import ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in Import Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Customizer Export/Import or WordPress Importer?
WordPress Importer has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Customizer Export/Import and WordPress Importer free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Customizer Export/Import may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WordPress Importer is a community plugin with no paid version.
Alternatives to Customizer Export/Import and WordPress Importer
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Widget Importer & Exporter
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 117 reviews
-
One Click Demo Import
1 million+ installs · 4.3 from 79 reviews
-
WP Import Export Lite
40,000+ installs · 4.0 from 113 reviews
-
Advanced Import
80,000+ installs · 4.4 from 7 reviews
-
Import / Export Customizer Settings
50,000+ installs · 4.7 from 6 reviews
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