Widget Importer & Exporter 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: Widget Importer & Exporter at #8 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.
Widget Importer & Exporter
Import and export your widgets.
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.
Widget Importer & Exporter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in Import Plugins.
WordPress Importer has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
Widget Importer & Exporter is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 117 reviews, against 3.1 from 327 reviews.
WordPress Importer has more reviews behind its score: 327 against 117.
WordPress Importer was updated more recently, on August 27, 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.
Widget Importer & Exporter
Pick Widget Importer & Exporter 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.
Widget Importer & Exporter vs WordPress Importer side by side
| Widget Importer & Exporter | WordPress Importer | |
|---|---|---|
| Import Plugins ranking | #8 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 3.1 |
| Reviews | 117 | 327 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 2 million+ |
| Total downloads | 5,332,353 | 70,992,584 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | May 23, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 15, 2013 | May 20, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 6.8.8 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2.4 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Widget Importer & Exporter 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 Widget Importer & Exporter nor WordPress Importer can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Import Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Widget Importer & Exporter vs WordPress Importer: common questions
Is Widget Importer & Exporter 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. Widget Importer & Exporter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in Import Plugins.
Which has more users, Widget Importer & Exporter or WordPress Importer?
Widget Importer & Exporter ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in Import Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Widget Importer & Exporter or WordPress Importer?
WordPress Importer has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are Widget Importer & Exporter and WordPress Importer free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Widget Importer & Exporter may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WordPress Importer is a community plugin with no paid version.
Alternatives to Widget Importer & Exporter and WordPress Importer
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
-
Customizer Export/Import
100,000+ installs · 4.8 from 115 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
-
WP All Import
50,000+ installs · 5.0 from 6 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.