Widget Importer & Exporter vs WP Import Export Lite (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 WP Import Export Lite at #6. Widget Importer & Exporter 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.
WP Import Export Lite
Complete Import & Export solution for Posts, Pages, Custom Post, Users, Taxonomies, Comments etc.
Who leads on what
Widget Importer & Exporter leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
WP Import Export Lite ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Import Plugins.
Widget Importer & Exporter has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Widget Importer & Exporter is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 117 reviews, against 4.0 from 113 reviews.
Widget Importer & Exporter has more reviews behind its score: 117 against 113.
WP Import Export Lite was updated more recently, on June 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 want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
WP Import Export Lite
Pick WP Import Export Lite if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Widget Importer & Exporter vs WP Import Export Lite side by side
| Widget Importer & Exporter | WP Import Export Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Import Plugins ranking | #8 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.0 |
| Reviews | 117 | 113 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 40,000+ |
| Total downloads | 5,332,353 | 963,727 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | May 23, 2026 | Jun 27, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 15, 2013 | Jul 27, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2.4 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Widget Importer & Exporter ratings
WP Import Export Lite 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 WP Import Export Lite can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Import Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Widget Importer & Exporter vs WP Import Export Lite: common questions
Is Widget Importer & Exporter better than WP Import Export Lite?
Widget Importer & Exporter leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WP Import Export Lite ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Import Plugins.
Which has more users, Widget Importer & Exporter or WP Import Export Lite?
WP Import Export Lite ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Import Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Widget Importer & Exporter or WP Import Export Lite?
Widget Importer & Exporter has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Are Widget Importer & Exporter and WP Import Export Lite free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Widget Importer & Exporter may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Import Export Lite may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Widget Importer & Exporter and WP Import Export Lite
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Customizer Export/Import
100,000+ installs · 4.8 from 115 reviews
-
One Click Demo Import
1 million+ installs · 4.3 from 79 reviews
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Import / Export Customizer Settings
50,000+ installs · 4.7 from 6 reviews
-
WordPress Importer
2 million+ installs · 3.1 from 327 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.