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Widgets on Pages

By toddhalfpenny

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Migration & Cloning

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Widgets on Pages Review - In-Depth Analysis

Easily add widgets or sidebars to posts and pages using a visual editor, shortcodes, or template tags. Create unlimited dynamic sidebars.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.69/10

User Rating

4.7/5 (based on 161+ reviews)

Active Installations

20,000+

Update Frequency

Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5.6 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

The easiest and highest rated way to add widgets to posts and/or pages. Create unlimited dynamic sidebars (widget areas) and insert these into a WordPress post or page.

Create as many widget areas (Turbo Sidebars) from the settings menu, and these can be used multiple times.

Each sidebar can be called independently by a shortcode, and you can call more than one per post/page.

Sidebars can be included in the post/page by using a shortcode like the following, where x is the name of the sidebar.

With the Pro version, the widgets can be inserted simply with clicks-not-code using a wizard in the visual editor. This version also includes layout options to easily set the widgets in columns/grid presentation.

Pro version also supports the configurable option to automatically add widgets to all your posts and/or pages. Choose the layout options and whether to add the sidebar and widgets before or after the content. Ideal for adding lists of related posts to the end of every post. Each post and page can also be individually excluded from the auto-inclusion of the widgets.

Current features include the ability to create unlimited sidebars, place them in posts/pages/custom post types, and add to themes using template tags. Works with all widgets and themes.

Comparing to Alternatives

Widgets on Pages offers a unique solution for adding widgets to pages with shortcode support, standing out among several alternatives that focus on widget visibility and sidebar management.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Allows adding widgets to any page via shortcode, increasing flexibility.
Lightweight and easy to use with minimal setup.
High user satisfaction with a 4.7-star average rating.
Responsive and helpful support as noted by users.
Supports both classic widgets and Gutenberg blocks.

Weaknesses

Has known security vulnerabilities that have been addressed in updates.
Some compatibility issues with PHP 8+ reported by users.
Pro version required for latest updates and some features.
Limited advanced conditional visibility compared to some alternatives.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a strong majority of 5-star reviews (90.1%) and very few low ratings, users generally praise the plugin's ease of use and functionality, though some note compatibility and update concerns.

Positive highlights

"Widgets on Pages is a really nice plugin, thanks!" – Jimmy Lee
"Excelente plugin, me funciono exactamente para lo que necesitaba y lo mejor, gratis!" – j012ge
"So, this is a great light-weight plugin if you want to add a Widget with [shortcode] to a Page." – pnutb
"Talking to support, they made sure to understand my issue... Very much appreciated." – eatnails
"Just what I needed … easy and stable." – Karmi

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Compatibility issues with PHP 8+ causing errors for some users.
Security vulnerabilities reported in past versions, requiring updates.
Pro version needed to access latest fixes and features.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who want a simple, lightweight plugin to add widgets to pages via shortcode, especially those who value ease of use and responsive support.

Not ideal for

Users requiring guaranteed PHP 8+ compatibility without upgrading to pro, or those concerned about past security vulnerabilities and needing advanced conditional widget visibility features.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version allows adding widgets to pages using shortcodes with basic functionality and support.

Pro version

Offers compatibility updates, security fixes, and additional features not available in the free version.

Final Verdict

Widgets on Pages is a highly rated plugin that excels at enabling widget placement on pages through shortcodes, backed by positive user feedback and helpful support. Its lightweight design makes it accessible for most users needing this functionality.

However, users should be aware of past security vulnerabilities and PHP 8+ compatibility issues that require the pro version for resolution. Considering alternatives may be beneficial for those needing advanced features or guaranteed compatibility without additional cost.