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Social Share Buttons

By maxfoundry

Marketing & Advertising / Email Marketing & Campaigns

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

Social Share Buttons Review - In-Depth Analysis

Add social share buttons to your WordPress site with ease. Customize layouts and share options for popular networks. Pro version offers even more features.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.81/10

User Rating

4.8/5 (based on 28+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Social Share Buttons is the share button addon to MaxButtons. It lets you easily setup and use social buttons on your home page, pages, and posts.

Social Share Buttons gets you going in a minute with beautifully designed presets. The plugin supports all popular networks including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and more.

With customizable layout options, you can choose a preset and modify it to your liking. The plugin also allows you to pick global hashtags for tweets and optimize your sharing strategy.

The PRO version offers additional features such as network editing, multiple groups for different icons, and support for more networks like Xing and Telegram.

MaxButtons is the most used WordPress button, share button, and social icon plugin with over 3.5 million downloads and 1000 five-star reviews.

Comparing to Alternatives

Social Share Buttons competes with several other social sharing plugins, offering a solid feature set and ease of use. Here are some notable alternatives to consider.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Highly rated with 85.7% 5-star reviews indicating strong user satisfaction
Easy to set up and use, suitable for users of all skill levels
Offers a helpful preview feature for button customization
Supports duplication and adjustment of buttons for consistent styling
Has a pro version with additional features

Weaknesses

Known medium severity security vulnerability fixed only in version 1.20
Limited control over shared image selection as per user feedback
Some users report difficulty configuring product image sharing instead of site icon
Not the lightest plugin compared to some alternatives

User Sentiment Analysis

With a high overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 28 users, most feedback is positive, highlighting ease of use and effective functionality. However, a small minority express concerns about image sharing configuration.

Positive highlights

'A simple tool but it works. Love it!' - rensesjoers
'Very easy to set up beautiful buttons with helpful previews.' - littleangell58
'Best Button Maker! Simply the best.' - octanyum
'Easy to setup which is a plus.' - taffy13U3A

Common complaints

Inability to configure the share button to display product images instead of the site icon

Weaknesses

Security vulnerability related to reflected cross-site scripting fixed in version 1.20
Limited customization for shared image selection
Some users find configuration options insufficient for advanced sharing needs

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking an easy-to-use, reliable social sharing plugin with good customization options and a helpful preview feature will find this plugin suitable.

Not ideal for

Those requiring advanced control over shared content images or who prioritize minimal security risk without recent vulnerability history may want to consider alternatives.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides essential social sharing buttons with customization and preview capabilities, suitable for most basic needs.

Pro version

The pro version offers enhanced features such as additional button styles, advanced customization options, and priority support.

Final Verdict

Social Share Buttons is a well-regarded plugin praised for its ease of use, attractive button designs, and helpful preview functionality. It serves most users well, especially those new to social sharing plugins or those wanting straightforward implementation.

However, users should be aware of a past security vulnerability that has been addressed and some limitations in image sharing customization. Considering the available alternatives and the pro version features can help users decide if this plugin fits their specific needs.