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WP Dashboard Notes

By Jeroen Sormani

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Health & Diagnostics

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

WP Dashboard Notes Review - In-Depth Analysis

WP Dashboard Notes allows users to create and manage notes in the WordPress dashboard. Ideal for teams working collaboratively.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.86/10

User Rating

4.6/5 (based on 110+ reviews)

Active Installations

20,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

4.43 / 10 (Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

WP Dashboard Notes is a plugin designed for teams working on WordPress websites. It enables users to create and manage notes directly from the dashboard, enhancing collaboration and communication.

The plugin features colorful notes that can be public or private, allowing users to organize their thoughts efficiently. Users can edit notes right on the dashboard and add as many notes as needed. The drag and drop functionality makes it easy to manage lists without needing a save button.

Feedback, ratings, and donations are encouraged to improve the plugin further.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Dashboard Notes offers a straightforward note-taking solution for WordPress dashboards, with several alternatives available that provide similar functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and intuitive interface for quick note-taking
Lightweight and fast performance
Allows saving notes with a press of the Enter key
Positive user feedback highlights ease of use and reliability
Free to use without upsells

Weaknesses

Lack of customization options such as note background colors
No checkboxes feature which some users miss
Recent security vulnerabilities have been fixed but indicate past issues
No active development updates reported by some users

User Sentiment Analysis

With a high overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 110 users, most feedback is positive, praising the plugin's simplicity and effectiveness. However, a small minority report issues with compatibility and lack of updates.

Positive highlights

"I just love how flawless this plugin is" - koolsherif
"Slim, fast and intuitive. Just right and what I needed" - Juergen Schulze
"Really like these notes. Especially the 'press enter to save' is great" - DJF3
"Nery neat plugin 🙂" - xtof_r
"This plugin is super helpful" - Kiki870

Common complaints

Plugin not working with WordPress version 6.8.1 due to lack of updates

Weaknesses

Occasional compatibility issues with latest WordPress versions
Missing features like checkboxes and customizable note colors
Past security vulnerabilities, though fixed, may concern cautious users

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a simple, no-frills note-taking plugin for their WordPress dashboard who value ease of use and lightweight performance.

Not ideal for

Users who need advanced features like checkboxes, customizable note appearance, or require a plugin with active ongoing development and guaranteed compatibility with the latest WordPress versions.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes all core note-taking features with no paid upgrades or premium add-ons.

Final Verdict

WP Dashboard Notes is a well-liked plugin praised for its simplicity, speed, and ease of use, making it a solid choice for users wanting basic dashboard notes without complexity. Its free availability adds to its appeal for budget-conscious users.

However, the plugin has experienced some security vulnerabilities in the past and lacks recent updates, which may affect compatibility with newer WordPress versions. Users needing more features or assured ongoing support might consider alternative plugins.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free WP Dashboard Notes plugin.

Admin Note

Dashboard Notes

Wordpress Notes

Screenshots

FAQ

A new note can be added in two ways.

There is a ‘Add note’ button is located in the top admin bar
Or you can add a new note from within an existing note. When hovering over a note there will show an black bar at the bottom of that note. There is an ‘+’ within that bar where you can add a new note.

Add the following code to your functions.php, you can change the values of course to your own colors.

Required:

add_filter( 'wpdn_colors', 'wpdn_add_purple' ); function wpdn_add_purple( $colors ) {      $colors['purple'] = '#5236A0';      return $colors;  }

Optional:
You can add the following code for extra styling (e.g. light text instead of dark)

add_action( 'admin_head', 'wpdn_add_style' ); function wpdn_add_style() {      ?><style>          /****************************          * purple         ****************************/         [data-color-text=purple] {             color: white;         }         [data-color-text=purple] .wpdn-note-sortable {             color: inherit;         }         [data-color-text=purple] .wpdn-add-item {             color: inherit;         }         [data-color-text=purple] .wp-dashboard-note .list-item {             border-color: inherit;         }          [data-color-text=purple] .list-item input[type=checkbox] {             border: 1px solid white !important;         }          [data-color-text=purple] .list-item input[type=checkbox]:checked ~ span {             color: white;         }         /* Unused for now */         [data-color-text=purple] [id^=note] .handlediv {             color: inherit;         }         /* Add list item input colors */         [data-color-text=purple] input[type=text].add-list-item {             border-color: white;             color: inherit;             background: inherit;         }         /* Placeholder text color */         [data-color-text=purple] input[type=text].add-list-item::-webkit-input-placeholder {            color: white;         }         [data-color-text=purple] input[type=text].add-list-item:-moz-placeholder {            color: white;         }         [data-color-text=purple] input[type=text].add-list-item::-moz-placeholder {            color: white;         }         [data-color-text=purple] input[type=text].add-list-item:-ms-input-placeholder {            color: white;         }         /* Saved/saving text color */         [data-color-text=purple] .saved-icon,         [data-color-text=purple] .saving-icon {             color: inherit;         }         /* Delete icon */         [data-color-text=purple] .list-item .dashicons-no-alt {             color: white;         }         /* Sort icon */         [data-color-text=purple] .wpdn-note-sortable {             color: white;         }     </style><?php  }