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Collapsed Archives

By Matthew Petroff

Site Structure & Navigation / Categories & Taxonomies

Collapsed Archives Review - In-Depth Analysis

Display archive links with a CSS-based collapsing widget. No JavaScript needed.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.76/10

User Rating

5/5 (based on 7+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin adds a widget to display archive links using purely CSS-based collapsing; no JavaScript is used.

Post counts can optionally be displayed next to the archive links. You can choose either +/- or arrows to indicate expansion. There is also an option to never automatically expand the list for the current post or year. Additionally, you can choose between displaying archive links in reverse chronological order or chronological order, and decades can be collapsed.

Comparing to Alternatives

Collapsed Archives offers a unique approach to archive display with no direct competitors matching its simplicity and CSS-based functionality exactly. However, there are several plugins that provide similar archive management features.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Extremely simple and lightweight, relying mostly on CSS.
No PHP or HTML changes required, making installation easy.
Highly customizable with CSS for styling and effects.
No known security vulnerabilities, ensuring safe use.
Perfect for users seeking a neat, minimal archive display.

Weaknesses

Limited to CSS-based features, lacking advanced archive management.
No pro version or premium features available.
May require custom CSS tweaks for perfect theme integration.
Does not offer dynamic or automated archive enhancements.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a perfect 5-star rating from all reviewers, users consistently praise the plugin's simplicity and effectiveness.

Positive highlights

'Works great, thanks a lot.' — 50satoshi
'Awesome. And it's just css.' — lesuave
'Perfect, thank you for this wonderful plugin.' — Anonymous User
'Does exactly what the description says, and super easy to install.' — wongm
'Has all the options I needed to achieve a Blogger-style treeview archive.' — phixate

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Some users needed to add custom CSS for alignment issues.
Limited to CSS styling without built-in advanced features.
No official pro version limits feature expansion.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who want a lightweight, easy-to-install archive plugin that relies on CSS and requires minimal setup.

Not ideal for

Those needing advanced archive management features, dynamic content handling, or a plugin with premium support and updates.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes all core features, enabling users to implement collapsible archives with CSS customization.

Final Verdict

Collapsed Archives stands out for its simplicity, ease of use, and clean design, making it an excellent choice for users who want a straightforward archive solution without complex features. Its perfect rating and lack of security issues reinforce its reliability.

However, users seeking more advanced functionality or premium support might find it limited. Given its free availability and strong user satisfaction, it is a valuable tool for those prioritizing minimalism and ease of customization.