/ Plugin Category

/ Design & Themes

/ Themes & Templates

/ HW Image Widget

HW Image Widget

By HÃ¥kan Wennerberg

Design & Themes / Themes & Templates

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

HW Image Widget Review - In-Depth Analysis

HW Image Widget allows for responsive or fixed sized images with rich text editing. Customize widget templates in your theme.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.81/10

User Rating

4.4/5 (based on 14+ 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

HW Image Widget is a versatile image widget for WordPress that supports both responsive and fixed sized images. You can define the width and height of fixed sized images while maintaining the aspect ratio if desired. For responsive images, you have the option to fill the width or not.

This widget utilizes TinyMCE for rich text editing, allowing you to enhance the text description of your images. You can also create a custom HTML template for the widget within your active theme to override the default layout.

HW Image Widget is compatible with the theme customizer and works seamlessly with Carrington Build. It is available in both English and Swedish, making it accessible to a wider audience.

Comparing to Alternatives

HW Image Widget is a solid choice among image widget plugins, offering flexibility and ease of use. It competes well with several popular alternatives in the category.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Flexible and customizable template options
Works well out of the box with minimal setup
Includes a TinyMCE text editor for enhanced text formatting
True responsiveness in widget sidebars
Good fixed size image option

Weaknesses

Occasional issues with image uploading reported
Lacks automatic import of caption and alt text from Media Library
No pro version with advanced features
Limited updates and support indicated by last security scan date

User Sentiment Analysis

With a high overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 14 reviews, most users praise the plugin's reliability and flexibility. However, a small minority report issues with image uploading.

Positive highlights

"Works great out of the box and the directions to customize your own template helped a lot." — rabidgadfly
"Has always worked without bugs or whining on a busy recruiting site." — hatfullofpiss
"Easy to use and works well, especially the fixed size option and TinyMCE editor." — swcomp
"Easy to use and many options." — uwestoever
"This plugin works better in the widget sidebar than any other plugin I've used." — dloverly

Common complaints

Image upload functionality not working properly for some users

Weaknesses

Image upload issues reported by some users
Lack of automatic caption and alt text import
No recent security updates since 2015
No premium support or advanced features

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a straightforward, flexible image widget plugin with customization options and true responsiveness for sidebars.

Not ideal for

Users who require guaranteed image upload reliability, automatic metadata import, or advanced premium features may find this plugin less suitable.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a flexible and customizable image widget with a TinyMCE editor and responsive design.

Final Verdict

HW Image Widget stands out for its flexibility, ease of use, and true responsiveness in widget sidebars, making it a strong choice for users needing a customizable image widget. Its high user ratings reflect satisfaction with its core features and reliability in most cases.

However, occasional image upload issues and lack of recent updates or premium features may limit its appeal for users needing advanced functionality or guaranteed support. Considering the available alternatives may be beneficial for those with specific needs.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free HW Image Widget plugin.

Image widget

Responsive images

Fixed size images

Screenshots

FAQ

Use standard installation process for a plug-in:

Install HW Image Widget either via the WordPress.org plugin directory, or by uploading the files to your server.
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.