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List Custom Taxonomy Widget

By Nick Halsey

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Health & Diagnostics

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

List Custom Taxonomy Widget Review - In-Depth Analysis

The List Custom Taxonomy Widget allows you to easily display custom taxonomies in your WordPress site. Choose from an auto-populated list and customize the display options.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.78/10

User Rating

4.7/5 (based on 21+ reviews)

Active Installations

9,000+

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

The List Custom Taxonomy Widget is a quick and easy way to display custom taxonomies. Simply choose the taxonomy name you want to display from an auto-populated list. You can also set a title to display for the widget.

Multiple list custom taxonomy widgets can be added to the same and other sidebars as well. There are several display options, including as a dropdown, and it generally behaves similarly to the built-in categories widget but with the addition of custom taxonomies.

Comparing to Alternatives

List Custom Taxonomy Widget stands alone in its category with no close direct alternatives available, making it a unique choice for users needing this functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and lightweight plugin that performs its task efficiently
Allows multiple taxonomy instances with customizable settings
Works well out of the box without complex configuration
Highly rated for doing exactly what it promises
Useful for adding custom taxonomy widgets before native WordPress support

Weaknesses

Had a medium severity security vulnerability fixed only in recent versions
Limited to a single core functionality without extended features
No pro version or advanced options available
Relies on user to update to latest version for security fixes

User Sentiment Analysis

With a strong majority of 5-star and 4-star ratings, users appreciate the plugin's simplicity and effectiveness, though a small minority noted issues.

Positive highlights

'I love plugins that just do what they say and work out of the box.' — sublines
'Simple and Lite Plugin/Widget, that offers custom settings inside the widget.' — ogral
'Great little tool. Thanks!' — Mladen Gradev
'Always appreciate a simple 1 task plugin without too much fluff.' — julianoe
'I just have to say that I love u and keep going with plugins like this!' — narycute

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Previously had a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability requiring update
No advanced features or premium support options
Limited scope may not satisfy users needing more comprehensive taxonomy management

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a lightweight, straightforward widget to display custom taxonomies without unnecessary complexity will find this plugin ideal.

Not ideal for

Those requiring advanced taxonomy features, ongoing premium support, or who are concerned about past security issues may want to consider other solutions or wait for further updates.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full functionality for listing custom taxonomies with customizable widget settings, sufficient for most users.

Final Verdict

List Custom Taxonomy Widget is a well-regarded, simple plugin that fulfills a specific need effectively, earning high user satisfaction for its ease of use and reliability. Its lack of direct alternatives highlights its unique position in the WordPress ecosystem.

However, users should be aware of a past security vulnerability that has been addressed in recent updates and the absence of a pro version or extended features. Overall, it is a solid choice for those needing a lightweight taxonomy widget without extra frills.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free List Custom Taxonomy Widget plugin.

custom taxonomy

taxonomy widget

sidebar widget

FAQ

I’ll save you the hassle of downloading the plugin and digging through its source code. Just use the wp_list_categories() function in your theme (or plugin) to display custom taxonomies as a list, and use wp_dropdown_categories for a dropdown (this one does require some supplementary html). This plugin is essentially a widget UI shell for these functions. If you want to use the plugin’s code for it, go right ahead, but it really does just widgetize those functions.