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Modern Footnotes

By prismtechstudios

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

Modern Footnotes Review - In-Depth Analysis

Modern Footnotes allows you to add inline footnotes to your posts. They appear as tooltips on desktop and expand below text on mobile. Easily use shortcodes to customize footnotes.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.82/10

User Rating

4.8/5 (based on 32+ reviews)

Active Installations

6,000+

Update Frequency

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

Modern Footnotes is designed to enhance your posts with inline footnotes. It is optimized for both desktop and mobile viewing, inspired by the styles of popular platforms.

To use a footnote, simply click the footnote icon in the WordPress editor or use the shortcode: [mfn]this will be a footnote[/mfn]. The plugin automatically assigns sequential numbers to each footnote.

On desktop, footnotes are displayed as tooltips when the user clicks on the corresponding number. On mobile devices, they expand as a section below the text for easy reading.

Additionally, you can use the [mfn_list] shortcode to display a list of all footnotes used in your article. There are also options to customize the behavior and styles of footnotes through shortcode attributes.

Comparing to Alternatives

Modern Footnotes stands out as a straightforward and lightweight footnote plugin for WordPress, especially when compared to other footnote solutions.

Top alternatives

Modern Footnotes

Strengths

Supports existing shortcodes for easy transition from older plugins
Includes block editor support for modern WordPress editing
Lightweight and simple to use without unnecessary bloat
Responsive developer support
Allows footnote list shortcode placement for custom templates

Weaknesses

Lacks advanced navigation features like clickable note links and back navigation
No integration with some other plugins like Simple Spoilers
Limited customization options
No pro version with extended features

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's simplicity and effectiveness, though some desire more advanced features.

Positive highlights

"Works perfectly replaced defunct plug-in" - Earl_D
"Great plugin, very lightweight and provides the exact functionality I was looking for." - rfwrites
"Simple and useful" - lorelore
"Works perfectly on desktop and mobile." - rene-michaels
"Easy to use with useful footnote list shortcode." - efrap

Common complaints

Lacks clickable links from notes to footnote list and back
No response to feature requests on forums
Incompatibility with certain other plugins like Simple Spoilers

Weaknesses

Missing basic footnote navigation features
Limited plugin compatibility
No updates addressing feature requests

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a lightweight, simple footnote plugin with block editor support and easy shortcode integration, especially those transitioning from older footnote plugins.

Not ideal for

Users needing advanced footnote navigation, interactive features, or integration with other complex plugins may find this plugin lacking.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential footnote functionality including shortcode support, block editor compatibility, and the ability to place footnote lists via shortcode.

Final Verdict

Modern Footnotes is a reliable and lightweight solution for adding footnotes in WordPress, especially suitable for users who want simplicity and compatibility with existing shortcodes.

However, it lacks advanced navigation features and broader plugin compatibility, which may limit its usefulness for users seeking more interactive footnote functionality.