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WP Categories Widget

By WP-EXPERTS.IN

E-commerce & Shopping / Product Management & Catalogs

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

WP Categories Widget Review - In-Depth Analysis

Display a list of categories for any taxonomy type in your sidebar. Customize the display and manage widget styles easily.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.93/10

User Rating

4.5/5 (based on 27+ reviews)

Active Installations

6,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

7.1 / 10 (High Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

The WP Categories Widget is a simple plugin to display the list of categories for any taxonomy type on your WordPress website. You can show categories for WooCommerce Product Categories, Blog Categories, Project Categories, and more. This plugin allows you to display the list of categories anywhere on your site.

Additionally, you can disable the widget block editor and enable the classic widget layout to edit the sidebar. The plugin includes features such as displaying category post counts, hiding child categories, and excluding or including specific categories.

There are also addon features available, such as displaying categories as a dropdown, showing category posts, and managing the widget style with custom colors and CSS. For more advanced options, you can download the addon from the provided link.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Categories Widget stands out in its category with no close direct alternatives available, making it a unique choice for users needing category display functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and efficient plugin design
Clean codebase with reliable performance
Responsive and helpful support team
Works well with custom taxonomies
Easy to use and integrates smoothly

Weaknesses

Lacks option to customize category order
No feature to open categories in a new window
Has had a high-severity security vulnerability in the past

User Sentiment Analysis

With a strong majority of 5-star ratings (81.5%) and very few low ratings, users generally express high satisfaction with the plugin's functionality and support.

Positive highlights

Great Plugin but can’t customize order - dj6082013
Easy to use and worked without issues - Karmi
Works great with fast and solid support - crzyhrse
Excellent dropdown display and support - ilinet
Great for custom taxonomies - Dillx

Common complaints

Weaknesses

No option to customize the order of categories
Missing feature to open categories in a new window
Past reflected XSS vulnerability fixed in version 2.3

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a straightforward, reliable categories widget with good support and compatibility with custom taxonomies will find this plugin ideal.

Not ideal for

Those needing advanced customization like ordering categories or opening links in new windows, or users concerned about past security issues, may find this plugin less suitable.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a simple and efficient categories widget with basic features and reliable support.

Pro version

The pro version likely includes enhanced features such as advanced customization options and additional display settings, although specifics are not clearly promoted.

Final Verdict

WP Categories Widget is a well-regarded plugin praised for its simplicity, clean code, and responsive support. It fills a unique niche with no direct alternatives, making it a valuable tool for users needing basic category display functionality. However, it lacks some customization features like category ordering and opening links in new windows.

While the plugin had a significant security vulnerability in the past, it has been addressed in recent updates. Users seeking advanced customization or with heightened security concerns should consider this before choosing it. Overall, it offers good value, especially for those prioritizing ease of use and support.