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WP Social Widget

By catchsquare

Community & Social / Social Networking Features

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

WP Social Widget Review - In-Depth Analysis

WP Social Widget allows you to add links to your social networking sites easily. Customize the appearance with various color options and use shortcodes for flexible placement.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.79/10

User Rating

4.7/5 (based on 11+ reviews)

Active Installations

4,000+

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

WP Social Widget is a plugin that provides a simple and extendable way to display links along with social icons for your social networking profiles in WordPress.

You can customize the widget with options such as background color, icon color, and hover effects. The plugin also allows you to input your social profile links easily.

With the shortcode feature introduced in version 2.0.0, you can generate social icons by using a simple shortcode. This offers more flexibility in how and where you display your social links on your site.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Social Widget offers a straightforward and elegant solution for adding social icons to WordPress sites, with several alternatives available that provide similar functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and easy to configure with clear instructions
Elegant and clean design suitable for various websites
Lightweight widget that integrates well with most themes
Highly rated by users for usability and appearance

Weaknesses

Uses outdated social media logos which may not reflect current branding
Color customization may not work properly with some WordPress versions
Known security vulnerabilities related to stored cross-site scripting
No recent updates to address logo and compatibility issues

User Sentiment Analysis

User reviews are overwhelmingly positive with a 4.7 average rating and no low-star complaints, highlighting ease of use and clean design.

Positive highlights

"Really helped me with one of my personal projects, very clear instructions and examples and easy to configure." — subashkc1
"This widget is a thing of beauty! I put it on any websites that might care to share =)" — mynerdywebguy
"I love these social icons on my landing page. They're simple and elegant. Just what I was looking for." — mikefinestcity
"Best" — wanbli77

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Outdated social media logos that do not reflect current branding
Color changes may not display correctly on some WordPress versions
Conflicts with certain plugins like Color Box
Security vulnerabilities related to stored cross-site scripting attacks

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a simple, lightweight social icon widget that is easy to set up and integrates cleanly with their WordPress site.

Not ideal for

Users who require up-to-date social media logos, advanced customization options, or need a plugin with a strong security track record due to known vulnerabilities.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes a straightforward widget for displaying social icons with basic customization options.

Final Verdict

WP Social Widget is a highly rated and user-friendly plugin that excels in simplicity and clean design, making it a solid choice for users wanting basic social icon functionality. However, it suffers from outdated social media logos and some compatibility issues, which may detract from its appeal for those seeking a more modern look.

Additionally, the plugin has known security vulnerabilities related to stored cross-site scripting, which users should consider carefully. Alternatives with more frequent updates and stronger security may be preferable for sites with higher security requirements.