Content Aware Sidebars – Fastest Widget Area Plugin

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

Directory rank vs rivals

wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 71% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price.

1. ★★★★★ jvbbb

   1.1y ago

   This plugin let’s me do everything that’s in my imagination. This plugin made it insanely easy to control which sidebars show up where. I’m running a multi-section blog, and Content Aware Sidebars lets me assign different widgets to different pages without fussing with code or complex logic. It works beautifully with WordPress block themes and saved me a ton of time. Definitely deserves five stars—clean, reliable, and does exactly what it promises. Big thanks to the devs. This one’s a gem.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Ibptech

   1.2y ago

   Very helpful

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ fraukoenig

   1.5y ago

   This is what I’ve been looking for and it upgrades my groups on my BuddyBoss platform.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ Nate Angell

   1.6y ago

   Content Aware Sidebars is a fantastic plugin: Does exactly what you want it to with a well-designed administrative experience. Five stars! No notes!

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ brabantia

   1.6y ago

   perfect for my sidebar, thank you!

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ zunismyst

   1.7y ago

   This plugin is exactly what I was always looking for! It’s Extremely helpful!

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ Kim Haar Jørgensen

   1.7y ago

   We were forced to find an alternative to Sidebar Replacements and this plugin delivers in all ways and more. Super easy to setup and manage, which is exactly what we were looking for! This topic was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by Kim Haar Jørgensen.

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ laraider

   1.8y ago

   Plugin nécessaire pour moi et très pratique, merci.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 3.21.3 [new] wordpress 6.9 support [new] minimum wordpress version 5.6 [fixed] language options missing from polylang condition [updated] wp-content-aware-engine library [updated] freemius sdk 3.21.3
2. — Version 3.21.2 [new] ui improvements [new] wordpress 6.8 support [updated] freemius sdk 3.21.2
3. — Version 3.21.1 [new] performance improvements 3.21.1
4. — Version 3.21 [new] performance improvements [new] ui improvements [new] wordpress 6.7 support [fixed] stop bluehost-wordpress-plugin from breaking the plugin [updated] wp-content-aware-engine library [updated] freemius sdk Pro Plan: 3.21
5. — Version 3.20 [new] option to display widget area on password protected content [new] performance improvements [new] wordpress 6.5 support [new] minimum wordpress version 5.5 [new] minimum php version 7.1 [fixed] improved compatibilit 3.20

3 disclosed vulnerabilities on record for this plugin, all fixed in the current version. Sites on older versions stay exposed until they update.

1. Medium · 6.1 Freemius SDK <= 2.5.9 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via fs_request_get ↗
   2023-07-18 CVE-2023-33999 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects <= 3.19 Patched in 3.19.1
2. Medium · 6.3 Freemius SDK <= 2.4.2 - Missing Authorization Checks ↗
   2022-03-04 CVE-2022-4974 Missing Authorization Affects < 3.17.2 Patched in 3.17.2
3. High · 8.8 Freemius SDK <= 2.2.3 - Missing Authorization to Arbitrary Options Update ↗
   2019-02-25 Missing Authorization Affects < 3.8.1 Patched in 3.8.1

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1

Translated into 81 languages, 4 at 90% or more

Plus 57 more locales with partial translations.

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2024-11-29 40K+ → 30K+ down

Competes with

The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).

• Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar Classic Widget Area Manager 100K+ installs · 4.7★ · 3 shared tags A
• Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A
• Image Widget 100K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A
• Fixed Widget and Sticky Elements for WordPress 80K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags D
• Ocean Custom Sidebar 20K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A
• Meks Simple Flickr Widget 20K+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags D

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for Content Aware Sidebars – Fastest Widget Area Plugin into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Content Aware Sidebars – Fastest Widget Area Plugin: 30K+ active installs, 4.9★ (724 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-25. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/content-aware-sidebars