Content Aware Sidebars – Fastest Widget Area Plugin
by Joachim Jensen · Admin & Utilities
Also makes 3 other plugins · 41K+ installs across the portfolio →
Display new sidebars on any post, page, category etc. Works with Classic Widgets, Block Widgets, and all themes!
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 92/100
no flags
Active installs
30K+
≈37K estimated
Momentum
+23%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “widget” and “classic widgets” for “area” and “content”. “widget” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “area” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “classic widgets” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “content” sits at #22 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
92 health vs 56 average across 5,910 Admin & Utilities plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.8%
of downloads still active
At least 30K of 1.7M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Admin & Utilities plugin keeps 0.6%, across 4,195 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Admin & Utilities plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 2 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 12 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 724 reviews, weighted for review count to 4.8★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
57
Momentum
Holding steady
+1.8
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
48%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+1.5
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| content aware | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| widget area | #2 | #2 | up 5 |
| sidebars | #2 | #2 | up 2 |
| content aware sidebar | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom sidebars your tag | #4 | #3 | up 1 |
| content area widget | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| bbpress sidebar | #2 | #1 | up 2 |
| area | #8 | #6 | down 1 |
| content area | #3 | #2 | up 7 |
| sidebar your tag | #11 | #6 | up 1 |
| reusable content widget | #4 | #4 | up 1 |
| content sidebar | #4 | #3 | up 7 |
| classic widgets your tag | #13 | #10 | 0 |
| wordpress sidebars | #5 | #5 | 0 |
| sidebar in content | #5 | #3 | 0 |
| replace widget area | #6 | #4 | up 3 |
| x content | #7 | #6 | up 1 |
| widgets area | #7 | #5 | 0 |
| category archive sidebar | #7 | #4 | 0 |
| content | #22 | #15 | up 2 |
| bbpress your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| widget your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
190 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 148 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “widget” and “classic widgets” for “area” and “content”. “widget” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “area” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “classic widgets” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “content” sits at #22 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “classic widgets”. #13 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
- One page off on “sidebar”. #11 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,492 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 25.2K · peaks are release surges
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
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
2
releases in the last 12 months
12d ago
latest release · v3.21.4 · 23 Oct 2026
56
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare 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.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “30K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 24 months ago; the previous band took 6.7 years to cross, which places it about 71% of the way through.
Install history since 9 Sep 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ jvbbb1.3y 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ Ibptech1.4y ago
Very helpful
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ fraukoenig1.7y ago
This is what I’ve been looking for and it upgrades my groups on my BuddyBoss platform.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Nate Angell1.8y 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ brabantia1.8y ago
perfect for my sidebar, thank you!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ zunismyst1.9y ago
This plugin is exactly what I was always looking for! It’s Extremely helpful!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Kim Haar Jørgensen1.9y 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ laraider2.0y ago
Plugin nécessaire pour moi et très pratique, merci.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — 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
- — Version 3.21.2 [new] ui improvements [new] wordpress 6.8 support [updated] freemius sdk 3.21.2
- — Version 3.21.1 [new] performance improvements 3.21.1
- — 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
- — 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
- — Version 3.21.4 [new] wordpress 7.1 support [new] minimum wordpress version 5.8 [new] minimum php version 7.4 [updated] freemius sdk See changelog.txt for previous changes. 3.21.4
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 3 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (3.21.4). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2023-07-18 CVE-2023-33999 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.19 Patched in 3.19.1
- 2019-02-25 Missing Authorization Affects < 3.8.1 Patched in 3.8.1
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 81 languages, 4 at 90% or more
Plus 57 more locales with partial translations.
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
This plugin’s searches fall outside the topics measured so far. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
7 of 8 pass · checked 4 Nov 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Display new sidebars on any post, page, category etc. Works with Classic Widgets, Block Widgets, and all th..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 7 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 7 of 7 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, Advanced Custom Fields, WPML, Polylang and 6 more.
- ✓ Headings and lists 9 headings and 5 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 4,253 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2024-11-29 40K+ → 30K+ down after 2434 days in tier
- 2018-04-01 30K+ → 40K+ up after 754 days in tier
- 2016-03-08 20K+ → 30K+ up
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 70K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags D -
Ocean Custom Sidebar 20K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A -
Meks Simple Flickr Widget 10K+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags C
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.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/content-aware-sidebars" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Content Aware Sidebars – Fastest Widget Area Plugin — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Content Aware Sidebars – Fastest Widget Area Plugin: 30K+ active installs, 4.9★ (724 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-04. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/content-aware-sidebars
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