Forget About Shortcode Buttons
by Code Amp · Uncategorized
Also makes 3 other plugins · 63K+ installs across the portfolio →
A visual way to add CSS buttons in the rich text editor and to your 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
C 59/100
Stale · Open vulnerability
Active installs
20K+
≈27K estimated
Momentum
+39%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “button” and “css” for “about me” and “twentyseventeen”. “button” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “about me” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “css” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “twentyseventeen” sits at #14 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
59 health vs 58 average across 25,735 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →5.0%
of downloads still active
At least 20K of 403.2K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,765 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
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.
Room to improve
Most to gain: Update recency
Updated 726 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.7.11; the current branch is 6.8
4.7★ over 69 reviews, smoothed to 4.45★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Last updated 726 days ago — ship an update; wp.org decays a listing's search weight after ~180 days.
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.
31
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.6
Velocity
places per keyword, 23d
0%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 23d
0.0
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| about | #20 | #20 | down 1 |
| about me | #12 | #9 | down 1 |
| twentyseventeen | #14 | #7 | 0 |
| button your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| css your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| edit your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| shortcode your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| visual editor your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
5 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 3 listed. 2 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 5 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “button” and “css” for “about me” and “twentyseventeen”. “button” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “about me” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “css” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “twentyseventeen” sits at #14 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 19.2K · 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
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
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
No release in a yearHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
0
releases in the last 12 months
2.0y ago
latest release · v2.1.3 · 4 Nov 2024
14
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 98% 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 “20K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 7 months ago; the previous band took 22 months to cross, which places it about 70% of the way through.
Install history since 27 Dec 2016
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ HeyBlondie2.1y ago
Just a note to say this plugin is absolutely gold!! Perfect, simple and useful … and gave a small donation. Thank you for providing this 🙂
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Vincent DROUOT4.6y ago
What a relief! this plugin saved my life 😉 So easy to use and well implemented into WordPress. I love also the template feature, which helps to no waste time. Bravo and thank you!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ franklaw4.8y ago
This button plugin really helps me to get rid of the complex button short code! Just highlight the words on a page or post, you can make the buttons. You can even choose the colors and styling of the buttons. The plugin is simple, easy and useful. Thank you! Happy 2022!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Morteza5.1y ago
Quite usefull
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ healthysolutions4living5.1y ago
I was going to post a question in the forum but didn’t as no one has answered any question for over 2 years! I like the plugin but will look for another solution.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ SquarePeg616.4y ago
Easy to use and does just what I need it to. You can’t ask for more than that from a plugin. Using Version 5.4.1 of WordPress.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ tounizino7.1y ago
i like the plugin it’s good and does the job but, -i have to type twice or 3 times to make it appear -some issues with the saved templates -links open to a blank page then redirects to the link
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ SgtSunshine7.2y ago
Ross has done a sterling job. So much better than using shortcodes. He is actively supporting and developing this plugin as WordPress evolves. Great work!!! This topic was modified 6 years, 11 months ago by SgtSunshine.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.1.3 Fix – a potential security issue with nonce validation for authenticated users 2.1.3
- — Version 2.1.2 Fix – JS issues when no TinyMCE instance is loaded on the page Fix – better conditional loading of CSS and JS 2.1.2
- — Version 2.1.1 Fix – various issues with loading & the TinyMCE Editor 2.1.1
- — Version 2.1.0 New – added support for FASC buttons in WP 4.8 widget areas 🙂 Fix – an issue with button styles in the admin area, only when they were selected (this is due to some new CSS classes being added in WP 4.8) Fix – some copy 2.1.0
- — Version 2.0.1 Fix – an issue with the border effect on glossy buttons Fix – remove box-shadow properties from FASC buttons by default, some themes such as twentyseventeen add this to all anchor tags Fix – remove button rollover/hover 2.0.1
- — Version 2.0.0 Rewritten the core to use WP standards – no more iframes – much quicker to load New – integrated with WP Views – inline toolbars for editing and deleting – more options to come New – UI refresh – should make it easier to 2.0.0
Security history
via Wordfence Intelligence1 open vulnerability affects the current version (2.1.3). 2 of 3 disclosed are patched.
- Patched Medium · 4.3 Forget About Shortcode Buttons <= 2.1.2 - Missing Authorization via fasc_buttons ↗
- 2016-02-29 CVE-2016-1000133 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.1.1 Patched in 1.1.2
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.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.2
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 6 languages, 4 at 90% or more
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.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
3 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "A visual way to add CSS buttons in the rich text editor and to your themes."
- ! Has a FAQ No FAQ section.
- ! FAQ asks real questions No FAQ to judge.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ! Headings and lists 1 heading and 2 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,310 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "visual editor" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-04-13 30K+ → 20K+ down after 671 days in tier
- 2024-06-11 40K+ → 30K+ down after 714 days in tier
- 2022-06-28 50K+ → 40K+ down after 959 days in tier
- 2019-11-12 40K+ → 50K+ up after 649 days in tier
- 2018-02-01 20K+ → 40K+ up after 401 days in tier
- 2016-12-27 10K+ → 20K+ up after 575 days in tier
- 2015-06-01 8K+ → 10K+ 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).
-
CP Blocks 1K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags A -
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ installs · 4.9★ · 1 shared tag A -
Page Builder by SiteOrigin 400K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A -
Shortcodes Ultimate – Content Elements 400K+ installs · 4.9★ · 1 shared tag A - M MW WP Form 200K+ installs · 4.1★ · 1 shared tag B
-
Simple Custom CSS Plugin 100K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag C
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Forget About Shortcode Buttons into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/forget-about-shortcode-buttons" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Forget About Shortcode Buttons — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Forget About Shortcode Buttons: 20K+ active installs, 4.7★ (69 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/forget-about-shortcode-buttons
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