Widget Importer & Exporter
by ChurchThemes
Moves widget configurations between sites as a JSON file.
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What Widget Importer & Exporter does
Moves widget configurations between sites as a JSON file.
It sits in the migration part of a WordPress stack and is sold by ChurchThemes on a free basis. We recommend it in our migration guides because it does that one job well without asking you to rebuild the rest of the site around it.
Every plugin adds work to a page request, so treat this as a decision with a cost. Record a speed test before you install it and run the same test afterwards, on the same page, so you know exactly what it charged you.
Real user ratings
Score
4.7/5
Reviews
117
Active installs
200,000+
Downloads
5.3M
Latest version
1.6.1
Last updated
2026-05-23
These figures come straight from the public WordPress.org plugin directory API for version 1.6.1, not from us. Check them yourself on the WordPress.org listing. Our own editorial score is 4.3/5.
Where Widget Importer & Exporter ranks elsewhere
Widget Importer & Exporter does not appear in the published "best of" lists we track from WPBeginner, TechRadar, Kinsta, Themeisle and similar sites. That is not a mark against it - those roundups are short and skew towards the biggest names.
What changed in the latest version
Widget Importer & Exporter does not publish a changelog we can read automatically, so check the vendor's own release notes before you update a live site.
Pros and cons
- Saves rebuilding sidebars by hand
- Free with no licence to renew
- Actively maintained and used on production sites we test
- Classic widgets only
- Support is community-led rather than guaranteed
How to use it
- 1Back up the destination site's database before importing anything.
- 2Run a small sample import first and check the field mapping.
- 3Raise PHP memory and execution limits for large files.
- 4Import media separately if the run keeps timing out.
- 5Spot-check twenty records and all internal links after the run.
How it compares
Other migration plugins we recommend, with their rating and pricing model.
| Plugin | Our rating | WordPress.org | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widget Importer & Exporter | 4.3 | 4.7 (117) | Free | Saves rebuilding sidebars by hand |
| Customizer Export/Import | 4.4 | 4.8 (115) | Free | Fast design handover between sites |
| Export Media Library | 4.5 | 4.9 (48) | Free | Simple full-media backup |
| Import Export Suite for WooCommerce | 4.5 | n/a | Freemium | Handles orders and coupons, not just products |
| Product CSV Import Suite | 4.0 | n/a | Premium | Official support for variation imports |
| Users Import and Export | 4.3 | n/a | Freemium | Keeps user meta intact |
Guides that cover Widget Importer & Exporter
Alternatives
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