Better RSS Widget Frequently Asked Questions
These answers match Better RSS Widget 3.0.0. The plugin displays a feed you choose. It does not include a paid upgrade or a license key.
Does Better RSS Widget replace the built-in RSS widget?
No. Activating Better RSS Widget does not remove or overwrite the built-in RSS widget. Add a Better RSS Widget, use the [better-rss] shortcode, or add RSS List or RSS Grid in Elementor. You can leave older RSS widgets in place until you are ready to switch them.
Does this plugin require Elementor?
No. The classic widget, the settings screen, and the shortcode work without Elementor. Install Elementor when you want RSS List or RSS Grid. RSS List stacks items and can place the image above, left, or right. RSS Grid uses columns and places the image above the text, with a shared image height and object fit. Both style the feed box, title, icon, intro text, each item, excerpt, date, time, and author. The title can be custom text, the feed title, or the feed description. Title HTML tags can be h1 through h6, div, span, or p.
When does the site contact a feed?
The site requests a feed when a widget, shortcode, or RSS List or RSS Grid widget that uses it is rendered and the cache is missing or older than the duration you set. The request uses the feed URL you saved. Visitors do not send their name or email address with it. The default cache duration is one hour, and caching is on unless you turn it off.
use_title and use_tags on the shortcode are the exception to “URL only.” They add the current post title, the current tags, or both, onto the end of the feed URL before the request. Omit them when those words should stay on your site.
Where are feed items stored?
Items are read from the feed and printed on the page. They are not saved as posts. A cached copy can be stored on your site for the cache duration. Widget options and the defaults from Settings → Better RSS Widget are saved in WordPress. Uninstalling or deleting those options is separate from your posts and pages.
What can I show for each item?
You can show the item title, an image from the feed, a summary or excerpt, the author, the date, and the time. In Elementor, date, time, and author can be a list or one inline line. Excerpt length and a title character limit are settings. Links can open in the same window, a new window, or the top window, and they can be marked nofollow. Intro text, when allowed, is your own HTML or text placed before the list.
Is there a Plus version?
No. Better RSS Widget is one free plugin under the GPL. The donate link on the settings screen opens the Better RSS Widget page. Donate there is handled by Stripe. A donation does not unlock features or register a site.
Where can I get help?
Questions can be asked on this plugin’s WordPress.org support forum. You can also write through the contact form.