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Free Plugin by Tony Hayes v0.9.7

Guten Free Options

Gutenberg Free Options for your WordPressed Burger err I mean Editor.

Guten Free Options

The facts

Rating
5★ from 3
Active installs
200+
Price
Free
Last updated
2 Jul 2025
Added
Nov 2018
Requires WP
4.9.0
Tested up to
WP 6.8.8
Requires PHP
5.2.4
Downloads
5,450

Our analysis

AI-assisted

Guten Free Options is a WordPress plugin that allows you to control which editor—Classic or Block Editor (Gutenberg)—is used for editing posts. You can set defaults at multiple levels, including network, site, user role, and post type, providing flexibility in your editing experience.

This plugin is suitable for users who want to tailor their WordPress editing environment based on their specific needs, whether they are managing a multisite network or individual user preferences. It includes features for easy switching between editors and various customisation options.

Best for: This plugin is best for WordPress users who want to manage their editing experience across different user roles and post types.

What it does well

  • Allows selection of editor at multiple levels
  • Supports both Classic and Block Editor
  • Includes easy switch button between editors
  • Compatible with WordPress 4.9.x and 5+
  • Offers extensive customisation options

Where it falls short

  • Limited information on user experience and support
  • No details on potential conflicts with other plugins

Verdict

Guten Free Options provides a flexible solution for users needing control over their editing environment in WordPress. It is particularly useful for those managing multiple sites or user roles.

From the developer

Tony Hayes's own description of Guten Free Options, lightly tidied.

Want to use and/or not use the new Block Editor (Gutenberg) according to your needs?

Guten Free Options provides this for your WordPressed Burger err I mean Editor.

Guten Free Options allows you to smoothly transition your writing experience to WordPress 5+ by giving you full control over when a post should be edited with the Classic Editor or Block Editor… plus have a button to easily switch between them like other page builders.

With this plugin you can set the default editor to be used at ANY level, and more specific levels will override the previous ones – but only if they are set (similar to how cascading stylesheet inherit rules.)

This means complete flexibility – defaults for multisite networks, single sites, any user role, author preference, as well as being able to easily set default requirements for different custom post types and post templates, and then also switch over or override for individual posts as needed. Here is the list of possible options (in order):

  • Network Default – for Multisite if plugin network activated
  • Site Editor Default – set the base editor default for the site
  • User Role Defaults – set a default editor for each role
  • User Selection – optional default editor per user via profile
  • Post Type – set a default editor to use for each post type
  • Post Type Locking – lock any post type at this filtering level
  • Existing Blocks – use block editor if post has existing blocks
  • Post Template – set a default editor for each post template
  • Metabox Override – allows selection on the post edit screen
  • Querystring Button – easily switch between the editors any time
  • Admin Override – post IDs or slugs specified on plugin screen

Compatible with both WordPress 4.9.x with Gutenberg plugin and WordPress 5 beta+ Block Editor, and includes filters everywhere for further custom use case control.

Also features some extra tweaks:

  • Awesome button on either editor page to switch between editors
  • Disable the Gutenberg install plugin nag (for WP 4.9 only)
  • Remove the Gutenberg menu (for Gutenberg plugin only)
  • Prevent update disabling the Gutenberg plugin (on update to WP 5 only)
    (so you can continue to update Gutenberg plugin separately to core.)

Forget your personal editor allergies and install this plugin to just use what you need when you need it! 🙂

Guten Free Options Home

Read the full description on the official page →

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