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Free Plugin by 10up v1.1.3

Insert Special Characters

A Special Character inserter for the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg).

Insert Special Characters

The facts

Rating
4.9★ from 8
Active installs
3k+
Price
Free
Last updated
12 May 2026
Added
Aug 2019
Requires WP
6.5
Tested up to
WP 7.0.4
Requires PHP
7.4
Downloads
82,429

Our analysis

AI-assisted

Insert Special Characters is a WordPress plugin designed for the Gutenberg block editor. It allows you to easily insert special characters, similar to the functionality available in the Classic Editor. You can access the character inserter using the ctrl/cmd + o keyboard shortcut.

The plugin is suitable for users who need to incorporate special characters into their content without hassle. Developers can also extend its functionality by filtering the available characters through JavaScript hooks.

Best for: This plugin suits content creators using the Gutenberg editor who need to insert special characters.

What it does well

  • ✓Free to use from the WordPress.org directory
  • ✓Easy access to special characters in the block editor
  • ✓Customisable for developers through JavaScript filters
  • ✓High rating of 4.9 out of 5 from users
  • ✓Active installation count of 3,000

Where it falls short

  • •Limited information on specific character options available
  • •Requires PHP 7.4 and WordPress 6.6+

Verdict

Insert Special Characters provides a straightforward solution for adding special characters in WordPress. It is particularly useful for those transitioning from the Classic Editor.

From the developer

10up's own description of Insert Special Characters, lightly tidied.

Ever wanted to add a special character while working within the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) and suddenly find yourself longing for the days of the Classic Editor and the Special Character inserter? Well long no more, the Insert Special Characters plugin is here to ease your publishing woes!

Note: you can display the popover via the ctrl/cmd + o keyboard shortcut.

Development takes place in the GitHub repository.

Technical Notes

Extending

To control the available tabs and characters, developers can filter the data set using the insertspecialcharacters-characters JavaScript (wp.hooks) filter.

For example, to create a character inserter that only provides currency symbols:

wp.hooks.addFilter(
    'insertspecialcharacters-characters',  // The filter name.
    'mycallback', // Our callback namespace.
    function( component ) { // The callback function.

        // Return the categories/characters to display.
        // The data structure is: { category: [ character data ], category2: ... }
        return {
            "Currency": [
                { "entity": "$", "hex": "", "name": "Dollar Sign", "char": "$" },
                { "entity": "€", "hex": "&#20AC;", "name": "Euro Sign", "char": "€" },
                { "entity": "¢", "hex": "&#00A2;", "name": "Cent Sign", "char": "¢" },
                { "entity": "£", "hex": "&#00A3;", "name": "Pound Sign", "char": "£" },
                { "entity": "¥", "hex": "&#00A5;", "name": "Yen Sign", "char": "¥" },
            ]
        };
    }
);

Read the full description on the official page →

Tagged as

platform Gutenberg & Block Editor
topic Insert