External URL Featured Image
v1.0.3by jmarreros · updated 6 years ago
Use an external url image as Featured Image for your posts, pages, and other kind of post types.
- Rank
- #10,126
- Up36 vs yesterday
- Active installs (est.)
- ≈ 361
- 300+ reported · High
- Total downloads
- 14K
- 14,044 all-time
- Rating
- 3.9/5
- 8 reviews
- Support resolved
- –
- 0 of 0 threads, last 2 months
External URL Featured Image at a glance
External URL Featured Image is a WordPress plugin by jmarreros with 300+ active installs, the #10,126 most popular plugin on WordPress.org. On a typical day it’s downloaded about 4 times, 33% more than the month before. It’s rated 3.9 out of 5 from 8 reviews. Version 1.0.3 came out on Sep 27, 2020, more than 6 years ago. It is tested up to WordPress 5.5.24. Among the 37 plugins tagged “external”, it ranks #7. It was first released in 2017.
Chart time range
Applies to every chart below. History from Oct 10, 2026, 31 days.
Downloads over time
Download stats77 downloads · the last 30 days
View as table
| Date | External URL Featured Image |
|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2026 | 6 |
| Oct 27, 2026 | 4 |
| Oct 26, 2026 | 5 |
| Oct 25, 2026 | 5 |
| Oct 24, 2026 | 9 |
| Oct 23, 2026 | 2 |
| Oct 22, 2026 | 2 |
| Oct 21, 2026 | 2 |
| Oct 20, 2026 | 3 |
| Oct 19, 2026 | 7 |
| Oct 18, 2026 | 3 |
| Oct 17, 2026 | 3 |
| Oct 16, 2026 | 4 |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 3 |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 8 |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 4 |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 1 |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 1 |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 5 |
Unusual spikes are usually updates, not new installs.
Estimated installs
≈ 361 · -4.2% in the last 30 days
View as table
| Date | Estimated installs |
|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2026 | 361 |
| Nov 8, 2026 | 359 |
| Nov 7, 2026 | 360 |
| Nov 5, 2026 | 360 |
| Nov 4, 2026 | 361 |
| Nov 3, 2026 | 360 |
| Nov 2, 2026 | 361 |
| Nov 1, 2026 | 361 |
| Oct 31, 2026 | 360 |
| Oct 30, 2026 | 359 |
| Oct 29, 2026 | 360 |
| Oct 28, 2026 | 361 |
| Oct 27, 2026 | 377 |
Rank over time
#10,126 · up 40 in the last 30 days
View as table
| Date | Daily snapshot |
|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2026 | #10,126 |
| Nov 8, 2026 | #10,162 |
| Nov 7, 2026 | #10,155 |
| Nov 6, 2026 | #10,142 |
| Nov 5, 2026 | #10,146 |
| Nov 4, 2026 | #10,143 |
| Nov 3, 2026 | #10,151 |
| Nov 2, 2026 | #10,129 |
| Nov 1, 2026 | #10,130 |
| Oct 31, 2026 | #10,150 |
| Oct 30, 2026 | #10,176 |
| Oct 29, 2026 | #10,168 |
| Oct 28, 2026 | #10,178 |
| Oct 27, 2026 | #10,166 |
Growth %
Average -0.33% a day in the last 30 days
View as table
| Date | Growth |
|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2026 | +0.56% |
| Nov 8, 2026 | -0.28% |
| Nov 7, 2026 | 0.00% |
| Nov 5, 2026 | -0.28% |
| Nov 4, 2026 | +0.28% |
| Nov 3, 2026 | -0.28% |
| Nov 2, 2026 | 0.00% |
| Nov 1, 2026 | +0.28% |
| Oct 31, 2026 | +0.28% |
| Oct 30, 2026 | -0.28% |
| Oct 29, 2026 | -0.28% |
| Oct 28, 2026 | -4.24% |
Active installs band
300+ on WordPress.org
View as table
| Date | Daily snapshot |
|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2026 | 300+ |
| Nov 8, 2026 | 300+ |
| Nov 7, 2026 | 300+ |
| Nov 6, 2026 | 300+ |
| Nov 5, 2026 | 300+ |
| Nov 4, 2026 | 300+ |
| Nov 3, 2026 | 300+ |
| Nov 2, 2026 | 300+ |
| Nov 1, 2026 | 300+ |
| Oct 31, 2026 | 300+ |
| Oct 30, 2026 | 300+ |
| Oct 29, 2026 | 300+ |
| Oct 28, 2026 | 300+ |
| Oct 27, 2026 | 300+ |
Search rankings
Where it appears in WordPress.org search for the searches you track, checked every day.
See where External URL Featured Image ranks in search
Track this plugin to check its position for the searches you choose, daily, with an alert when it moves.
Change log
From our daily snapshot of WordPress.org- Rank #10178 → #10146
- Tested up to 5.5.23 → 5.5.24
Versions in use
Share of active installs on each published version, from WordPress.org.
- v1.0100%
Rating trend
3.9★★★★★8 reviews · steady in the last 30 days
Requirements & info
Version history- Version
- 1.0.3
- Requires WordPress
- 4.0
- Tested up to
- 5.5.24
- Requires PHP
- –
- First released
- Jan 8, 2017
- Last updated
- Sep 27, 2020
- Releases, last 12 months
- …
Questions about External URL Featured Image
How many websites use External URL Featured Image?
External URL Featured Image is active on 300+ WordPress sites, as WordPress.org reports it. WordPress.org rounds the number down, so the real count is somewhat higher. That makes it the #10,126 most popular plugin on WordPress.org.
How many times has External URL Featured Image been downloaded?
14,044 times in total since 2017. On a typical day it’s downloaded about 4 times. See download stats
When was External URL Featured Image last updated?
Version 1.0.3 came out on Sep 27, 2020 (6 years ago).
Is External URL Featured Image compatible with the latest WordPress?
External URL Featured Image’s readme says it’s tested up to WordPress 5.5.24, while the current version is 7.1. That doesn’t mean it breaks, but its author hasn’t confirmed it works with the latest releases.
Is External URL Featured Image still maintained?
Its last release was 6 years ago, so it may no longer be actively maintained. No support threads were opened in the last two months.
What rating does External URL Featured Image have?
3.9 out of 5 from 8 reviews on WordPress.org. 63% of them give 5 stars.
What are the best alternatives to External URL Featured Image?
The plugins most like External URL Featured Image, by the tags they share, are Conditionally display featured image on singular posts and pages (30K+), YITH WooCommerce Featured Video (3K+) and Featured Image from URL (FIFU) (60K+). Compare all alternatives
Latest reviews
Analyze reviewsReview stats
3.9
★★★★★
8 reviews
- 5 stars: 5 reviews, 63%
- 4 stars: 1 reviews, 13%
- 3 stars: 0 reviews, 0%
- 2 stars: 0 reviews, 0%
- 1 stars: 2 reviews, 25%
- Positive
- 75%4–5★
- Mixed
- 0%3★
- Critical
- 25%1–2★
- About 1 more 5★ reviews would lift it to 4.0.
- Each new 1★ review takes 3 five-star reviews to balance out.
Compare with competitors
Add up to 1 competitor. No account needed.
| Metric | |
|---|---|
| Estimated installs | ≈ 361 |
| Reported installs | 300+ |
| Rating | 3.9 |
| Reviews | 8 |
| Total downloads | 14K |
| Author | jmarreros |
| First released | Jan 8, 2017 |
| Version | 1.0.3 |
| Requires WP | 4.0 |
| Requires PHP | – |
| Last updated | Sep 27, 2020 |
Alternatives to External URL Featured Image
Compare all alternativesPopular plugins with the same tags, the most in common first.
Conditionally display featured image on singular posts and pages
by cyrillbolliger
Easily control whether the featured image appears in the single post or page view (doesn't hide it in archive/list view).
- Rank
- #1,005
- Installs
- 30K+
- 4.8
YITH WooCommerce Featured Video
by YITHEMES
YITH WooCommerce Featured Video allows you to place a video in the product detail page instead of the featured image.
- Rank
- #4,169
- Installs
- 3K+
- 2.9
Featured Image from URL (FIFU)
by fifu.app
Use external image URLs for WordPress featured images and WooCommerce product images. No uploads required. FIFU PRO adds videos and galleries.
- Rank
- #622
- Installs
- 60K+
- 4.6
Quick Featured Images
by Kybernetik Services
The time-saving solution for managing tons of featured images within minutes: Set, replace and delete in bulk and set default images for future posts.
- Rank
- #748
- Installs
- 50K+
- 4.7
Auto Featured Image (Auto Post Thumbnail)
by Themeisle
Automatically generate, assign, and manage featured images in bulk so every post on your site has a featured image.
- Rank
- #799
- Installs
- 40K+
- 3.8
Featured Image Admin Thumb
by Sean Hayes
Adds inline thumbnail image to admin columns on Post/post types view (where supported). Click to easily set/change the featured image.
- Rank
- #1,117
- Installs
- 20K+
- 4.7
Side by side:External URL Featured Image vs Conditionally display featured image on singular posts and pagesExternal URL Featured Image vs YITH WooCommerce Featured VideoExternal URL Featured Image vs Featured Image from URL (FIFU)
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