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Hotlink Protection

v3.3.3

by zuda · updated 8 years ago

The WordPress Automatic Image Hotlink Protection plugin is a single step script designed to stop others from stealing your images.

hotlinkhotlink protectionhotlinkingimage protectionprotect image
WordPress.org SaveAnalyze reviews Track this plugin
Rank
#11,827
Down35 vs yesterday
Active installs (est.)
≈ 248
200+ reported · High
Total downloads
56.4K
56,410 all-time
Rating
1.0/5
5 reviews
Support resolved
–
0 of 0 threads, last 2 months
Growing·Downloads +0% (30d)·Toward 300+ · ETA unknown

Hotlink Protection at a glance

Hotlink Protection is a WordPress plugin by zuda with 200+ active installs, the #11,827 most popular plugin on WordPress.org. On a typical day it’s downloaded about 6 times, about the same as the month before. It’s rated 1.0 out of 5 from 5 reviews. Version 3.3.3 came out on Aug 16, 2018, more than 8 years ago. It is tested up to WordPress 4.9.35. It leads the 3 plugins tagged “hotlinking”. It was first released in 2009.

Chart time range

Applies to every chart below. History from Oct 10, 2026, 31 days.

Showing the last 30 days. Full history comes with any paid plan.See plans

Downloads over time

Download stats

136 downloads · the last 30 days

Downloads over time
Hotlink Protection Compare series
Downloads over time: 28 days across 1 series.510Oct 10Oct 15Oct 19Oct 24Oct 28Nov 2Nov 6Oct 29, 2026: Tested up to 4.9.35
View as table
DateHotlink Protection
Nov 6, 20266
Nov 5, 20265
Nov 4, 20265
Nov 3, 20266
Nov 2, 202612
Nov 1, 20269
Oct 31, 20265
Oct 30, 20263
Oct 29, 20263
Oct 28, 20265
Oct 27, 20266
Oct 26, 20266
Oct 25, 20267
Oct 24, 20266
Oct 23, 20263
Oct 22, 20262
Oct 21, 20263
Oct 20, 20262
Oct 19, 20266
Oct 18, 20263
Oct 17, 20263
Oct 16, 20263
Oct 15, 20265
Oct 14, 20267
Oct 13, 20262
Oct 12, 20263
Oct 11, 20264
Oct 10, 20266

Unusual spikes are usually updates, not new installs.

Estimated installs

≈ 248 · -5.7% in the last 30 days

Estimated installs
Estimated installs: 13 days across 1 series.250255260Oct 27Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 7Nov 9Oct 29, 2026: Tested up to 4.9.35
View as table
DateEstimated installs
Nov 9, 2026248
Nov 8, 2026249
Nov 7, 2026249
Nov 5, 2026250
Nov 4, 2026250
Nov 3, 2026250
Nov 2, 2026250
Nov 1, 2026250
Oct 31, 2026251
Oct 30, 2026250
Oct 29, 2026251
Oct 28, 2026250
Oct 27, 2026263

Rank over time

#11,827 · down 50 in the last 30 days

Popular rank
Popular rank: 14 days across 1 series.#11.8K#11.8KOct 27Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 7Nov 9Oct 29, 2026: Tested up to 4.9.35
View as table
DateDaily snapshot
Nov 9, 2026#11,827
Nov 8, 2026#11,792
Nov 7, 2026#11,771
Nov 6, 2026#11,797
Nov 5, 2026#11,755
Nov 4, 2026#11,767
Nov 3, 2026#11,766
Nov 2, 2026#11,740
Nov 1, 2026#11,732
Oct 31, 2026#11,728
Oct 30, 2026#11,735
Oct 29, 2026#11,758
Oct 28, 2026#11,771
Oct 27, 2026#11,777

Growth %

Average -0.45% a day in the last 30 days

Growth %, day over day
Growth %, day over day: 12 days across 1 series.-5%0%5%Oct 28Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 7Nov 9
View as table
DateGrowth
Nov 9, 2026-0.40%
Nov 8, 20260.00%
Nov 7, 2026-0.20%
Nov 5, 20260.00%
Nov 4, 20260.00%
Nov 3, 20260.00%
Nov 2, 20260.00%
Nov 1, 2026-0.40%
Oct 31, 2026+0.40%
Oct 30, 2026-0.40%
Oct 29, 2026+0.40%
Oct 28, 2026-4.94%

Active installs band

200+ on WordPress.org

Active installs (rounded band)
Active installs (rounded band): 14 days across 1 series.190200210Oct 27Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 7Nov 9Oct 29, 2026: Tested up to 4.9.35
View as table
DateDaily snapshot
Nov 9, 2026200+
Nov 8, 2026200+
Nov 7, 2026200+
Nov 6, 2026200+
Nov 5, 2026200+
Nov 4, 2026200+
Nov 3, 2026200+
Nov 2, 2026200+
Nov 1, 2026200+
Oct 31, 2026200+
Oct 30, 2026200+
Oct 29, 2026200+
Oct 28, 2026200+
Oct 27, 2026200+

Search rankings

Where it appears in WordPress.org search for the searches you track, checked every day.

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Change log

From our daily snapshot of WordPress.org
  1. Rank #11771 → #11755Downloads +37.5%
    • Tested up to 4.9.34 → 4.9.35

Versions in use

Share of active installs on each published version, from WordPress.org.

  • v3.363%
  • v2.037%

Rating trend

1.0★★★★★5 reviews · steady in the last 30 days

Requirements & info

Version history
Version
3.3.3
Requires WordPress
4.0.0
Tested up to
4.9.35
Requires PHP
–
First released
Jun 8, 2009
Last updated
Aug 16, 2018
Releases, last 12 months
…

Questions about Hotlink Protection

How many websites use Hotlink Protection?

Hotlink Protection is active on 200+ WordPress sites, as WordPress.org reports it. WordPress.org rounds the number down, so the real count is somewhat higher. That makes it the #11,827 most popular plugin on WordPress.org.

How many times has Hotlink Protection been downloaded?

56,410 times in total since 2009. On a typical day it’s downloaded about 6 times. See download stats

When was Hotlink Protection last updated?

Version 3.3.3 came out on Aug 16, 2018 (8 years ago).

Is Hotlink Protection compatible with the latest WordPress?

Hotlink Protection’s readme says it’s tested up to WordPress 4.9.35, 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 Hotlink Protection still maintained?

Its last release was 8 years ago, so it may no longer be actively maintained. No support threads were opened in the last two months.

What rating does Hotlink Protection have?

1.0 out of 5 from 5 reviews on WordPress.org.

What are the best alternatives to Hotlink Protection?

The plugins most like Hotlink Protection, by the tags they share, are WP Content Copy Protection & No Right Click (100K+), Disabled Source, Disabled Right Click and Content Protection (10K+) and WP-Copyright-Protection (5K+). Compare all alternatives

Latest reviews

Analyze reviews
All reviews on WordPress.org

Review stats

1.0

★★★★★

5 reviews

  • 5 stars: 0 reviews, 0%
  • 4 stars: 0 reviews, 0%
  • 3 stars: 0 reviews, 0%
  • 2 stars: 0 reviews, 0%
  • 1 stars: 5 reviews, 100%
Positive
0%4–5★
Mixed
0%3★
Critical
100%1–2★
  • About 1 more 5★ reviews would lift it to 1.1.

Compare with competitors

Add up to 1 competitor. No account needed.

Starter · 1 competitor
Hotlink Protection
Suggested:
Metric
Hotlink Protection
Estimated installs≈ 248
Reported installs200+
Rating1.0
Reviews5
Total downloads56.4K
Authorzuda
First releasedJun 8, 2009
Version3.3.3
Requires WP4.0.0
Requires PHP–
Last updatedAug 16, 2018

Alternatives to Hotlink Protection

Compare all alternatives

Popular plugins with the same tags, the most in common first.

Side by side:Hotlink Protection vs WP Content Copy Protection & No Right ClickHotlink Protection vs Disabled Source, Disabled Right Click and Content ProtectionHotlink Protection vs WP-Copyright-Protection

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