Companion Sitemap Generator vs XML Sitemap & Google News (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Sitemap Plugins top 10: Companion Sitemap Generator at #10 and XML Sitemap & Google News at #3. XML Sitemap & Google News leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Companion Sitemap Generator
Companion Sitemap Generator – Simple, Smart, and SEO-Ready
Create clean, complete, and up-to-date sitemaps for your WordPress website automatically.
XML Sitemap & Google News
Take control of your WordPress core XML Sitemap and add a Google News Sitemap.
Who leads on what
XML Sitemap & Google News leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
XML Sitemap & Google News ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Sitemap Plugins.
XML Sitemap & Google News has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 7,000+.
Companion Sitemap Generator is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 55 reviews, against 4.4 from 85 reviews.
XML Sitemap & Google News has more reviews behind its score: 85 against 55.
XML Sitemap & Google News was updated more recently, on June 10, 2026; Companion Sitemap Generator on April 23, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Companion Sitemap Generator
Pick Companion Sitemap Generator if the review score matters most to you.
XML Sitemap & Google News
Pick XML Sitemap & Google News if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Companion Sitemap Generator vs XML Sitemap & Google News side by side
| Companion Sitemap Generator | XML Sitemap & Google News | |
|---|---|---|
| Sitemap Plugins ranking | #10 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 55 | 85 |
| Active installs | 7,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 199,705 | 4,909,566 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Apr 23, 2026 | Jun 10, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 8, 2016 | Sep 26, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.9.7 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Companion Sitemap Generator ratings
XML Sitemap & Google News ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Companion Sitemap Generator nor XML Sitemap & Google News can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Sitemap Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Companion Sitemap Generator vs XML Sitemap & Google News: common questions
Is Companion Sitemap Generator better than XML Sitemap & Google News?
XML Sitemap & Google News leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. XML Sitemap & Google News ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Sitemap Plugins.
Which has more users, Companion Sitemap Generator or XML Sitemap & Google News?
XML Sitemap & Google News ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Sitemap Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Companion Sitemap Generator or XML Sitemap & Google News?
XML Sitemap & Google News has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 7,000+.
Are Companion Sitemap Generator and XML Sitemap & Google News free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Companion Sitemap Generator may also sell a paid version or add-ons. XML Sitemap & Google News is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Companion Sitemap Generator and XML Sitemap & Google News
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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