Contextual Related Posts vs Inline Related Posts (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Related Posts Plugins top 10: Contextual Related Posts at #2 and Inline Related Posts at #1. Contextual Related Posts leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Contextual Related Posts
Keep visitors on your site longer with intelligent, fast-loading, contextually related posts. Block, shortcode, custom post type and widget ready.
Inline Related Posts
Inline Related Posts AUTOMATICALLY inserts related posts INSIDE your content, capturing immediately the reader's attention.
Who leads on what
Contextual Related Posts leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Inline Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Related Posts Plugins.
Inline Related Posts has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 50,000+.
Contextual Related Posts is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 201 reviews, against 4.3 from 77 reviews.
Contextual Related Posts has more reviews behind its score: 201 against 77.
Contextual Related Posts was updated more recently, on September 5, 2026; Inline Related Posts on August 3, 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.
Contextual Related Posts
Pick Contextual Related Posts if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Inline Related Posts
Pick Inline Related Posts if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the plugin more sites already run.
Contextual Related Posts vs Inline Related Posts side by side
| Contextual Related Posts | Inline Related Posts | |
|---|---|---|
| Related Posts Plugins ranking | #2 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 201 | 77 |
| Active installs | 50,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,763,249 | 1,793,392 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 5, 2026 | Aug 3, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 21, 2009 | May 14, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Contextual Related Posts ratings
Inline Related Posts 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 Contextual Related Posts nor Inline Related Posts can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Related Posts Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Contextual Related Posts vs Inline Related Posts: common questions
Is Contextual Related Posts better than Inline Related Posts?
Contextual Related Posts leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Inline Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which has more users, Contextual Related Posts or Inline Related Posts?
Inline Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Contextual Related Posts or Inline Related Posts?
Inline Related Posts has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 50,000+.
Are Contextual Related Posts and Inline Related Posts free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Contextual Related Posts is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Inline Related Posts may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Contextual Related Posts and Inline Related Posts
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Yet Another Related Posts Plugin
100,000+ installs · 4.8 from 1,163 reviews
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Related Posts for WordPress
10,000+ installs · 4.6 from 325 reviews
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Internal Linking of Related Contents
3,000+ installs · 4.2 from 5 reviews
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Related Posts By PickPlugins
3,000+ installs · 4.6 from 39 reviews
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Related Posts by Taxonomy
10,000+ installs · 4.8 from 77 reviews
More Related Posts Plugins comparisons
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- Contextual Related Posts vs Related Posts Thumbnails
- Contextual Related Posts vs Yet Another Related Posts Plugin
- Custom Related Posts vs Inline Related Posts
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- Inline Related Posts vs Manual Related Posts
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.