Contextual Related Posts vs Related Posts Thumbnails (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 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 Related Posts Thumbnails at #3. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. 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.
Related Posts Thumbnails
Related Posts by WPBrigade is The Best Customizable plugin, that nicely displays related posts thumbnails under the post.
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Contextual Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #3 in Related Posts Plugins.
Contextual Related Posts has more users: 50,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Related Posts Thumbnails is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 233 reviews, against 4.8 from 201 reviews.
Related Posts Thumbnails has more reviews behind its score: 233 against 201.
Related Posts Thumbnails was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; Contextual Related Posts on October 16, 2026.
Contextual Related Posts was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 61,930 times against 13,483.
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 you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Related Posts Thumbnails
Pick Related Posts Thumbnails 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.
Contextual Related Posts vs Related Posts Thumbnails side by side
| Contextual Related Posts | Related Posts Thumbnails | |
|---|---|---|
| Related Posts Plugins ranking | #2 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 201 | 233 |
| Active installs | 50,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,849,452 | 1,113,045 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 61,930 | 13,483 |
| Last updated | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 21, 2009 | May 21, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Contextual Related Posts ratings
Related Posts Thumbnails 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 Related Posts Thumbnails 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 Related Posts Thumbnails: common questions
Is Contextual Related Posts better than Related Posts Thumbnails?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Contextual Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #3 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which has more users, Contextual Related Posts or Related Posts Thumbnails?
Contextual Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #3 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Contextual Related Posts or Related Posts Thumbnails?
Contextual Related Posts has more users: 50,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are Contextual Related Posts and Related Posts Thumbnails free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Contextual Related Posts is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Related Posts Thumbnails is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Contextual Related Posts and Related Posts Thumbnails
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 1,164 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
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Custom Related Posts
3,000+ installs · 4.9 from 46 reviews
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Internal Linking of Related Contents
3,000+ installs · 4.2 from 5 reviews
More Related Posts Plugins comparisons
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- Contextual Related Posts vs Related Posts for WordPress
- Contextual Related Posts vs Yet Another Related Posts Plugin
- Custom Related Posts vs Related Posts Thumbnails
- Inline Related Posts vs Related Posts Thumbnails
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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.