Custom Related Posts vs Manual 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: Custom Related Posts at #6 and Manual Related Posts at #9. Custom Related Posts leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Custom Related Posts
Manual related posts without slowing down your website!
Manual Related Posts
A simple 'related posts' plugin that lets you select related posts manually.
Who leads on what
Custom Related Posts leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Custom Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Custom Related Posts has more users: 3,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Custom Related Posts has 46, Manual Related Posts has 23. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Custom Related Posts has more reviews behind its score: 46 against 23.
Manual Related Posts was updated more recently, on August 30, 2026; Custom Related Posts on August 19, 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.
Custom Related Posts
Pick Custom Related Posts if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Manual Related Posts
Pick Manual Related Posts if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Custom Related Posts vs Manual Related Posts side by side
| Custom Related Posts | Manual Related Posts | |
|---|---|---|
| Related Posts Plugins ranking | #6 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 5.0 |
| Reviews | 46 | 23 |
| Active installs | 3,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 81,474 | 83,191 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 19, 2026 | Aug 30, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 7, 2015 | Apr 13, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Custom Related Posts ratings
Manual 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 Custom Related Posts nor Manual Related Posts can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Related Posts Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Custom Related Posts vs Manual Related Posts: common questions
Is Custom Related Posts better than Manual Related Posts?
Custom 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. Custom Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which has more users, Custom Related Posts or Manual Related Posts?
Custom Related Posts ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Custom Related Posts or Manual Related Posts?
Custom Related Posts has more users: 3,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Custom Related Posts and Manual Related Posts free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Custom Related Posts may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Manual Related Posts may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Custom Related Posts and Manual Related Posts
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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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Contextual Related Posts
50,000+ installs · 4.8 from 201 reviews
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Internal Linking of Related Contents
3,000+ installs · 4.2 from 5 reviews
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Related Posts Thumbnails
20,000+ installs · 4.9 from 233 reviews
More Related Posts Plugins comparisons
- Contextual Related Posts vs Custom Related Posts
- Contextual Related Posts vs Manual Related Posts
- Custom Related Posts vs Inline Related Posts
- Custom Related Posts vs Internal Linking of Related Contents
- Custom Related Posts vs Related Posts By PickPlugins
- Custom Related Posts vs Related Posts by Taxonomy
- Custom Related Posts vs Related Posts for WordPress
- Custom Related Posts vs Related Posts Thumbnails
- Custom Related Posts vs Yet Another Related Posts Plugin
- Inline Related Posts vs Manual Related Posts
- Internal Linking of Related Contents vs Manual Related Posts
- Manual Related Posts vs Related Posts By PickPlugins
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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.