Related Posts by Taxonomy 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: Related Posts by Taxonomy at #4 and Related Posts Thumbnails at #3. Related Posts Thumbnails leads on all 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Related Posts by Taxonomy
Display a list of related posts on your site based on the most terms in common. Supports thumbnails, shortcodes, a widget and more.
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
Related Posts Thumbnails leads on all 6 measures we track.
Related Posts Thumbnails ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #4 in Related Posts Plugins.
Related Posts Thumbnails has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Related Posts Thumbnails is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 233 reviews, against 4.8 from 77 reviews.
Related Posts Thumbnails has more reviews behind its score: 233 against 77.
Related Posts Thumbnails was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; Related Posts by Taxonomy on August 21, 2026.
Related Posts Thumbnails was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 13,483 times against 2,409.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Related Posts by Taxonomy
Related Posts by Taxonomy does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Related Posts Thumbnails
Pick Related Posts Thumbnails if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Related Posts by Taxonomy vs Related Posts Thumbnails side by side
| Related Posts by Taxonomy | Related Posts Thumbnails | |
|---|---|---|
| Related Posts Plugins ranking | #4 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 77 | 233 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 333,216 | 1,113,045 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 2,409 | 13,483 |
| Last updated | Aug 21, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 |
| First published | May 10, 2013 | May 21, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Related Posts by Taxonomy 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 Related Posts by Taxonomy 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.
Related Posts by Taxonomy vs Related Posts Thumbnails: common questions
Is Related Posts by Taxonomy better than Related Posts Thumbnails?
Related Posts Thumbnails leads on all 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Related Posts Thumbnails ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #4 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which has more users, Related Posts by Taxonomy or Related Posts Thumbnails?
Related Posts Thumbnails ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #4 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Related Posts by Taxonomy or Related Posts Thumbnails?
Related Posts Thumbnails has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Related Posts by Taxonomy and Related Posts Thumbnails free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Related Posts by Taxonomy may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Related Posts Thumbnails is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Related Posts by Taxonomy and Related Posts Thumbnails
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Contextual Related Posts
50,000+ installs · 4.8 from 201 reviews
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Yet Another Related Posts Plugin
100,000+ installs · 4.8 from 1,164 reviews
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Manual Related Posts
1,000+ installs · 5.0 from 23 reviews
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Internal Linking of Related Contents
3,000+ installs · 4.2 from 5 reviews
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Custom Related Posts
3,000+ installs · 4.9 from 46 reviews
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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.