Manual Related Posts vs Related Posts by Taxonomy (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: Manual Related Posts at #9 and Related Posts by Taxonomy at #4. Related Posts by Taxonomy leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Manual Related Posts
A simple 'related posts' plugin that lets you select related posts manually.
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.
Who leads on what
Related Posts by Taxonomy leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Related Posts by Taxonomy ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Related Posts by Taxonomy has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Manual Related Posts has 23, Related Posts by Taxonomy has 77. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Related Posts by Taxonomy has more reviews behind its score: 77 against 23.
Manual Related Posts was updated more recently, on August 30, 2026; Related Posts by Taxonomy on August 21, 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.
Manual Related Posts
Pick Manual Related Posts if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Related Posts by Taxonomy
Pick Related Posts by Taxonomy 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 vs Related Posts by Taxonomy side by side
| Manual Related Posts | Related Posts by Taxonomy | |
|---|---|---|
| Related Posts Plugins ranking | #9 | #4 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 23 | 77 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 83,191 | 329,386 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 30, 2026 | Aug 21, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 13, 2010 | May 10, 2013 |
| 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.
Manual Related Posts ratings
Related Posts by Taxonomy 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 Manual Related Posts nor Related Posts by Taxonomy can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Related Posts Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Manual Related Posts vs Related Posts by Taxonomy: common questions
Is Manual Related Posts better than Related Posts by Taxonomy?
Related Posts by Taxonomy leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Related Posts by Taxonomy ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which has more users, Manual Related Posts or Related Posts by Taxonomy?
Related Posts by Taxonomy ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Manual Related Posts or Related Posts by Taxonomy?
Related Posts by Taxonomy has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Manual Related Posts and Related Posts by Taxonomy free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Manual Related Posts may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Related Posts by Taxonomy may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Manual Related Posts and Related Posts by Taxonomy
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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Contextual Related Posts
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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.