Manual Related Posts vs Related Posts Thumbnails (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 Thumbnails at #3. Related Posts Thumbnails 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 Thumbnails
Related Posts Thumbnails Plugin for WordPress
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 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Related Posts Thumbnails ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Related Posts Thumbnails has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Manual Related Posts has 23, Related Posts Thumbnails has 233. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Related Posts Thumbnails has more reviews behind its score: 233 against 23.
Manual Related Posts was updated more recently, on August 30, 2026; Related Posts Thumbnails on July 17, 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 Thumbnails
Pick Related Posts Thumbnails 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 Thumbnails side by side
| Manual Related Posts | Related Posts Thumbnails | |
|---|---|---|
| Related Posts Plugins ranking | #9 | #3 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 23 | 233 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 83,191 | 1,096,206 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 30, 2026 | Jul 17, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 13, 2010 | May 21, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Manual 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 Manual 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.
Manual Related Posts vs Related Posts Thumbnails: common questions
Is Manual Related Posts better than Related Posts Thumbnails?
Related Posts Thumbnails 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 Thumbnails ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which has more users, Manual Related Posts or Related Posts Thumbnails?
Related Posts Thumbnails ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #9 in Related Posts Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Manual Related Posts or Related Posts Thumbnails?
Related Posts Thumbnails has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Manual Related Posts and Related Posts Thumbnails free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Manual Related Posts 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 Manual Related Posts and Related Posts Thumbnails
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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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.