Custom Permalinks vs External Permalinks Redux
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
At a glance
Custom Permalinks leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #376, ahead of External Permalinks Redux at #4,770. Over the last 7 days Custom Permalinks slipped 4 places and External Permalinks Redux climbed 6 places. Custom Permalinks has the largest install base, roughly 50× the next: 100K+ active installs against 2K+ for External Permalinks Redux. Downloads this week: Custom Permalinks 28,579 and External Permalinks Redux 62. Ratings: Custom Permalinks 4.1★ from 116 and External Permalinks Redux 5★ from 4 reviews.
| Metric | Custom Permalinks | External Permalinks Redux |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #376 ▼ 4 | #4,770 ▲ 6 |
| Active installs | 100K+ | 2K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 28,579 | 62 |
| Rating | 4.1★ (116) | 5★ (4) |
| Last updated | Oct 13, 2026 | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Current version | 3.3.3 | 1.3.2 |
| Best rank on record | #370 | #4,770 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Nov 2008 | Aug 2011 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Custom Permalinks or External Permalinks Redux?
By active installs, Custom Permalinks: 100K+ sites run it against 2K+ for External Permalinks Redux, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 19, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Custom Permalinks or External Permalinks Redux?
Custom Permalinks, at #376 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with External Permalinks Redux at #4,770. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Custom Permalinks or External Permalinks Redux alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.