Default featured image vs Media Library Categories
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
Default featured image leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #695, ahead of Media Library Categories at #1,253. Over the last 7 days Default featured image slipped 2 places and Media Library Categories held its place. Default featured image has the largest install base, roughly 3× the next: 60K+ active installs against 20K+ for Media Library Categories. Downloads this week: Default featured image 1,203 and Media Library Categories 710. Ratings: Default featured image 4.8★ from 69 and Media Library Categories 4.2★ from 52 reviews.
| Metric | Default featured image | Media Library Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #695 ▼ 2 | #1,253 ▬ |
| Active installs | 60K+ | 20K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 1,203 | 710 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (69) | 4.2★ (52) |
| Last updated | Jun 17, 2026 | Aug 22, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.8.2 | 2.0.2 |
| Best rank on record | #656 | #1,252 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 2012 | Nov 2013 |
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
More comparisons
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- Media Library Categories vs TaxoPress
- Media Library Categories vs Media Library Assistant
- Media Library Categories vs FV Top Level Categories
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Default featured image or Media Library Categories?
By active installs, Default featured image: 60K+ sites run it against 20K+ for Media Library Categories, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 20, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Default featured image or Media Library Categories?
Default featured image, at #695 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Media Library Categories at #1,253. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Default featured image or Media Library Categories 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.