External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) vs Featured Image from URL (FIFU)
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
Featured Image from URL (FIFU) leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #623, ahead of External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) at #16,562. Over the last 7 days Featured Image from URL (FIFU) held its place and External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) slipped 234 places. Featured Image from URL (FIFU) has the largest install base, roughly 600× the next: 60K+ active installs against 100+ for External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail). Downloads this week: Featured Image from URL (FIFU) 18,472 and External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) 28. Ratings: External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) 5★ from 2 and Featured Image from URL (FIFU) 4.6★ from 264 reviews.
| Metric | External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) | Featured Image from URL (FIFU) |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #16,562 ▼ 234 | #623 ▬ |
| Active installs | 100+ | 60K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 28 | 18,472 |
| Rating | 5★ (2) | 4.6★ (264) |
| Last updated | Oct 30, 2024 | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.08 | 6.1.2 |
| Best rank on record | #13,366 | #608 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Sep 2018 | Oct 2015 |
| Sites detected by our detector | 0 | 1 |
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
- External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) vs VK Post Author Display
- External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) vs XO Featured Image Tools
- External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) vs Custom Post Type Permalinks
- External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) vs Regenerate Thumbnails
- Featured Image from URL (FIFU) vs Conditionally display featured image on singular posts and pages
- Featured Image from URL (FIFU) vs Hide Featured Image
- Featured Image from URL (FIFU) vs Custom Post Type Permalinks
- Featured Image from URL (FIFU) vs Default featured image
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) or Featured Image from URL (FIFU)?
By active installs, Featured Image from URL (FIFU): 60K+ sites run it against 100+ for External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail), according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 23, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) or Featured Image from URL (FIFU)?
Featured Image from URL (FIFU), at #623 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) at #16,562. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are External url as post Featured Image (thumbnail) or Featured Image from URL (FIFU) 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.