There’s no denying it: WordPress rules. The CMS has so many plugins, ranging from custom forms to more complex usability features. Even better, most of them are totally free.
If you run a WordPress site, you know about their many related post plugins. They automatically pull articles relevant to each post on your site. Granted, this can impact performance – so there is no “perfect” choice.
That’s why we’ve curated this collection of our favorite related post plugins you might pick from. They each have their benefits, drawbacks, and interface styles.
YARPP – Yet Another Related Posts Plugin
YARPP stands for Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. It was designed as just another option from the many existing plugins at the time. Truth be told – this is one of the best.
It does eat a decent amount of resources on the server, so it helps if you’re on a VPS or dedicated host. But you can use a caching plugin to help speed things up.
Posts can be organized with thumbnails or in a link list inside your article. The templating system is also easy to edit if you know your way around CSS, so it’s easy to blend this into any site.
I’ve used YARPP on a couple of sites, and I’ve been pleased with the results. You’ll feel the same way if you take it for a test ride.
Contextual Related Posts for WordPress
Contextual Related Posts uses a custom algorithm that pulls keywords from each page’s title and main body content. This is a lot more intensive than other plugins, but it also delivers more unique results.
Once installed, it’ll automatically start pulling related posts based on the page content. You can add the shortcodes anywhere or append the related post function to your template files.
I also like how this plugin comes with its own unique caching system. However, that means even if you have another caching plugin installed, like W3 Total Cache, you’ll need to clear both caches to reset your related posts.
This approach certainly cuts down on page size but can be a pain when you have a massive website.
Intelly Related Posts WordPress Plugin
Intelly is one of the newer options that embeds related posts inside your content. Pretty cool!
I have used Intelly Related Posts sparingly, but from what I have seen, it’s a good plugin. The matching system for pulling content is fantastic, and the default templates are easy to work with.
This thing is also pretty much automated. Right from the first setup, it can:
- Generate related links for each post
- Embed link boxes after natural breaks in content
- Pull related post featured images with proper thumbnails
From the backend, you can also customize the color scheme with a few defaults. I’ve yet to find another solid in-post-related links plugin, so if you need that feature, I recommend Intelly.
Related For WordPress
The Related For WP plugin offers most of the features you find elsewhere: custom caching, automated links, and a custom template.
But there is one nice added feature with this plugin that I like. It lets you change links on certain posts if you want to manually alter the related content. The plugin gives you complete control over links on each page, and you can rearrange the order.
For installation, you can use a widget or a shortcode – both of which can work in any theme. The backend has a complete setup wizard to guide you through the process.
Custom Related Posts for WordPress
Custom Related Posts is an excellent choice for those who want complete control over related post functionality. It lets you pick and choose which posts you want to display.
One of its key selling points is the ability to define bi-directional relationships between posts. For example, if you’d like two posts to always be tied together, that can be accomplished. In this configuration, your pizza crust recipe will always display as related to your pizza sauce recipe, and vice-versa.
There are also multiple ways to integrate the plugin into your site. Use a traditional shortcode, widget, or Gutenberg block. Featured image display is optional.
Related Post by Pickplugins for WordPress
Here’s one other option that is relatively new. Related Post by Pickplugins lets you display related article links underneath your page content.
It works just like other plugins, scanning content, categories, and tags to find an assortment of relevant posts. This happens automatically once you install the plugin for the first time. But you also have manual control to choose the links yourself if you want to.
The plugin also has a few unique features, like an optional slider view and a way to set up the related posts inside your archive pages. Overall, it’s a pretty solid plugin to play with. It’s just one of many you can try when looking for that perfect related posts plugin for your site.
If you would like to learn how to create your own related post plugin using ChatGPT prompts, take a look at this article.
Related Post Plugin Quick FAQs
- What Are Related Post WordPress Plugins?They are plugins that will automatically display related content at the end of your blog posts. They help keep readers engaged by suggesting other articles on your site that are similar or relevant to what they’re reading.
- Who Should Use Related Posts Plugins?Bloggers, online publishers, and any WordPress site owners who want to increase reader engagement and time spent on their site would benefit from these plugins.
- How Do These Plugins Determine Which Posts Are Related?Most plugins use algorithms based on categories, tags, or content to automatically select and display posts that are similar to the current article.
- Can I Customize How the Related Posts Are Displayed?Yes, many of these plugins offer customization options for how the related posts appear, including layout, number of posts, and whether to include images.
- Do Related Posts Plugins Slow Down My Website?While they can add some load time, especially if they display images, well-coded plugins are designed to minimize any impact on site speed.
More Essential Free WordPress Plugins
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