Head-to-head · October 2026
Contextual Related Posts vs Related Posts Widget
Contextual Related Posts comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Related Posts Widget.
Contextual Related Posts
Contextual Related Posts is a powerful WordPress plugin that displays fast, intelligent related posts to keep…
Related Posts Widget
Related Posts Widget shows a list of posts with similar tags to the current post. The widget is only shown on…
| Metric | Contextual Related Posts | Related Posts Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 50K+ | 90+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 62.2K | 60 |
| Download trend | -2.3% | -15.5% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 1/5 |
| Reviews | 201 | 1 |
| Health score | 94/100 | 20/100 |
| Last updated | 6 days ago | 11 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 4.4.34 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Jan 2009 | Jan 2010 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Contextual Related PostsRelated Posts Widget
Choose Contextual Related Posts if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 50K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 201 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 6 days ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose Related Posts Widget if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (90+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.4 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: related posts
FAQ
Contextual Related Posts vs Related Posts Widget: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Which is better, Contextual Related Posts or Related Posts Widget?
Contextual Related Posts comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Related Posts Widget. Choose Contextual Related Posts if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Contextual Related Posts more popular than Related Posts Widget?
Contextual Related Posts is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with 90+ for Related Posts Widget.
Can I use Contextual Related Posts and Related Posts Widget together?
Both plugins cover related posts, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Contextual Related Posts and Related Posts Widget free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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