Head-to-head · October 2026
GL Import External Images vs External Image Importer
External Image Importer comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against GL Import External Images.
GL Import External Images
With the help of this plugin, you can become hassle-free from downloading and re-uploading images from hosted…
External Image Importer
External Image Importer automatically uploads externally-hosted images to your Media Library when you paste…
| Metric | GL Import External Images | External Image Importer |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 700+ | 70+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 182 | 178 |
| Download trend | +45.6% | +89.4% |
| Rating | 5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 6 | 0 |
| Health score | 42/100 | 68/100 |
| Last updated | 2 years ago | 2 weeks ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.7.10 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.0+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Jun 2022 | Jul 2026 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
GL Import External Imag…External Image Importer
Choose GL Import External Images if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Small user base (700+ active installs)
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
Choose External Image Importer if…
You care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
- Actively developed — last update 2 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (70+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: external images media library
FAQ
GL Import External Images vs External Image Importer: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 14, 2026
Which is better, GL Import External Images or External Image Importer?
External Image Importer comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against GL Import External Images. Choose GL Import External Images if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose External Image Importer if you care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
Is GL Import External Images more popular than External Image Importer?
GL Import External Images is the more popular of the two with 700+ active installs, compared with 70+ for External Image Importer.
Can I use GL Import External Images and External Image Importer together?
Both plugins cover external images and media library, 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 GL Import External Images and External Image Importer 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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