Head-to-head · October 2026
GL Import External Images vs Smart Auto Upload Images
Smart Auto Upload Images comes out ahead, winning 5 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…
Smart Auto Upload Images
Smart Auto Upload Images automatically imports external images from your post content into your WordPress…
| Metric | GL Import External Images | Smart Auto Upload Images |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 700+ | 5K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 176 | 1.3K |
| Download trend | +36.4% | -67.5% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Reviews | 6 | 6 |
| Health score | 42/100 | 81/100 |
| Last updated | 2 years ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.7.10 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 100% |
| Requires PHP | 7.0+ | 8.0+ |
| First released | Jun 2022 | Aug 2025 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
GL Import External Imag…Smart Auto Upload Images
Choose GL Import External Images if…
You care most about download trend and rating.
- Small user base (700+ active installs)
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Smart Auto Upload Images if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: external images media library
FAQ
GL Import External Images vs Smart Auto Upload Images: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 13, 2026
Which is better, GL Import External Images or Smart Auto Upload Images?
Smart Auto Upload Images comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against GL Import External Images. Choose GL Import External Images if you care most about download trend and rating. Choose Smart Auto Upload Images if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
Is GL Import External Images more popular than Smart Auto Upload Images?
Smart Auto Upload Images is the more popular of the two with 5K+ active installs, compared with 700+ for GL Import External Images.
Can I use GL Import External Images and Smart Auto Upload Images 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 Smart Auto Upload Images free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
Powered by PageForge
Want thousands of pages that rank like these? Build them in an afternoon.
This directory runs on the same engine as PageForge. Turn any spreadsheet, CSV or API into thousands of fast, SEO-ready WordPress pages — with schema, internal links and AI-written copy baked in.
- CSV, Google Sheets & API data sources
- AI content, schema & internal links per page
- Works with Elementor, Gutenberg, Yoast & Rank Math
- Free on WordPress.org — no credit card
