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Head-to-head · October 2026

The Publisher Desk vs WP Featured Image Widget

The Publisher Desk comes out ahead, winning 4 of 5 head-to-head checks against WP Featured Image Widget.

Our pick The Publisher Desk – Headlines Plus Widget

The Publisher Desk

Unlock the potential of your content with Headlines Plus, the ultimate free plugin designed to help WordPress…

4wins
32
VS
WP Featured Image Widget

WP Featured Image Widget

Provides a widget that displays the featured image for a post or page with custom settings.

1wins
23
MetricThe Publisher DeskWP Featured Image Widget
Active installs 10+ 10+
Downloads (30 days) 85 50
Download trend +77.1% +117.4%
Rating — —
Reviews 0 0
Health score 32/100 23/100
Last updated 1 year ago 10 years ago
Tested up to WP 6.8.11 WP 4.7.38
Support resolved — —
Requires PHP 7.0+ Any
First released Feb 2025 Jan 2017

Daily downloads, last 90 days

The Publisher DeskWP Featured Image Widget

369Jul 10Aug 23Oct 7

Choose The Publisher Desk if…

You care most about downloads (30 days), health score and last updated.

  • Small user base (10+ active installs)
  • Very few reviews so far
  • No update in over a year
  • Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
Full The Publisher Desk report →

Choose WP Featured Image Widget if…

You care most about download trend.

  • Small user base (10+ active installs)
  • Very few reviews so far
  • No update in 9 years
  • Only tested up to WordPress 4.7 (latest is 7.1)
Full WP Featured Image W… report →

Both compete in: wordpress widget

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FAQ

The Publisher Desk vs WP Featured Image Widget: quick answers

Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.

Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 8, 2026

Which is better, The Publisher Desk or WP Featured Image Widget?

The Publisher Desk comes out ahead, winning 4 of 5 head-to-head checks against WP Featured Image Widget. Choose The Publisher Desk if you care most about downloads (30 days), health score and last updated. Choose WP Featured Image Widget if you care most about download trend.

Is The Publisher Desk more popular than WP Featured Image Widget?

The Publisher Desk is the more popular of the two with 10+ active installs, compared with 10+ for WP Featured Image Widget.

Can I use The Publisher Desk and WP Featured Image Widget together?

Both plugins cover wordpress widget, 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 The Publisher Desk and WP Featured Image 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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