Head-to-head · October 2026
External Image Importer vs Smart Auto Upload Images
Smart Auto Upload Images comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against External Image Importer.
External Image Importer
External Image Importer automatically uploads externally-hosted images to your Media Library when you paste…
Smart Auto Upload Images
Smart Auto Upload Images automatically imports external images from your post content into your WordPress…
| Metric | External Image Importer | Smart Auto Upload Images |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 70+ | 5K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 178 | 1.3K |
| Download trend | +89.4% | -67.2% |
| Rating | — | 4.3/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 6 |
| Health score | 68/100 | 81/100 |
| Last updated | 2 weeks ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 100% |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 8.0+ |
| First released | Jul 2026 | Aug 2025 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
External Image ImporterSmart Auto Upload Images
Choose External Image Importer if…
You care most about download trend 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
Choose Smart Auto Upload Images if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: external images import images media library
FAQ
External Image Importer vs Smart Auto Upload Images: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 14, 2026
Which is better, External Image Importer or Smart Auto Upload Images?
Smart Auto Upload Images comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against External Image Importer. Choose External Image Importer if you care most about download trend and last updated. Choose Smart Auto Upload Images if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is External Image Importer more popular than Smart Auto Upload Images?
Smart Auto Upload Images is the more popular of the two with 5K+ active installs, compared with 70+ for External Image Importer.
Can I use External Image Importer and Smart Auto Upload Images together?
Both plugins cover external images, import 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 External Image Importer 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.
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