Head-to-head · October 2026
PrettyLinks vs Royal Links
PrettyLinks comes out ahead, winning 5 of 6 head-to-head checks against Royal Links.
PrettyLinks
PrettyLinks takes any long, ugly URL and turns it into a short, branded link on your own domain. So instead…
| Metric | PrettyLinks | Royal Links |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 200K+ | 40+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 42.3K | 351 |
| Download trend | -27% | +86.7% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | — |
| Reviews | 1,321 | 0 |
| Health score | 90/100 | 67/100 |
| Last updated | 16 hours ago | 1 week ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | 64% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Mar 2009 | Jan 2026 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
PrettyLinksRoyal Links
Choose PrettyLinks if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 200K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 1,321 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 16 hours ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose Royal Links if…
You care most about download trend.
- Actively developed — last update 1 week ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (40+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: affiliate links link cloaking link management url shortener
FAQ
PrettyLinks vs Royal Links: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 7, 2026
Which is better, PrettyLinks or Royal Links?
PrettyLinks comes out ahead, winning 5 of 6 head-to-head checks against Royal Links. Choose PrettyLinks if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Royal Links if you care most about download trend.
Is PrettyLinks more popular than Royal Links?
PrettyLinks is the more popular of the two with 200K+ active installs, compared with 40+ for Royal Links.
Can I use PrettyLinks and Royal Links together?
Both plugins cover affiliate links, link cloaking and link management, 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 PrettyLinks and Royal Links 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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