Head-to-head · October 2026
SEO External Links vs SEO Smart Link Targets
SEO Smart Link Targets comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against SEO External Links.
SEO External Links
Super lightweight solution to changing all external links and internal PDF attachments to open in a new tab.
SEO Smart Link Targets
Super lightweight solution to changing all external links and internal PDF attachments to open in a new tab.
| Metric | SEO External Links | SEO Smart Link Targets |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 40+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 41 | 62 |
| Download trend | +57.7% | +26.5% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 2 |
| Health score | 30/100 | 31/100 |
| Last updated | 11 years ago | 10 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.3.34 | WP 4.5.33 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Oct 2015 | Jul 2016 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
SEO External LinksSEO Smart Link Targets
Choose SEO External Links if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.3 (latest is 7.1)
Choose SEO Smart Link Targets if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Small user base (40+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.5 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: exteral link redirect external links link redirect seo seo links
FAQ
SEO External Links vs SEO Smart Link Targets: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 11, 2026
Which is better, SEO External Links or SEO Smart Link Targets?
SEO Smart Link Targets comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against SEO External Links. Choose SEO External Links if you care most about download trend. Choose SEO Smart Link Targets if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is SEO External Links more popular than SEO Smart Link Targets?
SEO Smart Link Targets is the more popular of the two with 40+ active installs, compared with 10+ for SEO External Links.
Can I use SEO External Links and SEO Smart Link Targets together?
Both plugins cover exteral link redirect, external links and link redirect, 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 SEO External Links and SEO Smart Link Targets 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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