Head-to-head · October 2026
Simple Short Links vs VK Link Target Controller
VK Link Target Controller comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Simple Short Links.
Simple Short Links
As of WordPress 3.0, most of this plugin’s original features have been incorporated into WordPress itself…
VK Link Target Controller
VK Link Target Controller enables to redirect your visitors to another page than the post content when they…
| Metric | Simple Short Links | VK Link Target Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 30+ | 30K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 65 | 3.8K |
| Download trend | +32.7% | -83.5% |
| Rating | — | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 2 |
| Health score | 24/100 | 77/100 |
| Last updated | 12 years ago | 1 month ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.9.40 | WP 7.1.2 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Dec 2009 | Jan 2015 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Simple Short LinksVK Link Target Controll…
Choose Simple Short Links if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (30+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 12 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose VK Link Target Controller if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 30K+ active sites
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: link
FAQ
Simple Short Links vs VK Link Target Controller: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 1, 2026
Which is better, Simple Short Links or VK Link Target Controller?
VK Link Target Controller comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Simple Short Links. Choose Simple Short Links if you care most about download trend. Choose VK Link Target Controller if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Simple Short Links more popular than VK Link Target Controller?
VK Link Target Controller is the more popular of the two with 30K+ active installs, compared with 30+ for Simple Short Links.
Can I use Simple Short Links and VK Link Target Controller together?
Both plugins cover link, 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 Simple Short Links and VK Link Target Controller 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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