# Better REST API Featured Images

> Better REST API Featured Images has 2K+ active installs, a 5/5 rating from 11 reviews and 514 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 40/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Better REST API Featured Images shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 2K+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 10 years ago, and scores 40/100 on our health check.

**Note: You probably do not need this plugin. The REST API already supports adding the query param ?_embed to your URL and the response will then include all “embedded media”, including the featured image, and the data…**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 2K+
- **Total downloads:** 63,115
- **Downloads (30 days):** 514 (-18.8% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 5/5 from 11 reviews
- **Health score:** 40/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.2.1
- **Last updated:** Jul 30, 2016
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 4.6.30
- **Requires:** WordPress 4.0+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Braad (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/braad/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-rest-api-featured-images/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [featured](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/featured/) | #9 | 101 |
| [images](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/images/) | #53 | 903 |
| [post](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/post/) | #57 | 1,207 |
| [rest](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/rest/) | #11 | 97 |
| [thumbnail](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/thumbnail/) | #17 | 157 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| featured | >100 | 5,090 |
| images | >100 | 10,000 |
| post | >100 | 10,000 |
| rest | >100 | 8,826 |
| thumbnail | >100 | 4,072 |

## Version adoption

- 1.2: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Featured Image from URL (FIFU)](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/featured-image-from-url/) | 60K+ | 4.6/5 (264) | Sep 9, 2026 | 92/100 |
| 2 | [Conditionally display featured image on singular posts and pages](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/conditionally-display-featured-image-on-singular-pages/) | 30K+ | 4.8/5 (38) | May 3, 2026 | 68/100 |
| 3 | [Hide Featured Image](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/hide-featured-image/) | 10K+ | 3.6/5 (81) | May 28, 2018 | 40/100 |
| 4 | [Daddy Plus](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/daddy-plus/) | 8K+ | — | Sep 19, 2026 | 72/100 |
| 5 | [NS Featured Posts](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/ns-featured-posts/) | 4K+ | 4.8/5 (29) | Sep 2, 2026 | 88/100 |
| 6 | [WP Hide Show Featured Image](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-hide-show-featured-image/) | 3K+ | 4.7/5 (3) | Jul 22, 2025 | 43/100 |
| 7 | [Featured Galleries](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/featured-galleries/) | 3K+ | 4.7/5 (20) | Aug 2, 2018 | 44/100 |
| 8 | [YITH WooCommerce Featured Video](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/yith-woocommerce-featured-video/) | 3K+ | 2.9/5 (34) | Aug 24, 2026 | 63/100 |
| 10 | [RSS Featured Image](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/rss-featured-image/) | 2K+ | 5/5 (23) | Oct 12, 2023 | 45/100 |
| 11 | [Featured Image Generator](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/featured-image-generator/) | 1K+ | 4.6/5 (11) | Mar 9, 2026 | 52/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Better REST API Featured Images free?
Yes. Better REST API Featured Images is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Better REST API Featured Images safe to use in 2026?
Better REST API Featured Images shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 2K+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 10 years ago, and scores 40/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Better REST API Featured Images?
Better REST API Featured Images is active on 2K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 63,115 times since it launched in October 2015. It was downloaded 514 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Better REST API Featured Images work with WordPress 7.1?
Better REST API Featured Images is officially tested up to WordPress 4.6.30, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### When was Better REST API Featured Images last updated?
The latest version, 1.2.1, was released on July 30, 2016 (10 years ago).

### Who makes Better REST API Featured Images?
Better REST API Featured Images is developed and maintained by Braad.

### What are the best alternatives to Better REST API Featured Images?
The most popular alternatives to Better REST API Featured Images are Featured Image from URL (FI… (60K+ installs), Conditionally display featu… (30K+ installs) and Hide Featured Image (10K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/better-rest-api-featured-images/ · Generated 2026-09-27 20:02 UTC by PageForge