Fetch URL – Fetch and Parse External Content
Use the remote_get and preg_replace shortcodes to fetch external content and parse it to use on your page or post.
Consider an alternative
Fetch URL shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 13 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 12 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.7 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Fetch URL stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| curl | >100 |
| preg_replace | #88 |
| shortcode | >100 |
| wp_remote_get | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
About Fetch URL
From the official readme · v3.04.26Description
Use the shortcode ‘remote_get’ with the parameter ‘url’ to insert the content from that url into your page or post. The are available parameters like start and stop/end to parse out a specific part of the content that you wish to display.
Now you can also wrap any content in the ‘preg_replace’ shortcode to manipulate it into the desired format.
Installation
- Download and unzip the plugin into your WordPress plugins directory (usually
/wp-content/plugins/). - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in your WordPress Admin.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Fetch URL alternatives
All curl plugins →FAQ
Fetch URL: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 6, 2026
Is Fetch URL free?
Yes. Fetch URL is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Fetch URL safe to use in 2026?
Fetch URL shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 13 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Fetch URL?
Fetch URL is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 2,826 times since it launched in December 2013. It was downloaded 69 times in the last 30 days.
Does Fetch URL work with WordPress 7.1?
Fetch URL is officially tested up to WordPress 3.7.41, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Fetch URL last updated?
The latest version, 3.04.26, was released on December 30, 2013 (13 years ago).
Who makes Fetch URL?
Fetch URL is developed and maintained by Ovidiu Purdea.
What are the best alternatives to Fetch URL?
The most popular alternatives to Fetch URL are SaFly Curl Patch (200+ installs), EZ SHORTCURL Shortcodes to… (70+ installs) and Code Repository (10+ installs).
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