Import CDN-Remote Images
Add external images to the media library without importing, i.e. uploading them to your WordPress site.
Solid choice
Import CDN-Remote Images is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 100+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 1 month ago, and scores 71/100 on our health check.
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
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 Import CDN-Remote Images stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| cdn | #28 |
| cloudinary | #5 |
| images | >100 |
| media library | >100 |
| remote image | #8 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
About Import CDN-Remote Images
From the official readme · v2.1.4Description
By default, adding an image to the WordPress media library requires you to import or upload the image to the WordPress site, which means there must be a copy of the image file stored in the site. This plugin enables you to add an image stored in an external site to the media library by just reading list of remote images using CDN service’s (Cloudinary) API. In this way you can host the images in a dedicated server other than the WordPress site, and still be able to show them by various gallery plugins which only take images from the media library.
The plugin provides a dedicated ‘Media’ -> ‘Import images’ submenu page.
Supported CDN services:
* Cloudinary
(others coming soon)
External Services
This plugin connects to an external service provided by Cloudinary to retrieve and display media assets.
What the service is:
- Cloudinary is a cloud-based media management service.
- The plugin uses the Cloudinary API to fetch and display remote images and videos.
Why it is used:
- The plugin retrieves media assets from Cloudinary instead of storing them locally in WordPress.
- This allows centralized media management and delivery via Cloudinary.
When data is sent:
- Data is sent only when the user configures the plugin and performs actions such as importing or synchronizing media.
What data is sent:
- Cloud name
- API key
- API secret (used for authenticated requests)
- Requests to list media resources
How it works:
- The plugin communicates with Cloudinary using REST APIs over HTTPS.
- It uses the Cloudinary Admin API to list media resources.
- Example endpoint structure:
https://api.cloudinary.com/v1_1/{cloud_name}/resources - API requests are authenticated using the API key and API secret.
What is not sent:
- No personal user data is transmitted unless explicitly configured by the site administrator.
Documentation and policies:
Support
Support requests, bug reports, feedback, and feature requests can be submitted via the support forum or the plugin’s blog page: Import CDN-Remote Images Plugin.
If you find the plugin useful, please consider leaving a 5-star review. You can also support my work with a donation.
Collaboration
I am a freelance developer available for custom development, integrations, and technical consulting. If you have a project related to this plugin, feel free to get in touch.
Installation
- Upload the plugin files to the
/wp-content/plugins/import-cdn-remote-imagesdirectory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly. - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ screen in WordPress.
Usage
After installation you can use the plugin to add external media without import:
- Go to setting page of plugin and save required CDN service parameters such as Cloud name, API key, API secret.
- Click the ‘Media’ -> ‘Import images’ submenu in the side bar.
- Click ‘Update’ button and automatically fill in the URLs of the images you want to add.
- Click the ‘Add’ button, the remote images will be added.
Changelog
Version 2.1.4
- Replaced cURL with WordPress HTTP API
- Improved security and sanitization
- Fixed empty data database query issue
- Tested up to:
7.0
For the changelog of earlier versions, please refer to Import CDN-Remote Images changelog section on blog.
Screenshots
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Best Import CDN-Remote Images alternatives
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FAQ
Import CDN-Remote Images: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 1, 2026
Is Import CDN-Remote Images free?
Yes. Import CDN-Remote Images is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Import CDN-Remote Images safe to use in 2026?
Import CDN-Remote Images is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 100+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 1 month ago, and scores 71/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Import CDN-Remote Images?
Import CDN-Remote Images is active on 100+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 5,906 times since it launched in August 2020. It was downloaded 172 times in the last 30 days.
Does Import CDN-Remote Images work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested Import CDN-Remote Images up to WordPress 7.1.2, the latest release. It requires WordPress 4.7.4 or newer.
What PHP version does Import CDN-Remote Images need?
Import CDN-Remote Images requires PHP 5.6 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Import CDN-Remote Images last updated?
The latest version, 2.1.4, was released on August 18, 2026 (1 month ago).
Who makes Import CDN-Remote Images?
Import CDN-Remote Images is developed and maintained by Atakan Au.
What are the best alternatives to Import CDN-Remote Images?
The most popular alternatives to Import CDN-Remote Images are W3 Total Cache (900K+ installs), SpeedyCache (600K+ installs) and Breeze Cache (300K+ installs).
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