# External Image Importer – Import Remote Images to the Media Library

> External Image Importer has 70+ active installs and 173 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 68/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Solid choice.** External Image Importer is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 70+ sites and was last updated 2 weeks ago, and scores 68/100 on our health check.

**Automatically import external and remote images into your Media Library on save and rewrite the URLs to local copies. Built SSRF-safe.**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 70+
- **Total downloads:** 411
- **Downloads (30 days):** 173 (+84% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** No ratings yet
- **Health score:** 68/100 (Good)
- **Version:** 1.0.2
- **Last updated:** Sep 28, 2026
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 7.1.3
- **Requires:** WordPress 6.0+, PHP 7.4+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** NerdCow (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/nerdcow/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/nerdcow-external-image-importer/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [external images](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/external-images/) | #5 | 7 |
| [import images](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/import-images/) | #2 | 2 |
| [media library](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/media-library/) | #83 | 372 |
| [migration](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/migration/) | #52 | 300 |
| [Remote images](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/remote-images/) | #1 | 3 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| external images | #86 | 7,771 |
| import images | >100 | 4,095 |
| media library | >100 | 5,613 |
| migration | >100 | 3,611 |
| Remote images | #38 | 1,652 |

## Version adoption

- 1.0: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Smart Auto Upload Images – Import External Images](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/smart-auto-upload-images/) | 5K+ | 4.3/5 (6) | Aug 17, 2026 | 81/100 |
| 2 | [GL Import External Images](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/gl-import-external-images/) | 700+ | 5/5 (6) | Nov 29, 2024 | 42/100 |
| 3 | [Better WordPress External Links](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/bwp-external-links/) | 400+ | 5/5 (4) | Jun 10, 2014 | 34/100 |
| 4 | [Replace External Images](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/replace-external-images/) | 100+ | — | Aug 18, 2026 | 64/100 |
| 6 | [Sage Auto Upload Images](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/sage-auto-upload-images/) | 40+ | 2.5/5 (2) | Nov 1, 2025 | 39/100 |
| 7 | [Mili Localizer](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/mili-localizer/) | 10+ | — | Mar 31, 2026 | 38/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is External Image Importer free?
Yes. External Image Importer is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is External Image Importer safe to use in 2026?
External Image Importer is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 70+ sites and was last updated 2 weeks ago, and scores 68/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use External Image Importer?
External Image Importer is active on 70+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 411 times since it launched in July 2026. It was downloaded 173 times in the last 30 days.

### Does External Image Importer work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested External Image Importer up to WordPress 7.1.3, the latest release. It requires WordPress 6.0 or newer.

### What PHP version does External Image Importer need?
External Image Importer requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was External Image Importer last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.2, was released on September 28, 2026 (2 weeks ago).

### Who makes External Image Importer?
External Image Importer is developed and maintained by NerdCow.

### What are the best alternatives to External Image Importer?
The most popular alternatives to External Image Importer are Smart Auto Upload Images (5K+ installs), GL Import External Images (700+ installs) and Better WordPress External L… (400+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/nerdcow-external-image-importer/ · Generated 2026-10-13 04:10 UTC by PageForge