# Remote Thumbnail

> Remote Thumbnail has 10+ active installs and 153 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 23/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Remote Thumbnail shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 6 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.

**Lightweight plugin to use remote images for post thumbnails and featured image. Enter remote image url into custom field ‘remote_thumbnail’ of any post.**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 10+
- **Total downloads:** 3,283
- **Downloads (30 days):** 153 (+11.7% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** No ratings yet
- **Health score:** 23/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.1
- **Last updated:** Aug 6, 2020
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 5.4.23
- **Requires:** WordPress 3.1.0+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Samuel Diethelm (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/samueldiethelm/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/remote-thumbnail/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [div](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/div/) | #6 | 8 |
| [external thumbnail](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/external-thumbnail/) | #2 | 2 |
| [remote featured image](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/remote-featured-image/) | #3 | 3 |
| [remote thumbnail](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/remote-thumbnail/) | #3 | 3 |
| [thumbnail](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/thumbnail/) | >100 | 158 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| div | >100 | 1,762 |
| external thumbnail | >100 | 1,431 |
| remote featured image | >100 | 469 |
| remote thumbnail | >100 | 344 |
| thumbnail | >100 | 4,150 |

## Version adoption

- 1.0: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Equal Height Columns](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/equal-height-columns/) | 10K+ | 4.9/5 (41) | Mar 10, 2026 | 62/100 |
| 2 | [WP-Note 2019](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-note-2019/) | 300+ | 5/5 (1) | Sep 30, 2026 | 76/100 |
| 3 | [Magic Block](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/magic-block/) | 300+ | 4.9/5 (11) | Apr 18, 2021 | 38/100 |
| 4 | [Ninja Form Layout](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/ninja-forms-layout/) | 100+ | 3.7/5 (3) | Dec 28, 2015 | 28/100 |
| 5 | [Diver](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/diver/) | 30+ | — | Feb 4, 2016 | 24/100 |
| 7 | [Social Icons By Demoify](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/social-icons-by-demoify/) | 10+ | — | Jun 27, 2016 | 23/100 |
| 8 | [Empty Alt Image Container Swap](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/empty-alt-image-container-swap/) | <10 | — | May 24, 2026 | 49/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Remote Thumbnail free?
Yes. Remote Thumbnail is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Remote Thumbnail safe to use in 2026?
Remote Thumbnail shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 6 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Remote Thumbnail?
Remote Thumbnail is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 3,283 times since it launched in June 2016. It was downloaded 153 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Remote Thumbnail work with WordPress 7.1?
Remote Thumbnail is officially tested up to WordPress 5.4.23, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### When was Remote Thumbnail last updated?
The latest version, 1.1, was released on August 6, 2020 (6 years ago).

### Who makes Remote Thumbnail?
Remote Thumbnail is developed and maintained by Samuel Diethelm.

### What are the best alternatives to Remote Thumbnail?
The most popular alternatives to Remote Thumbnail are Equal Height Columns (10K+ installs), WP-Note 2019 (300+ installs) and Magic Block (300+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/remote-thumbnail/ · Generated 2026-10-05 04:52 UTC by PageForge