External Links vs Customize External Links and add Icon (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Customize External Links and add Icon
300 active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, External Links has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 36 reviews) and leads in active installations (9.0K+ vs 300). Both are free WordPress plugins. External Links has accumulated 358K+ total downloads while Customize External Links and add Icon has 7.5K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | External Links | Customize External Links and add Icon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | 3.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 36 | ◄ | 6 |
| Active Installs | 9.0K+ | ◄ | 300 |
| Total Downloads | 358K+ | ◄ | 7.5K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 8 years ago | ► | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2008 | 2019 | |
| Age | 18 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 2.8+ | false+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 6.8.1 | 2.3.2 |
Rating Breakdown
External Links
Customize External Links and add Icon
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
External Links Reviews
Best of its kind!
Hope this one never goes away!!!
Works just fine
The only of all such plugins that I tried that works fine and did not break anything. Would be nice to have icons options, but hey, I’m thankful for it as it is, and the current icon is a good choice.
Simple and useful
Simple and comfortable to use, really nice style, I was looking for. I’m searching to improve my website, accessibility and usability too and I removed all the target="_blank" on my posts and I marked
Customize External Links and add Icon Reviews
No reviews yet
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Add classes, IDs, titles, rel attributes, and download options to links. Includes H1–H6 heading support and built-in link status checker for SEO.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.