Custom Permalinks vs External Linker (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Custom Permalinks has a higher user rating (4.1/5 from 116 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 10). Both are free WordPress plugins. Custom Permalinks has accumulated 2.5M+ total downloads while External Linker has 2.1K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Custom Permalinks | External Linker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ◄ | N/A |
| Total Reviews | 116 | ◄ | 0 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 10 |
| Total Downloads | 2.5M+ | ◄ | 2.1K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 5 months ago | ◄ | 16 years ago |
| First Released | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Age | 18 years | 17 years | |
| WP Requires | 2.6+ | false+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.1.2 | 0.2 |
Rating Breakdown
Custom Permalinks
External Linker
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
Custom Permalinks Reviews
Changed the slug but the page turned unavailable
Did not work… I dont think this is a functional plugin. it has 4 stars in total with lots of 1 stars i guess it is what it is. I deleted the plugin and it is fine now.
caused Posts/Pages to redirect to other posts/pages.
blog post are redirecting to some other post. i dunno why. but deactivating this plugin resolved the issue. So the issue must be in the plugin. is there anything i can do in this situation?
Excellent plugin
Excellent plugin. I would really like to see categories included as well.
External Linker Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Custom Permalinks or External Linker more popular?
Which has better ratings — Custom Permalinks or External Linker?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.