External Links in New Window / New Tab vs Target _blank – Force links to open in… (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
External Links in New Window / New Tab
30K+ active installs
Free
Target _blank – Force links to open in…
200 active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, External Links in New Window / New Tab has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 77 reviews) and leads in active installations (30K+ vs 200). Both are free WordPress plugins. External Links in New Window / New Tab has accumulated 489K+ total downloads while Target _blank – Force links to open in… has 9.6K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | External Links in New Window / New Tab | Target _blank – Force links to open in… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ◄ | 3/5 |
| Total Reviews | 77 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 30K+ | ◄ | 200 |
| Total Downloads | 489K+ | ◄ | 9.6K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 10 months ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2014 | |
| Age | 16 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.0+ | 6.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.2+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.45 | 3.6 |
Rating Breakdown
External Links in New Window / New Tab
Target _blank – Force links to open in…
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
External Links in New Window / New Tab Reviews
Not working
Not working with google ads
Works as expected, minimal setup
Download, activate, you are done. This is pretty much you need, works flawlessly.
Simple, elegant plug-in
This one’s going to save me a good deal of time with my new writing process. Thank you for creating it.
Target _blank – Force links to open in… Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as External Links in New Window / New Tab and Target _blank – Force links to open in…
Opens external links and internal links in a new window depending on user settings. Manage all external & internal links on your site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is External Links in New Window / New Tab or Target _blank – Force links to open in… more popular?
Which has better ratings — External Links in New Window / New Tab or Target _blank – Force links to open in…?
Are External Links in New Window / New Tab and Target _blank – Force links to open in… free?
Which plugin has better support — External Links in New Window / New Tab or Target _blank – Force links to open in…?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.