External Links – nofollow, noopener &… 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 – nofollow, noopener &…
90K+ active installs
Free
Target _blank – Force links to open in…
200 active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, External Links – nofollow, noopener &… has a higher user rating (4.3/5 from 247 reviews) and leads in active installations (90K+ vs 200). Both are free WordPress plugins. External Links – nofollow, noopener &… has accumulated 1.7M+ total downloads while Target _blank – Force links to open in… has 9.6K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | External Links – nofollow, noopener &… | Target _blank – Force links to open in… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ◄ | 3/5 |
| Total Reviews | 247 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 90K+ | ◄ | 200 |
| Total Downloads | 1.7M+ | ◄ | 9.6K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 10 months ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2014 | |
| Age | 15 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.2+ | 6.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.2+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.64 | 3.6 |
Rating Breakdown
External Links – nofollow, noopener &…
Target _blank – Force links to open in…
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
External Links – nofollow, noopener &… Reviews
Almost nothing at free version
Almost nothing at free version.
Essential Plugin for SEO Control Over External Links
This plugin is exactly what I needed to manage external link behavior on my site. The ability to customize nofollow and dofollow rules by domain is a huge win for SEO, especially for trusted citations
Garbage
Messed my whole site up.
Target _blank – Force links to open in… Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as External Links – nofollow, noopener &… and Target _blank – Force links to open in…
Open external links in a new window or new tab. SEO optimized and XHTML Strict compliant.
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 – nofollow, noopener &… or Target _blank – Force links to open in… more popular?
Which has better ratings — External Links – nofollow, noopener &… or Target _blank – Force links to open in…?
Are External Links – nofollow, noopener &… and Target _blank – Force links to open in… free?
Which plugin has better support — External Links – nofollow, noopener &… or Target _blank – Force links to open in…?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.