WordPress REST API (Version 2) vs Import XML and RSS Feeds (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
WordPress REST API (Version 2)
10K+ active installs
Free
Import XML and RSS Feeds
2.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WordPress REST API (Version 2) has a higher user rating (4.2/5 from 34 reviews) and leads in active installations (10K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. WordPress REST API (Version 2) has accumulated 534K+ total downloads while Import XML and RSS Feeds has 122K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WordPress REST API (Version 2) | Import XML and RSS Feeds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | ◄ | 3.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 34 | ◄ | 24 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 534K+ | ◄ | 122K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 8 years ago | ► | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2009 | 2016 | |
| Age | 17 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 4.3+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.0-beta15 | 2.1.6 |
Rating Breakdown
WordPress REST API (Version 2)
Import XML and RSS Feeds
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, WordPress REST API (Version 2) averaged approximately 20 daily downloads while Import XML and RSS Feeds averaged 11.
Recent Reviews
WordPress REST API (Version 2) Reviews
TOTAL IGNORANCE TO USERS
As we stated, this plugin was way long abandonded, and integrated in WP, and even after request https://wordpress.org/support/topic/why-there-is-no-clear-indication-that-it-is-no-longer-used/ the de
PHP 7.2 compatibility errors on rest-api
Can you please confirm/deny the PHP 7.2 compatibility? I’m receiving this error report on a PHP 7.2 compatibility test: FILE: /nas/content/live/devreplicon1/wp-content/plugins/rest-api/lib/endpoints/c
Bug
Call to undefined function get_registered_meta_keys() in wp-content\plugins\rest-api\lib\fields\class-wp-rest-meta-fields.php on line 244
Import XML and RSS Feeds Reviews
cool
It messes up sensitive data like publication dates or categories; doesn’t actually do anything with external media except creating blank database posts… The only upside is that it supports ACF. ______
Works great, very useful
It lets you map fields and the import went well. It would be even more helpful if it allowed us to also map attributes, in case images are stored in the RSS feed as an attribute. Thanks for your work!
Huge help!
I wanted to convert an RSS feed into posts. This plugin lets you precisely map how you want meta data imported and even integrates with Advanced Custom Fields.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.