External Links – nofollow, noopener &… 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.
External Links – nofollow, noopener &…
90K+ active installs
Free
Customize External Links and add Icon
300 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 300). Both are free WordPress plugins. External Links – nofollow, noopener &… has accumulated 1.7M+ total downloads while Customize External Links and add Icon has 7.5K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | External Links – nofollow, noopener &… | Customize External Links and add Icon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ◄ | 3.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 247 | ◄ | 6 |
| Active Installs | 90K+ | ◄ | 300 |
| Total Downloads | 1.7M+ | ◄ | 7.5K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2019 | |
| Age | 15 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.2+ | false+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.2+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.64 | 2.3.2 |
Rating Breakdown
External Links – nofollow, noopener &…
Customize External Links and add Icon
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.
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
Is External Links – nofollow, noopener &… or Customize External Links and add Icon more popular?
Which has better ratings — External Links – nofollow, noopener &… or Customize External Links and add Icon?
Are External Links – nofollow, noopener &… and Customize External Links and add Icon free?
Which plugin has better support — External Links – nofollow, noopener &… or Customize External Links and add Icon?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.