Are you searching for the best popular post plugins for WordPress? Showing the most popular posts anywhere on your website will help you increase engagement. And the importance of user engagement is incredibly high for any business or website. That’s why in this guide, I will show you some of the best and top-rated popular post plugins for WordPress that will be helpful for you. So, let’s start!

When you first think of building your brand you look for the best option to build a website. There are a variety of solutions and plugins that can help you bring the desired results to your website. For instance, if you have a blog website and you are delivering blogs on a daily basis then you very well know the importance of readers. When you create a website or blog irrespective of your chosen niche one thing that brings you traffic is the content you are publishing. As the saying goes ‘Content is King’. That’s why people look for ways to find and engage the target audience with content.

I am sure a post on your website that is doing great despite being old or new, you would want that post to be easily available for every visitor that visits your website. One thing is to note here that all your posts will sort according to the date of publishing. Or however, you have set it to be. Also, not every post will rank higher. There are some particular posts that outperform. And you would surely like to display those posts on every page of your website or maybe on any particular page of your choice. That’s where these WordPress popular post plugins. So, let’s check out the best available options and how useful they can be for your website.

Best Popular Post Plugins for WordPress

1. WordPress Popular Posts

WordPress Popular Posts

WordPress Popular Posts is the most popular choice when it comes to using a plugin to display popular posts on your WordPress website. If you have some really popular posts that you want to display on your website and engage your visitors, then using this WordPress Popular Posts plugin can be really helpful. This plugin has a lot to offer you. There are shortcodes available that help you showcase the posts on pages however you like it. Since it is an open-source software. Thus, you will not have to spend even a single penny on it. However, if you wish to list your posts that have been popular once within a specific time range. It could be anything from a month, the last seven days, or even a year, etc. You can easily use this WordPress popular post plugin there.

Key Features of WordPress Popular Posts

  • WordPress Popular Posts is open-source software.
  • You can quickly show the posts from your blog that have been popular within a specific time range.
  • Including widgets of popular posts on your blog is also possible.
  • It provides full support for custom post-type.
  • You can manage the statistics board directly from your WordPress admin dashboard.

Pros

  • WordPress Popular Posts is an easy-to-use WordPress plugin.
  • It does not require any prior technical knowledge to use this plugin for your website.
  • It provides complete support for WP-PostRatings so that you can easily show the ratings your users are providing.
  • You can take the help of the shortcodes to display popular posts on pages you desire.

Cons

  • WordPress Popular Posts is available in 15 languages so if your language is not listed here that can be a problem for you.

2. Top 10 – Popular posts plugin for WordPress

top 10 popular post plugin for wordpress

Top 10 – Popular posts plugin for WordPress is another powerful WordPress plugin that has amazing features to help you with your posts. We know that WordPress doesn’t have a built-in system to track page views or show popular posts by default. However, you can add this function to your WordPress website with the help of some WordPress popular posts plugins. And Top 10 is one such example of a plugin that allows you to do so. You will surely find this solution worth using for your WordPress website. Displaying the most popular posts on your website will help you build user interest in the posts you want.

Key Features of Top 10 – Popular posts plugin for WordPress

  • Top 10 – Popular posts plugin for WordPress comes with a counter that can be displayed on your page.
  • It lets you include custom post types on an hourly basis that will automatically be displayed on the website.
  • You may also use the sidebar widgets for showing daily popular posts.
  • There are two shortcodes i.e. [tptn_list] and [tptn_views] to display the posts list.
  • There are tons of filters that you can use to add features and edit outputs.

Pros

  • Top 10 – Popular posts plugin for WordPress is fully GDPR compliant plugin.
  • You can use many customization options to show your posts.
  • It was designed to track the number of page views.
  • Top – 10 will create a cron job for running jobs at predefined intervals.

Cons

  • Custom size width can be an issue at times with Top 10 – Popular posts plugin for WordPress.

3. Trending/Popular Post Slider and Widget

trending popular post slider and widget

Trending/Popular Post Slider and Widget allows you to display the most popular posts or trending posts on your blog. This plugin lets you display popular posts or any trending post in the form of Slider, Grid Block, Carousel, and Widget. Displaying posts on a page using the shortcodes is also possible. However, if you are using Gutenberg Editor even then you can use this plugin for a better experience. It provides complete multilingual support. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about the device’s display size. Because it is fully responsive in nature.

Key Features of Trending/Popular Post Slider and Widget

  • Trending/Popular Post Slider and Widget comes with the facility to show comment count.
  • There are over 20 predefined designs to use.
  • You may also display Post Grid view, Post Widget with list view, Post Gridbox view, Post Slider view, Post Widget with slider view, and Post Carousel view.
  • It also provides you WPBakery Page Builder support.
  • 100% multilingual support for your website.

Pros

  • Trending/Popular Post Slider and Widget provide you the flexibility to show/hide comment count.
  • You may also manage the slider speed.
  • It allows you to set the autoplay interval timings.
  • It’s up to you whether you wish to show the post date or not.

Cons

  • Many pro features are limited to the Trending/Popular Post Slider and Widget premium plan.

4. AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget

ajax hits counter plus popular posts widget

AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget is a simplified solution that can help you put forward the most popular posts on your blog. This plugin easily counts post views with the help of additional AJAX-based counter scripts of this plugin. However, this plugin also includes popular posts that help you show popular posts with distinct visibility settings. Moreover, you can display counts in pages and posts with the help of a defined line of code. Also, in order to maintain the success or fail status of hits incrementation, you take the help of the JavaScript-callback function.

Key Features of AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget

  • AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget is an AJAX-based software.
  • Being AJAX based counter means it will clearly ignore the bots as well as crawlers.
  • In order to use this plugin, you won’t require any third-party code.
  • It provides you the ability to reset the counter as many times as you want.
  • Admin columns are easily sortable.

Pros

  • AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget
  • It is fully compatible with W3 Cache and WP Super Cache plugins.
  • AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget is open-source software.
  • It is a simple-to-use WordPress plugin.

Cons

  • You may find the user interface for configuring the hits in AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget plugin a little short.

5. Most Popular Post Widget

most popular post widget

Most Popular Post Widget is another WordPress plugin with the help of which you can easily show the trending posts on your website. However, there aren’t many active installs for this plugin. But the value and usefulness of this plugin aren’t limited at all. However, it is pretty easy to use this WordPress popular post plugin even for beginners. You can easily control this plugin right from your WordPress dashboard itself. WordPress dashboard is pretty easy to use and when you have the opportunity to manage your plugins from there. It is one of such plugins.

Key Features of Most Popular Post Widget

  • Most Popular Post Widget is an incredibly simple-to-use plugin.
  • Displaying your most popular posts on your website becomes super easy with the Most Popular Post Widget plugin.
  • Displaying or hiding the count of visits is also possible.
  • Author name is also crucial, it lets you choose whether you wish to display the author name or not.
  • Showing the count of comments will show the genuineness of the comments.

Pros

  • Most Popular Post Widget is an open-source WordPress plugin.
  • It is an amazingly lightweight WordPress plugin.
  • There are several hide/show options.
  • Right from your WordPress dashboard, you can manage this plugin.

Cons

  • Professional WordPress users may find this Most Popular Post Widget plugin a little basic.

Bonus Popular Post Plugins for WordPress

6. Popular Posts by Webline

popular posts by webline

Popular Posts by Webline WordPress plugin will quickly list out the posts that have higher views on your website. This plugin will allow you to disable plugins and even switch to a different theme without influencing your visitors. For all your users your website will remain in the working state. Whatever filters you have applied on your website, will work in the same manner for your WordPress popular posts as well. Moreover, it comes with a centralized option to enable or disable plugin functionality.

Key Features of Popular Posts by Webline

  • Popular Posts by Webline comes with filters such as Sort By Post Views Count, Sort By Comments.
  • For comments, dates, and views, you can use the custom icons.
  • You can easily control the Read More Text option on your post.
  • It’s up to you how you wish to display the date. You are free to decide the format.
  • The post date is also in your hands. So, choose how you want to display it.

Pros

  • Popular Posts by Webline allows you to display the featured image with your choice of height, width, and alignment.
  • It is easily available in the WordPress plugins repository.
  • Setting up a hyperlink on the post description will help your users to find more useful information.
  • How long excerpts you wish to show will help users to know about the post.

Cons

  • Popular Posts by Webline plugin has not been tested with the latest three main releases of WordPress.

7. Tabs popular posts and latest posts

tabs popular posts and latest posts

Tabs popular posts and latest posts is a jQuery-based brilliantly lightweight WordPress plugin. However, you can take the live demo to thoroughly learn about this plugin. Tabs popular posts and latest posts is a jQuery-based lightweight plugin. You can swiftly create a new WordPress tabbed widget in order to display recent posts or popular posts to attract visitors to your website. Of course, the use of jQuery makes the plugin blazing fast. There are many happy users that are using this plugin to show popular posts on their website.

Key Features of Tabs popular posts and latest posts

  • Tabs popular posts and the latest posts help you display popular posts with ease.
  • Since it is a lightweight plugin that means it will not weigh down your website.
  • Switching between two tabs is super easy with it.
  • Unlike other WordPress popular posts plugins, configuring this plugin is comparatively easy.
  • You can easily adjust the number of posts you are aiming for.

Pros

  • Tabs popular posts and latest posts is a lightweight WordPress plugin.
  • The transition between two tabs is much smoother.
  • Configuring this WordPress plugin on your website is pretty simple.
  • The software comes with a live demo for better understanding.

Cons

  • Tabs popular posts and latest posts

So, there you have it! These are some of the best choices that you can use for your WordPress website. All above-mentioned WordPress plugins are freely available in the WordPress plugins repository. Of course, that means you will not have to spend even a single penny buying any of the plugins. One thing is sure that using a popular post plugin will automatically figure out the popular or trending posts from your website. This way your visitors, as well as existing users, will easily get to know about the most liked and well-read posts on your website. This way you can easily drive traffic to your website.

Best Popular Post Plugins for WordPress Comparison Table

Key Differences WordPress Popular Posts Top 10 – Popular posts plugin for WordPress Trending/Popular Post Slider and Widget AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget Popular Posts by Webline
Active Installs 300,000+ 30,000+ 5,000+ 1,000+ 1,000+
Plugin Version 5.3.3 2.9.5 1.5.1 0.10.210305 1.0.6
Multilingual Yes Yes No No Really Not
WordPress Version Required 4.9 or Higher 4.9 or Higher 4.0 or Higher 3.0 or Higher 3.2 or Higher
Tested Up to 5.7.2 5.7.2 Up to 5.7.2 5.7.2 5.4.6
Ratings 4.5 4.6 Great, 4.7 4.9 4.2

So, Which are the Best Popular Post Plugins for WordPress?

Undoubtedly, showing popular posts as well as related posts increases page views. All the bloggers will agree with me that sometimes a single post can bring you huge traffic as compared to other multiple posts. However, the only concern is how visitors will get to know about the popular posts present on your website. Of course, you can not communicate with every visitor individually and tell them about the posts that are highly popular and people are liking them. All the above-mentioned WordPress plugins are greatly suitable for the said purpose.

However, I will suggest you go for the WordPress Popular Posts plugin. It is the best plugin that will enhance your website performance. That too without slowing down your WordPress website. Also, please keep in mind that whichever plugin you are choosing for your website should also contain the cache feature. So that your website never goes slow. There are several options available both paid and free. You can use any of them. Choose wisely!

Happy Posting!

Popular Post Plugins – In Conclusion

So, this is the end of this comprehensive guide that includes the top leading Popular Post plugins. WordPress is one of the widely accepted content management systems available out there. Certainly, it is one of the easiest platforms. Everyone from bloggers to professional business owners uses WordPress to create their online presence. Moreover, the availability of tons of free and paid plugins helps extend the functionality to whichever level you want. Similarly, the aforementioned popular post plugins can help you tell your visitors about your best posts.

Of course, that way you can engage them and if they also find the post useful, they will stay for longer. Or you never know they become your regular reader. And come back every time for such informative posts. Such an approach can be a practical strategy to boost your WordPress SEO. For all good reasons that you know and don’t know, using popular post plugins for WordPress can bring more useful results. So, what do you think about the popular post for WordPress? Please let me know in the comments section below. Your opinion matters to me. Stay Safe!