Embed YouTube Block – Fast Loading Videos, Shorts & Playlists
by Phi Phan · Blocks
Also makes 7 other plugins · 26.9K+ installs across the portfolio →
Embed YouTube videos without slowing down your site. Easily embed one or multiple videos, shorts, and playlists.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 89/100
no flags
Active installs
6K+
≈6.9K estimated
Momentum
+70%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “block”, “gutenberg” and “video” for “videos”, “fast” and “fse”. “block” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “videos” sits at #18 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “gutenberg” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “fast” sits at #20 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “video” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “fse” sits at #21 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
89 health vs 71 average across 2,524 Blocks plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →9.3%
of downloads still active
At least 6K of 64.4K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Blocks plugin keeps 2.1%, across 1,578 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Blocks plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 5 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 38 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
5.0★ over 16 reviews, smoothed to 4.32★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
40
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
22%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| embed youtube videos | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| shorts | #2 | #5 | — |
| embed youtube | #2 | #3 | 0 |
| playlists | #2 | #3 | 0 |
| embed youtube video | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| youtube video embeded without code | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| block bindings | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| youtube wordpress embed | #2 | #4 | 0 |
| youtube shorts | #2 | #3 | up 1 |
| youtube embed video | #2 | #4 | 0 |
| embed block | #2 | #1 | 0 |
| youtube videos | #5 | #10 | up 5 |
| loading | #6 | #13 | up 4 |
| youtube your tag | #7 | #11 | up 4 |
| how to embed youtube in wordpress | #3 | #5 | 0 |
| youtube playlists | #3 | #5 | 0 |
| embed your tag | #13 | #12 | up 1 |
| embed videos | #5 | #8 | down 2 |
| youtube embed | #5 | #7 | 0 |
| videos | #18 | #18 | 0 |
| block your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| gutenberg your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| video your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
115 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 80 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 3 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “block”, “gutenberg” and “video” for “videos”, “fast” and “fse”. “block” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “videos” sits at #18 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “gutenberg” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “fast” sits at #20 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “video” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “fse” sits at #21 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “embed”. #13 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 25 Nov 2022 · 1,437 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 5.2K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
5
releases in the last 12 months
1mo ago
latest release · v1.1.7 · 23 Sep 2026
13
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 97% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “6K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 11 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.
Install history since 24 Nov 2022
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ madinfinity11mo ago
default embed block for YouTube videos sucks YouTube Block – A better way to embed YouTube videos, shorts, playlists – Cool plugin
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ lineinthesand1.2y ago
Very easy to use and the php api function to add a block is great. I use it via a custom shortcode.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Daniel Świderski1.4y ago
The plugin is great (lightweight and fast) but the quick support is just the best. Thanks!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ efrap1.6y ago
This one is essential if you have YouTube videos on your block site. Super simple and effective.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ andrearossonero1.7y ago
I’ve tried 10+ similar plugins to do similar things for youtube videos, but to put it simply, by far and large this was the best one.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ revixi51.9y ago
Your plugin is a little gem. You’re a genius. Thanks a lot.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mlr49482.0y ago
The YouTube Block has greatly improved the page load time on my website. When I experienced an issue with some YouTube video controls not activating, Phi accurately identified it as a problem with a CSS positioning rule. I was able to fix it quickly and fully enjoy the advantages of this fantastic plugin. It’s an excellent plugin with prompt support. I highly recommend it!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ andycain52.1y ago
THIS IS THE BEST YOUTUBE PLUGIN AVAILABLE!!! IT ACTUALLY DOES WHAT IT SAYS!!! Sorry for the all CAPS there but I wanted to make a point. This is literally my first plugin review because this is the first plugin I have used that I felt deserved it. I have tried every Youtube plug there is and I just wanted a simple block that could be inserted to embed a Youtube video like the basic Youtube block but I wanted a plugin that would do like the tube.rvere code does and just load the featured image until clicked on. This plugin does that with no fuss and is completely free!!!!I had been using the generated code from tube.rvere.com and they provide excellent code that works great and I have zero issues with their service. However, it was adding extra steps to my work-flow and also one of my core principles is to use as much core WordPress as possible and if needed use plugins built into my editor. With this plugin, the block is built-in and you use it just like the core Youtube block but you can load the HD featured image and even have a caption if you choose. I have been searching for a plugin to make my YouTube videos work and this one does it! I went from page speed loads of 3.5 seconds all the way down to 1.4 seconds just from using this plugin. I am very good at page speed loading time optimization and it is something I likely worry over more than I have to but when I saw that this plugin cut my page load time virtually in half just by helping with my YouTube videos I was sold. I will be singing the praises of this plugin as loudly as I can!
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.1.6 Release Date – 10 June 2026 Added – Support for displaying overlay text on video thumbnails, such as a YouTube cookie consent notice 1.1.6
- — Version 1.1.5 Release Date – 06 May 2026 Added – caption_kses parameter to the helper function, allowing inline HTML tags ( , , ) in video captions when using the custom API function. Added – New hook better_youtube_embed_block_render 1.1.5
- — Version 1.1.4 Release Date – 06 January 2026 Added – Block binding support for the url and caption attributes. Improved – Handling of the frontend script when hosts or cache plugins defer or delay it. 1.1.4
- — Version 1.1.3 Release Date – 21 July 2025 Added – Support for loading WebP thumbnails to reduce file size. 1.1.3
- — Version 1.1.2 Release Date – 06 January 2025 Fixed – The captions of old YouTube videos are not converted to this block when automatically transforming core/embed to this block. Updated – Requires at least WordPress version 6.5 1.1.2
- — Version 1.1.1 Release Date – 09 November 2024 Fixed – a CSS conflict between the play button and button styles in some themes 1.1.1
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 3 languages, 1 at 90% or more
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
5 of 8 pass · checked 26 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Embed YouTube videos without slowing down your site. Easily embed one or multiple videos, shorts, and playl..."
- ! Has a FAQ Only 2 questions in the FAQ; 3 or more gives an assistant something to match.
- ! FAQ asks real questions 0 of 2 FAQ entries are headings, not questions ("undefined").
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("for developers", "if you want").
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, Gutenberg, Block editor, ACF and 1 more.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 2 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 3,768 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-12-08 5K+ → 6K+ up after 132 days in tier
- 2025-07-29 4K+ → 5K+ up after 122 days in tier
- 2025-03-29 3K+ → 4K+ up after 80 days in tier
- 2025-01-08 2K+ → 3K+ up after 141 days in tier
- 2024-08-20 1K+ → 2K+ up after 313 days in tier
- 2023-10-12 900+ → 1K+ up after 20 days in tier
- 2023-09-22 800+ → 900+ up after 20 days in tier
- 2023-09-02 700+ → 800+ up after 22 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Advanced WordPress Backgrounds 30K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A -
Embeds for YouTube 9K+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags C -
Simple YouTube Embed 4K+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags B -
Spectra Legacy – Gutenberg Blocks 1M+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A -
Crowdsignal Forms 200K+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags A -
Presto Player 100K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Embed YouTube Block – Fast Loading Videos, Shorts & Playlists into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/better-youtube-embed-block" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Embed YouTube Block – Fast Loading Videos, Shorts & Playlists — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Embed YouTube Block – Fast Loading Videos, Shorts & Playlists: 6K+ active installs, 5.0★ (16 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block
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