Embed YouTube Block – Fast Loading Videos, Shorts & Playlists

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

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

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share 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.

Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price. A small install base leaves thin data to model from.

1. ★★★★★ madinfinity

   9mo 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 ↗
2. ★★★★★ lineinthesand

   1.0y 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 ↗
3. ★★★★★ Daniel Świderski

   1.3y ago

   The plugin is great (lightweight and fast) but the quick support is just the best. Thanks!

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ efrap

   1.4y ago

   This one is essential if you have YouTube videos on your block site. Super simple and effective.

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5. ★★★★★ andrearossonero

   1.5y 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.

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6. ★★★★★ revixi5

   1.8y ago

   Your plugin is a little gem. You’re a genius. Thanks a lot.

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7. ★★★★★ mlr4948

   1.8y 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!

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8. ★★★★★ andycain5

   2.0y 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 ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — 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
2. — 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
3. — 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
4. — Version 1.1.3 Release Date – 21 July 2025 Added – Support for loading WebP thumbnails to reduce file size. 1.1.3
5. — 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
6. — 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

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0

Translated into 3 languages, 1 at 90% or more

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2025-12-08 5K+ → 6K+ up after 132 days in tier
2. 2025-07-29 4K+ → 5K+ up after 122 days in tier
3. 2025-03-29 3K+ → 4K+ up after 80 days in tier
4. 2025-01-08 2K+ → 3K+ up after 141 days in tier
5. 2024-08-20 1K+ → 2K+ up after 313 days in tier
6. 2023-10-12 900+ → 1K+ up after 20 days in tier
7. 2023-09-22 800+ → 900+ up after 20 days in tier
8. 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

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Embed YouTube Block – Fast Loading Videos, Shorts & Playlists: 6K+ active installs, 5.0★ (16 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-29. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/better-youtube-embed-block