Categories Images

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

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.

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.

97 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 63 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).

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 · 47% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Crossed into this band 11 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.

1. ★★★★★ xmagentur

   6mo ago

   We have used this plugin for the display of custom post type category images and it works a treat! You could only improve it my offering a media library select field but for now it works very well, already! Thank you.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Bonnie Walker

   10mo ago

   I have been using this plugin for a couple years and it is a significant part of making categories work like, well, categories, and making my website look more graphical and appealing. The one time there was an issue, the plugin author fixed it very quickly. Really grateful for this plugin. Thank you!

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ LilGames

   1.6y ago

   I give 2 stars because this plugin seems to do what it claims, that is, assign an image to each category and tag taxonomy (which is exactly what I want and something the core WordPress should already have!) However, there’s no Block added for easily using the new feature in templates. You have to edit PHP code. I also caution everyone to review the old complaints about how it records the images in the database and you should thoroughly test on a staging site first if the old complaints are still valid (slowing down large sites, not cleaning up the DB, etc)

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ In Touch Consulting

   3.1y ago

   I installed it, and then realised that my SEO plugin allows OG images. I deactivated and deleted it. Now none of my categories work. I reset the permalinks, nothing. The categories show there are items, but the posts show no categories or tags attached to the post, and none can be added. I don’t know WHAT it did!

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ G.

   3.3y ago

   I had tested them all, and I can confirm that this plugin is the best in its category. I use it throughout my project, the z_taxonomy() function has become my favorite 😉 Thank you, Muhammad, for continuing to maintain it 🙏.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ Jon

   4.0y ago

   Tested and used on WordPress 6.0.2, perfect

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ tolkodelo

   4.9y ago

   The plugin saves image link into the Options table. Every saved term will add a row to the site’s Options table, which may slow down the site if there are many term images. Also, the option does not get deleted after you remove a term image, it is the option’s value that gets cleared out. The option only gets deleted if you delete the term. To me, this looks unprofessional.

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ Wiliam Jose Koester

   5.1y ago

   The plugin adds an option from the main menu to a settings page that literally has only one setting and will only be used once. This menu item should be a “Settings” submenu. Having this option in the main menu is unjustified and simply clutters up the menu. Unfortunately for this reason, I chose not to use this plugin and look for alternatives.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 3.3.3 Performance Optimization: Reordered attachment lookup to prioritize stored IDs, significantly reducing database load on large sites by avoiding expensive attachment_url_to_postid() calls. Bug Fix: Fixed “Remove Image” bu 3.3.3
2. — Version 3.3.2 Security release: Fixed an authenticated Stored XSS vulnerability in the [z_taxonomy_image] shortcode (CVE-2026-2505). General security hardening: Implemented strict “Escape on Output” for all dynamic strings to comply w 3.3.2
3. — Version 3.3.1 Fixed a potential fatal error during REST API initialization. 3.3.1
4. — Version 3.3.0 Added native Elementor Dynamic Tag support for taxonomy images. Integrated with WordPress REST API (adds z_taxonomy_image_url to term responses). Major shortcode overhaul: Enhanced [z_taxonomy_image] with custom links, p 3.3.0
5. — Version 3.2.0 Fix wp_options bloat issues by migrating to Term Meta API (wp_termmeta) for WP 4.4+. Backward compatibility for WP Improved performance by implementing Singleton pattern to reduce class instantiation overhead. Security e 3.2.0
6. — Version 3.1.0 Added DE translation, thanks to denarie. Start using imageId instead of imageUrl to solve any the CDN issues, thanks so alessandrocarrera. Tested with the latest version of wordpress 3.1.0

All 2 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (3.3.4). Sites still on an older version should update.

1. Patched Medium · 5.4 Categories Images <= 3.3.1 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'z_taxonomy_image' Shortcode ↗
   2026-04-17 CVE-2026-2505 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.3.1 Patched in 3.3.2
2. Patched Medium · 6.4 Categories Images <= 3.3.1 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗
   2026-03-14 CVE-2026-40734 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.3.1 Patched in 3.3.2

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1

Translated into 132 languages, 19 at 90% or more

Plus 108 more locales with partial translations.

Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.

Growth timeline

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

1. 2025-12-12 60K+ → 50K+ down after 1 days in tier
2. 2025-12-11 50K+ → 60K+ up after 5 days in tier
3. 2025-12-06 60K+ → 50K+ down after 827 days in tier
4. 2023-09-01 70K+ → 60K+ down after 1165 days in tier
5. 2020-06-23 80K+ → 70K+ down after 937 days in tier
6. 2017-11-29 70K+ → 80K+ up after 340 days in tier
7. 2016-12-24 60K+ → 70K+ up after 223 days in tier
8. 2016-05-15 50K+ → 60K+ up after 240 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).

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for Categories Images into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Categories Images: 50K+ active installs, 4.5★ (86 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/categories-images