Default Featured Image
by Jan-Willem · Media
Also makes 1 other plugin · 50.2K+ installs across the portfolio →
Add a Default Featured Image for all posts & pages.
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Health
A 88/100
no flags
Active installs
50K+
≈60K estimated
Momentum
+38%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Add “featured images” to your wp.org tags. You rank #4 for it without listing it, close enough for a declared tag to move you up. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so with 2 listed it's a slot worth spending.
88 health vs 62 average across 3,278 Media plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →8.8%
of downloads still active
At least 50K of 567.8K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Media plugin keeps 0.8%, across 2,317 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Media 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 1 release 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
Recent review vibe
read from the latest 12 reviews to 2026-06-06Older reviewers call it a light, no-nonsense plugin that just works, but the newest review says the default image can't be turned off after uninstalling and leaves an error image behind.
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.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 136 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.0.8, the current branch or newer
4.8★ over 69 reviews, smoothed to 4.51★
2 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →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.
37
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
15%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| default featured image | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| default | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| featured image | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| featured | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| default image | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| default image settings | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| category featured image | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| multiple featured image | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| featured image list | #2 | #2 | down 1 |
| show featured image | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| featured image size | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| remove featured image | #2 | #2 | down 1 |
| featured content | #4 | #4 | up 1 |
| featured images | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| featured page | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| custom url to featured image | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| featured image url | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| url to featured image | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| add featured image | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| featured media | #4 | #5 | up 1 |
| media your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
94 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 58 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Add “featured images” to your wp.org tags. You rank #4 for it without listing it, close enough for a declared tag to move you up. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so with 2 listed it's a slot worth spending.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 32.8K · 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
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
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
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
1
releases in the last 12 months
5mo ago
latest release · v1.8.2 · 17 Jun 2026
22
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 66% 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 “50K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 8 days ago and a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, so the real count is still just under 60K.
Install history since 21 Oct 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ vahebag5mo ago
After removing the plugin, I can no longer disable the automatically featured image; an image with an error message keeps appearing. Installing this plugin is irreversible.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Matt Rock1.6y ago
Loving this plugin. And when I need to fine tune it, a quick browse through the FAQs and Support Threads and I found everything I needed. Great plugin. This topic was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by Matt Rock.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ pst2471.6y ago
A very handy little plugin that fills an obvious hole in WordPress’s feature list.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ phakkers1.6y ago
Hi Jan-Willem,I was looking for a default featured image, ChatGPT suggested your plugin. Exactly what I need. Thanks!Pascal
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ thaikolja2.1y ago
Thank you, @janwoostendorp, for this great minimalist and out-of-the-box working plugin. I was looking for a plugin that’d set a default image to posts that don’t have any, and this plugin is doing exactly that—nothing more, nothing less. It’s not creating yet another admin menu bar item with dozens of subpages. It doesn’t annoy you with constant dashboard notices. It doesn’t beg for donations or includes any watermarks. It just works the way you expect it to work. It’s a little sad that the bar is this low, but compared to so many other plugins, I think this needs to be pointed out—and reach more people who want a simple solution for a simple problem. The only feature I’d have liked to see is the support for images that are unavailable and can’t be displayed to also use the default featured image. A quick glance inside the code showed quite a bit of jQuery, which wouldn’t be my first choice, but it made me think that adding a simple checkbox to have it checking for this (non-render blocking, of course) could be a useful idea. Thanks for your work! This topic was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by thaikolja. Reason: Added constructive criticism
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ baritono2.6y ago
Funziona benissimo! speriamo che non sarà abbandonato
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Dave Loebig2.6y ago
Default featured image does what it’s supposed to do and it meets two criteria I always look for: light weight it just works The support forum has good answers to questions, and that’s a big plus.Thanks for the great plugin.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ danielepais2.7y ago
Excellent little plugin that does the job right. It worked for us..!
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.8.2 Fixed typo in uninstall script. 1.8.2
- — Version 1.8.1 Small refactor, no code or feature changes. Removed wp.org assets from plugin zip. 1.8.1
- — Version 1.8.0 Expose the DFI option via the rest API. 1.8.0
- — Version 1.7.3 PHP 7.4 and WP 6.2 are now required. This is to use the new WP_HTML_Tag_Processor functions. Fixed a bug where classes were overridden. 1.7.3
- — Version 1.7.2.1 Development is now done in git. 1.7.2.1
- — Version 1.7.2 Added extra context to a translation as suggested by Alex Lion 1.7.2
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.7.2
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 68 languages, 12 at 90% or more
Plus 44 more locales with partial translations.
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
4 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 "Add a Default Featured Image for all posts & pages."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 7 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 7 of 7 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 0 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ! Enough to quote 245 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 2 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-10-23 60K+ → 50K+ down after 157 days in tier
- 2026-05-19 70K+ → 60K+ down after 306 days in tier
- 2025-07-17 80K+ → 70K+ down after 18 days in tier
- 2025-06-29 70K+ → 80K+ up after 27 days in tier
- 2025-06-02 80K+ → 70K+ down after 8 days in tier
- 2025-05-25 70K+ → 80K+ up after 9 days in tier
- 2025-05-16 80K+ → 70K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-05-15 70K+ → 80K+ up after 3 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).
-
Phoenix Media Rename 50K+ installs · 4.6★ · 2 shared tags A -
Easy Watermark 30K+ installs · 3.8★ · 2 shared tags C -
PNG to JPG 10K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A -
Replace Image 8K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags C - N Nav Menu Images 6K+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags D
-
Support WebP – Upload webp files in wordpress without hassle 4K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Default Featured Image into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/default-featured-image" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Default Featured Image — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Default Featured Image: 50K+ active installs, 4.8★ (69 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/default-featured-image
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