Default Featured Image

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 · 66% 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.

Older 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.

1. ★★★★★ vahebag

   3mo 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 ↗
2. ★★★★★ Matt Rock

   1.4y 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 ↗
3. ★★★★★ pst247

   1.4y ago

   A very handy little plugin that fills an obvious hole in WordPress’s feature list.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ phakkers

   1.5y 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 ↗
5. ★★★★★ thaikolja

   1.9y 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 ↗
6. ★★★★★ baritono

   2.4y ago

   Funziona benissimo! speriamo che non sarà abbandonato

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ Dave Loebig

   2.4y 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 ↗
8. ★★★★★ danielepais

   2.5y ago

   Excellent little plugin that does the job right. It worked for us..!

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 1.8.2 Fixed typo in uninstall script. 1.8.2
2. — Version 1.8.1 Small refactor, no code or feature changes. Removed wp.org assets from plugin zip. 1.8.1
3. — Version 1.8.0 Expose the DFI option via the rest API. 1.8.0
4. — 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
5. — Version 1.7.2.1 Development is now done in git. 1.7.2.1
6. — Version 1.7.2 Added extra context to a translation as suggested by Alex Lion 1.7.2

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.7.2

Translated into 67 languages, 12 at 90% or more

Plus 43 more locales with partial translations.

Growth timeline

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

1. 2026-05-19 70K+ → 60K+ down after 306 days in tier
2. 2025-07-17 80K+ → 70K+ down after 18 days in tier
3. 2025-06-29 70K+ → 80K+ up after 27 days in tier
4. 2025-06-02 80K+ → 70K+ down after 8 days in tier
5. 2025-05-25 70K+ → 80K+ up after 9 days in tier
6. 2025-05-16 80K+ → 70K+ down after 1 days in tier
7. 2025-05-15 70K+ → 80K+ up after 3 days in tier
8. 2025-05-12 80K+ → 70K+ down after 11 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 B
• 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

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Drop a live Pulse card for Default Featured Image into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Default Featured Image: 60K+ active installs, 4.8★ (68 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-25. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/default-featured-image