XML Sitemap Generator for Google

Reviewers keep calling it simple, reliable, and easy to set up, with no complaints in this set.

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.

303 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 241 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.

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 · 88% 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 4.4 years ago; the previous band took 5.1 years to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.

1. ★★★★★ ionatan

   4mo ago

   no ads, no branding, perfect!

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ James1101

   5mo ago

   I have been using this plugin for many years and it is still the cream of the crop. Straight forward and easy to configure. Lately other plugins cannot keep up with all the updates. Keep going!

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ Jure

   7mo ago

   It delivers what it promises.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ ramon302

   8mo ago

   Really useful plugin. Setup was quick & sitemap generated automatically without any issue. Google picked it up fast. UI is simple, too. Using it for a few weeks now, works great. tnx devs for this plugin 👍

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ cindypaa

   9mo ago

   I’m currently using AIOSEO’s sitemap, but due to the large number of products, the sitemap is causing a 504 error.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ Celso Singo Aramaki

   9mo ago

   Very good

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

   10mo ago

   good plugin, thank you

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ ronaldljohnson

   1.2y ago

   If you’re already using the available Google features like ReCaptcha on your WordPress web site then go the next step and get the XML Sitemap Generator for Google. It integrates tightly with your site, is free, and is the gold standard for sitemap generation on your WordPress Site.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. 2026-09-18 Version 4.1.25 Fixed “XML parsing error: XML or text declaration not at the beginning of the entity” on sitemap.xml. If a theme or another plugin printed anything before the sitemap started — a blank line after a closing PHP tag, a UTF 4.1.25
2. 2026-05-22 Version 4.1.24 Security: mitigated CVE-2026-42945 (NGINX Rift, CVSS 9.2) in the dashboard’s suggested Nginx rewrite rules. The rules now use named PCRE captures (? …) instead of unnamed $1/$2, which avoids the heap-overflow trigger in 4.1.24
3. 2026-02-09 Version 4.1.23 Improved security further for unauthenticated users from modifying plugin settings by enforcing proper permission and security‑token checks. CVE-2025-64632 4.1.23
4. 2025-12-23 Version 4.1.22 Fixed preventing unauthenticated users from modifying plugin settings by enforcing proper permission and security‑token checks. 4.1.22
5. 2024-04-21 Version 4.1.21 Fixed a regression with saving post/page exclusions. Fixed an issue with post/tag priority settings. 4.1.21
6. 2024-04-14 Version 4.1.20 Fixed empty ping error Fixed response code issue with index sitemap Fixed interoperability with existing robots.txt file Fixed URL for guest authors Fixed uninstalled plugin error Fixed sitemap indexation Fixed “Trying t 4.1.20

All 3 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (4.1.25). Sites still on an older version should update.

1. Patched Medium · 5.3 Google XML Sitemaps <= 4.1.22 - Missing Authorization ↗
   2025-10-31 CVE-2025-64632 Missing Authorization Affects <= 4.1.22 Patched in 4.1.23
2. Patched Medium · 5.5 XML Sitemaps <= 4.1.1 - Authenticated (Admin+) Cross-Site Scripting ↗
   2022-05-30 CVE-2021-25088 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 4.1.1 Patched in 4.1.2
3. Patched Medium · 5.5 XML Sitemaps <= 4.0.9 - Authenticated Cross-Site Scripting ↗
   2018-12-25 CVE-2018-16204 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 4.0.9 Patched in 4.1.0

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

Translated into 84 languages, 15 at 90% or more

Plus 60 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. 2022-06-01 2M+ → 1M+ down after 1857 days in tier
2. 2017-05-01 1M+ → 2M+ up

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 XML Sitemap Generator for Google into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

XML Sitemap Generator for Google: 1M+ active installs, 4.8★ (2,233 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/google-sitemap-generator