Hot Random Image
by Hot Themes · Blocks
Also makes 7 other plugins · 2.6K+ installs across the portfolio →
Hot Random Image is a basic widget that shows a randomly picked image from a selected folder where images are stored.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 88/100
Few reviews
Active installs
2K+
≈2.9K estimated
Momentum
-1%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: “block”, “image” and “images” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
88 health vs 71 average across 2,527 Blocks plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →3.8%
of downloads still active
At least 2K of 52K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Blocks plugin keeps 2.1%, across 1,580 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Blocks 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
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 62 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 9 reviews, smoothed to 4.22★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 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.
35
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
6%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+0.1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| random | #1 | #1 | up 1 |
| random image | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| hot | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| random block | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| random images | #1 | #3 | 0 |
| hot post plugin | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| hot post | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| random page | #2 | #5 | — |
| random post | #5 | #9 | 0 |
| random post widget | #6 | #14 | 0 |
| block your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| image your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| images your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| responsive your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| widget your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
35 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 10 listed. 25 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 5 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- “block”, “image” and “images” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
- Already on top for “hot” and “random image”. #1 and #1 without listing them. A tag would change little there; your slots are better spent on a search you don't yet win.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,490 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 3.6K · 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
11mo ago
latest release · v1.9.3 · 3 Dec 2025
2
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 83% 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 “2K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 9 months ago and the previous band took 6.4 years to cross, so the real count is still just under 3K.
Install history since 22 Aug 2015
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Dennis2.3y ago
I deactivated, deleted and reinstalled the plugin, after that there were no 404 errors. Thank you This topic was modified 1 year, 12 months ago by Dennis. This topic was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by Dennis.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Li-An2.4y ago
If you need to insert a random image, it’s a very interesting little plugin. The features are quite handy too. And it works without problem.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Patric3.6y ago
The plugin works perfectly as it should.It would be nice to be able to display randomly several images.I can do it by using several times the widget, but then the same image may be displayed more than once. This topic was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by Patric.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ clara7164.0y ago
Worked for me. I used this to create an advertisement banner in the footer section. Each time when you refresh the page, you will get a new image.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ zaririnatma7.0y ago
This plugin is simple and perfect for doing affiliate links rotations.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Nilo9.0y ago
Fast and easy to use
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ TheBizzel10.5y ago
Got it working but not 5 stars because I couldn’t work out the syntax for image name plus image link. A screenshot example would be nice.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ antzproductions10.5y ago
Exactly as it’s mentioned
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 3 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (1.9.3). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 4.9 Hot Random Image <= 1.9.2 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via link Parameter ↗2025-05-21 CVE-2025-4405 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.9.2 Patched in 1.9.3
- Patched Medium · 4.3 Hot Random Image <= 1.9.2 - Path Traversal to Authenticated (Contributor+) Limited Arbitrary Image Access via path Parameter ↗2025-05-21 CVE-2025-4419 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory Affects <= 1.9.2 Patched in 1.9.3
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Hot Random Image <= 1.8.1 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-03-25 CVE-2024-29796 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.8.1 Patched in 1.8.2
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
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 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Hot Random Image is a basic widget that shows a randomly picked image from a selected folder where images a..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 5 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 5 of 5 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 553 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "block" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-01-28 3K+ → 2K+ down after 2352 days in tier
- 2019-08-21 1K+ → 3K+ up after 1028 days in tier
- 2016-10-27 700+ → 1K+ up after 300 days in tier
- 2016-01-01 600+ → 700+ up after 77 days in tier
- 2015-10-16 500+ → 600+ 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).
- N Newpost Catch 9K+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags A
-
Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 2 shared tags B -
Image Widget 100K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A -
Simple Image Sizes 60K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A -
Image Watermark 40K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags A -
Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block 20K+ installs · 4.9★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Hot Random Image into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/hot-random-image" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Hot Random Image — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Hot Random Image: 2K+ active installs, 4.9★ (9 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-02. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/hot-random-image
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