I Recommend This – Love/Like Button for WordPress Posts
by Harish Chouhan · Uncategorized
Also makes 6 other plugins · 11.7K+ installs across the portfolio →
Enable your visitors to easily like or recommend your posts with a single click, enhancing engagement without the need for comments.
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
B 72/100
Stale
Active installs
4K+
≈4.8K estimated
Momentum
+50%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: “like”, “post” and “rate” 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.
72 health vs 58 average across 25,737 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.0%
of downloads still active
At least 4K of 394.4K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,770 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
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.
Excellent listing optimization
Most to gain: Update recency
Updated 463 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.8.12, the current branch or newer
4.7★ over 38 reviews, smoothed to 4.36★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Last updated 463 days ago — ship an update; wp.org decays a listing's search weight after ~180 days.
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.
29
Momentum
Losing ground
-1.0
Velocity
places per keyword, 26d
0%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 26d
-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| recommend your tag | #2 | #2 | down 1 |
| love your tag | #23 | #21 | down 3 |
| like your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| post your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| rate your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
10 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 2 listed. 8 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 3 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- “like”, “post” and “rate” 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.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 7.2K · 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
No release in a yearHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
0
releases in the last 12 months
1.3y ago
latest release · v4.0.1 · 25 Jul 2025
53
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare 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.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “4K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 2 months ago and a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, so the real count is still just under 5K.
Install history since 24 Aug 2015
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Alison5mo ago
I recommend this plugin! I have been using it for a while and really appreciate it. It’s so simple to set up and use. And it has really enhanced my blog articles. I don’t have comments on my blog articles, so this is a way for readers to interact. A big thank you to the “I recommend it” plugin team for making it this simple. Note: You won’t see the heart or “I recommend this text” on the backend in WP. But it is there. It shows up on the live, public version of your website once you have published your articles.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ johng63jfg1.2y ago
UPDATE: This is working now. Maybe a cache issue on my end. All Looks great. This topic was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by johng63jfg.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ opicron2.3y ago
Lean and mean with a minimalistic (and overidable) button/css. Kudos to the developer! No bloat, no jQuery. After trying 8 other plugins this is the clear winner! This topic was modified 1 year, 12 months ago by opicron. This topic was modified 1 year, 12 months ago by opicron.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Hung PD2.3y ago
Just wanna say that it’s a simple but easy-to-use plugin. Keep the good work!!!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ chocolacaat8.1y ago
Thumbs up and ♥. LOVE IT!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ flowdee8.1y ago
Really awesome plugin I love to use on my sites!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ tizianopitisci10.6y ago
I really like this plugin. I would add some more features to get a five stars rating (for instance the option to choose more simbols, colors and size)
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ingvijonasson10.6y ago
I just wished that a user can have a second thought and unlike/unvote. That would make this fantastic!
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 4.0.1 Updated translation template (.pot) using WP-CLI Removed outdated .po/.mo files 4.0.1
- — Version 4.0.0 Core Improvements: Completely rebuilt plugin with a modern component-based architecture Changed naming from “dot_irecommendthis” to “irecommendthis” throughout Consolidated settings and tools into a single, organized adm 4.0.0
- — Version 3.10.3 Fix: Resolved issue with duplicate post IDs in query blocks Fix: Added context awareness to properly identify post IDs in query loops Enhanced: Shortcode functionality to respect post context in WordPress loops Added: Ja 3.10.3
- — Version 3.10.2 Fix: Template tag not outputting the recommend link 3.10.2
- — Version 3.10.1 Fix: Correct post ID parsing in AJAX request to ensure proper recommendation handling 3.10.1
- — Version 3.10.0 Security update Code Refactor Added Block 3.10.0
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 5 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (4.0.1). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 4.4 I Recommend This <= 3.8.3 - Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2023-04-19 CVE-2023-23673 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.8.3 Patched in 3.9.0
- 2018-09-11 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 3.8.2 Patched in 3.8.2
- 2014-09-24 CVE-2014-10376 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects < 3.7.3 Patched in 3.7.3
- Patched High · 8.8 I Recommend This <= 3.7.2 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) SQL Injection via Shortcode ↗2014-09-24 CVE-2014-125099 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 3.7.2 Patched in 3.7.3
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.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.8
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 76 languages, 0 at 90% or more
Plus 52 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
7 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 "Enable your visitors to easily like or recommend your posts with a single click, enhancing engagement witho..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 11 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 10 of 11 read like questions a user would type.
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("for developers", "if you want").
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 6 headings and 4 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,837 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-08-27 5K+ → 4K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2026-08-26 4K+ → 5K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2026-08-24 5K+ → 4K+ down after 380 days in tier
- 2025-08-09 6K+ → 5K+ down after 3 days in tier
- 2025-08-06 5K+ → 6K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2025-08-05 6K+ → 5K+ down after 366 days in tier
- 2024-08-04 7K+ → 6K+ down after 242 days in tier
- 2023-12-06 8K+ → 7K+ down after 159 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).
-
Posts Like Dislike 5K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags A -
Love Me 200+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags A -
Post Duplicator 200K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
Header and Footer Scripts 200K+ installs · 4.4★ · 1 shared tag B -
Post Type Switcher 200K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A - A Advanced Excerpt 80K+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for I Recommend This – Love/Like Button for WordPress Posts into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/i-recommend-this" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="I Recommend This – Love/Like Button for WordPress Posts — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> I Recommend This – Love/Like Button for WordPress Posts: 4K+ active installs, 4.7★ (38 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/i-recommend-this
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