PDF Thumbnail Generator

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.

22 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 8 listed. 14 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 4 of its tags aren'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 · 73% 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 14 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.

1. ★★★★★ DarkLight Digital

   1.7y ago

   Does what it says on the tin! Generates a thumbnail which can be used however you need to. Great for building a library of pdfs – wrap the shortcode in a link and BANG, you’re done!

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Jeremy Varnham

   2.2y ago

   I’ve used this on multiple sites and have found it invaluable. While I’ve struggled with getting the required ImageMagick set up and working on a few servers – each one requiring a slightly different approach owing to different OS and security settings – this is not the fault of the plugin or plugin author. I’m not sure what one reviewer means by this being built-in to WordPress; to the best of my knowledge that is incorrect.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ hommealone

   2.3y ago

   In certain situations, this can be a very handy plugin. It works as advertised. It is simple to use, and allows developers many options of how to implement it and customize it when needed. Using custom fields for file uploads, I’ve built this into template files, so my customers can simply upload their PDF files and have them presented nicely with no further effort required. In the right situation, it can save many tedious and repetitive steps. It allows my clients to easily and automatically present their PDF files in an attractive way without having to fire up Photoshop or some other image creation method each time. No more need to upload a PDF file and a separate image file. This plugin takes care of it all in one easy step. p.s. – the developer seems to be excellent at responding to questions in the plugin’s forum page too!

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ cvladan

   3.8y ago

   This plugin exceeded my expectations by allowing me to dynamically preview a PDF file without any links to it or similar. One of the standout features of this plugin is its high level of extensibility. With numerous hooks provided, it is easy to customize and tailor the plugin to meet specific needs and requirements. This topic was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by cvladan.

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ hilmon

   4.1y ago

   Plugin works great. Very easy to use and implement.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 1.5 tested on WP 6.9 new shortcode [pdf_clickable_thumbnail id=”123″] displays clickable PDF thumbnail that will open PDF in new tab on click csrf security fix 1.5
2. — Version 1.4 fix: more URL escaping 1.4
3. — Version 1.3 tested on WP 6.6 escape URL in admin link to prevent XSS 1.3
4. — Version 1.2 tested on WP 6.5 1.2
5. — Version 1.1 tested on WP 6.4 1.1
6. — Version 1.0 First version 1.0

All 2 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (1.5). Sites still on an older version should update.

1. Patched Medium · 4.3 PDF Thumbnail Generator <= 1.4 - Cross-Site Request Forgery ↗
   2025-12-06 CVE-2025-67469 Cross-Site Request Forgery Affects <= 1.4 Patched in 1.5
2. Patched Medium · 6.1 PDF Thumbnail Generator <= 1.3 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting ↗
   2024-09-12 CVE-2024-8737 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.3 Patched in 1.4

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.8.3

Translated into 1 language, 1 at 90% or more

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.

Growth timeline

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

1. 2025-09-05 1K+ → 2K+ up after 3 days in tier
2. 2025-09-02 2K+ → 1K+ down after 3 days in tier
3. 2025-08-30 1K+ → 2K+ up after 1 days in tier
4. 2025-08-29 2K+ → 1K+ down after 1 days in tier
5. 2025-08-28 1K+ → 2K+ up after 509 days in tier
6. 2024-04-06 900+ → 1K+ up after 1 days in tier
7. 2024-04-05 1K+ → 900+ down after 1 days in tier
8. 2024-04-04 900+ → 1K+ up after 55 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).

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for PDF Thumbnail Generator into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

PDF Thumbnail Generator: 2K+ active installs, 5.0★ (5 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/pdf-thumbnail-generator