ShrinkTheWeb (STW) Website Previews Plugin
by puravida1976 · Uncategorized
Also makes 1 other plugin · 70+ installs across the portfolio →
This plugin accesses the ShrinkTheWeb API to automatically replace special tags in posts with website screenshots, where desired.
43 health vs 56 average across 16,377 Uncategorized plugins
High removal-risk signals
63/100Maintenance and integrity signals that tend to precede a WordPress.org removal. Not an official status, a heads-up to act.
- Long abandoned. No update in 9+ years — the top precursor to removal once a vulnerability is found.
- Compatibility drift. Tested only up to WordPress 4.8.30, well behind 6.8.
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.
Under-optimized
Biggest win: Update recency
To rank higher: Last updated 3314 days ago — ship an update; wp.org decays a listing's search weight after ~180 days.
Get the full rank-higher report →Daily downloads
Since 2022-10-05 · 1,427 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peaks are release surges
76
now · peak 80
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
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
9.1y ago
latest release · v2.8.5
14
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 100% 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 “60+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.
Install history · since 2015-09-30 · 1,384 observations
Estimated value
What this plugin might earn a year, and what it might sell for. Modeled from public signals; we don't see anyone's books.
Est. annual revenue
Est. acquisition value
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. A small install base leaves thin data to model from. The recent download trend is too spiky to read.
Details
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ pricklypearmedia10.1y ago
Firstly I’d like to commend the developers of this plug-in in their support. It’s clearly phenomenal. In terms of the bad reviews on this plug-in, they are a little misleading. The plug-in is developed by the website ShrinkTheWeb, which is a third-party website. It works best with this website, however, there the free version can still be used. If you hope to use this amazing tool professionally then a premium version would be required. It really makes life so much easier. The plug-in will soon be updated, which will release more features. I’ve checked the competition and this is the best service to be used with WordPress. Thanks again for your awesome support.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ 84ck80n310.1y ago
…. it cost 10,-$/month. Always the same. First they write FREE FREE FREE, and after the installation, you see how much it real cost.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ chittirajesh11.0y ago
HI I installed one of my website to show the thumbnail preview of external links. But it showing error as Account problem I used the link in between short code.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ disabledpinoy11.5y ago
I installed it and needed to have an outside account just to get it working. The drawback is… if the website (outside account) goes out of business, the same with this plugin, isn’t it? In other words, it is dependent upon a third person or third party just to get this plugin working. It would be nice if it’s just a shortcode and not dependent on anybody.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ puravida197612.6y ago
Fully tested and no complaints from users.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Tim12.9y ago
Highly recommended, does exactly what it should with no fuss. Great support.
Read on wp.org ↗
Known vulnerabilities
via Wordfence Intelligence1 disclosed vulnerability on record for this plugin, 1 still affects the current version.
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 7.2.16 · WP 5.3
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 3 languages, 1 at 90% or more
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-04-29 70+ → 60+ down after 71 days in tier
- 2026-02-17 80+ → 70+ down after 19 days in tier
- 2026-01-29 90+ → 80+ down after 8 days in tier
- 2026-01-21 80+ → 90+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2026-01-20 90+ → 80+ down after 30 days in tier
- 2025-12-21 80+ → 90+ up after 106 days in tier
- 2025-09-06 90+ → 80+ down after 133 days in tier
- 2025-04-26 100+ → 90+ down after 6 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).
- S Snap A Site 50+ installs · 3.6★ · 2 shared tags D
-
Page Preview 10+ installs · 3.6★ · 2 shared tags B
- S ShrinkTheWeb Refresh All 10+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags D
-
Regenerate Thumbnails 1M+ installs · 4.6★ · 1 shared tag B -
Force Regenerate Thumbnails 200K+ installs · 4.6★ · 1 shared tag A - M MW WP Form 200K+ installs · 4.1★ · 1 shared tag A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for ShrinkTheWeb (STW) Website Previews Plugin into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/shrinktheweb-website-preview-plugin" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="ShrinkTheWeb (STW) Website Previews Plugin — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> ShrinkTheWeb (STW) Website Previews Plugin: 60+ active installs, 3.7★ (6 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/shrinktheweb-website-preview-plugin