Simple YouTube Embed
by Noor Alam · Media
Also makes 25 other plugins · 152.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
Embed YouTube videos in WordPress beautifully. Embed YouTube video with a URL or shortcode and customize the player using this YouTube embed plugin.
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 84/100
no flags
Active installs
4K+
≈4.8K estimated
Momentum
+13%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “responsive”, “video” and “iframe” for “youtube shortcode”, “youtube player” and “youtube video”. “responsive” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “youtube shortcode” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “video” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “youtube player” sits at #18 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “iframe” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #23. “youtube video” sits at #18 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
84 health vs 62 average across 3,281 Media plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.5%
of downloads still active
At least 4K of 157.2K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Media plugin keeps 0.8%, across 2,319 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Media 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.
Excellent listing optimization
Most to gain: Rating quality
Updated 67 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.2★ over 15 reviews, smoothed to 4.12★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Too few reviews to rank on quality — nudge happy users to leave one.
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.
40
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
23%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| youtube embed | #2 | #4 | 0 |
| embed youtube videos | #3 | #9 | 0 |
| embed youtube video | #3 | #7 | 0 |
| embed youtube | #3 | #7 | up 1 |
| responsive youtube embed | #2 | #5 | 0 |
| youtube your tag | #8 | #15 | down 1 |
| youtube wordpress embed | #3 | #7 | 0 |
| how to embed youtube in wordpress | #4 | #10 | 0 |
| youtube videos | #11 | #18 | 0 |
| youtube shortcode | #8 | #17 | up 1 |
| embed your tag | #17 | #16 | down 5 |
| youtube embed video | #6 | #13 | 0 |
| youtube playlist | #11 | #15 | 0 |
| youtube video | #18 | #21 | up 2 |
| iframe your tag | #23 | #21 | up 1 |
| wordpress youtube | #9 | #18 | up 1 |
| youtube plugin | #9 | #17 | up 1 |
| website embed | #9 | #17 | — |
| url embed | #9 | #14 | — |
| advanced youtube | #11 | #20 | down 1 |
| responsive your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| video your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
59 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 25 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “responsive”, “video” and “iframe” for “youtube shortcode”, “youtube player” and “youtube video”. “responsive” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “youtube shortcode” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “video” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “youtube player” sits at #18 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “iframe” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #23. “youtube video” sits at #18 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- Slipping on “embed”. Down 5 places since 2026-09-18, now #17. Check what shipped around then, and what moved above you.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 5.5K · 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
2mo ago
latest release · v1.1.0.5 · 25 Aug 2026
5
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 85% 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 3 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 3 May 2015
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Bearenstark3.2y ago
Hi, i like your Plugin-Idea, but i think for youtube-Video autoplay is not working without mute anymore. But the parameter mute is deleted or not allowed through your Plugin. I added it by myself and changed your plugin but with the next update my changes will be removed. Could you please add this feature so people can use the WordPress Youtube embed Block with all YouTube parameters (autoplay, mute, rel, playlist, loop, etc.)Thanks for your Feedback!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ stefan.b4.7y ago
I didn’t want to have unrelated videos as recommendations at the end of my videos. Therefore I had to add ?rel=0 at the end or the YouTube URL. In the default YouTube block in WordPress ?rel=0 isn’t working but with this plugin it does. Thanks a lot for developing this plugin and for keeping it up to date.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ lunet6.6y ago
SOLVED This is not working for this link: This topic was modified 6 years, 3 months ago by lunet. This topic was modified 6 years, 3 months ago by lunet. This topic was modified 6 years, 3 months ago by lunet.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ patbell1016.8y ago
If you try the parameters such as &autoplay=1 or &rel=1 wp converts & to & and stops it working.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ siamnaulak7.6y ago
I really love this plugin. Simple and easy to use….
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jacklack7.9y ago
The fastest and the simplest plugin I’ve ever used. And gosh, it works excellent!!! No codes and other long stuff. Super thing. Love it!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ adrianbakar8.1y ago
Can’t be much more easier to use
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ MathF8.8y ago
Install it add the youtube link to your post and you are done
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.1.0.5 Added support for iv_load_policy. 1.1.0.5
- — Version 1.1.0.4 Additional check for the settings link. 1.1.0.4
- — Version 1.1.0.3 Added support for the mute parameter. 1.1.0.3
- — Version 1.1.0.2 Some cleanup for the oEmbed url. 1.1.0.2
- — Version 1.1.0.1 Added a parameter to turn a video into a playlist. 1.1.0.1
- — Version 1.1.0 Added support for YouTube advanced parameters. 1.1.0
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.7.2
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 125 languages, 0 at 90% or more · development strings
Plus 101 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
5 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 "Embed YouTube videos in WordPress beautifully. Embed YouTube video with a URL or shortcode and customize th..."
- ! Has a FAQ Only 2 questions in the FAQ; 3 or more gives an assistant something to match.
- ! FAQ asks real questions 0 of 2 FAQ entries are headings, not questions ("undefined").
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("if you want"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions YouTube.
- ✓ Headings and lists 4 headings and 2 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 4,473 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "iframe" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-08-16 5K+ → 4K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2026-08-15 4K+ → 5K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2026-08-14 5K+ → 4K+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2026-08-12 4K+ → 5K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2026-08-10 5K+ → 4K+ down after 495 days in tier
- 2025-04-02 6K+ → 5K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-04-01 5K+ → 6K+ up after 9 days in tier
- 2025-03-23 6K+ → 5K+ down after 40 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).
- R Responsive video embed 800+ installs · 4.2★ · 4 shared tags B
- I iframe 60K+ installs · 4.3★ · 3 shared tags B
-
Embeds for YouTube 9K+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags C -
Embed YouTube Block – Fast Loading Videos, Shorts & Playlists 6K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags A -
Simple YouTube Responsive 3K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags B - R Responsive Video Embeds 2K+ installs · 3.9★ · 3 shared tags D
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Simple YouTube Embed into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/simple-youtube-embed" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Simple YouTube Embed — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Simple YouTube Embed: 4K+ active installs, 4.2★ (15 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-youtube-embed
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