WP Display Header
by Konstantin Obenland · Uncategorized
Also makes 13 other plugins · 23.6K+ installs across the portfolio →
Select a specific header or random header image for each content item or archive page.
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 87/100
no flags
Active installs
7K+
≈7.5K estimated
Momentum
-27%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “dynamic”, “posts” and “custom header” for “header”, “display post” and “headers”. “dynamic” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “header” sits at #11 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “posts” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “display post” sits at #18 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “custom header” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #11. “headers” sits at #22 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
87 health vs 58 average across 25,737 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.8%
of downloads still active
At least 7K of 252.4K 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.
This plugin shipped 3 releases 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
Well tuned across the board
Updated 59 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.5★ over 27 reviews, smoothed to 4.24★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
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.
42
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
29%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| display header your tag | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| display | #2 | #3 | down 1 |
| header image your tag | #4 | #6 | 0 |
| custom header your tag | #11 | #15 | 0 |
| header | #11 | #18 | down 2 |
| http header | #8 | #12 | up 2 |
| dynamic display | #5 | #9 | up 1 |
| display posts | #10 | #18 | down 2 |
| dynamic header images | #7 | #13 | down 2 |
| header code | #12 | #17 | up 3 |
| display content | #10 | #16 | 0 |
| content display | #10 | #15 | 0 |
| display post | #18 | #20 | 0 |
| dynamic page header images | #11 | #20 | down 2 |
| wp header | #12 | #22 | down 1 |
| image display | #12 | #18 | down 1 |
| header plugin | #12 | #18 | up 1 |
| headers | #22 | #21 | down 1 |
| custom display | #13 | #17 | up 1 |
| post display | #18 | #20 | up 1 |
| dynamic your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| posts your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
47 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 27 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 “dynamic”, “posts” and “custom header” for “header”, “display post” and “headers”. “dynamic” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “header” sits at #11 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “posts” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “display post” sits at #18 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “custom header” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #11. “headers” sits at #22 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “custom header”. #11 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 6.6K · 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
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.
3
releases in the last 12 months
2mo ago
latest release · v9 · 2 Sep 2026
11
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. 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 “7K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 10 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 26 Oct 2020
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ pouicpouic7.5y ago
This plugin does exactly what it promises, smooth and problem free.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ fuchsr7.6y ago
On my site I like to show a different hero graphic on each page, reflecting the specific contents of that page. The theme I’m using doesn’t allow me to choose different header images. It uses the same on all pages. I tried a lot of plugins but this one was the only one that truly did the job. I found a couple of issues eg a header image is available for selection but when I select it, the page shows the default header instead. I was able to “fix” these issues but deleting the header images and re-uploading them. Would love to see an option to randomly pick headers based on categories. Eg, I’d like one page to display a header picked from “Category A” and another page show a header from “Category B”, with the headers randomly picked from each respective category when pages are loaded.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ kingbolo7.8y ago
One of the best plugins for this job. Integrates perfectly in WordPress and it looks that it belongs there. (and probably should).
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Sudrien7.8y ago
WP Display Header works with the standard header_image(); system. As of 5.0.3, UPLOADING header images seems a bit inconsistent, as it does not seem you can do that while editing a page, but otherwise works well.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Dennis Booker8.5y ago
I’ve looked through lots of postings and articles to find a way to have custom headers and this plugin does just that. I’m using WP 4.9.5 and theme Twenty Seventeen and no problems. Thanks.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ r61236036809.0y ago
Initially, I thought this was yet another plugin featured in the plugin directory for WordPress.com doesn’t actually work there. As it turns out, it works perfectly but you have to edit your pages through the legacy wp-admin console, not the main editor. It works great – you just select “none” for the header image and voila!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Subrata Sarkar9.1y ago
This plugin is not compatible with WP version 4.8.1. This topic was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Subrata Sarkar.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ christinahills9.4y ago
I love this! I have been looking for a simple plugin to control the header image on different pages. Easy to use and understand right from the start. I highly recommend this 🙂 -Christina
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.2.0 Maintenance release. Some minor code cleanups. Tested for WordPress 4.0. 2.2.0
- — Version 2.1.0 Added an option to not display a header at all. Updated utility class. Tested for WordPress 3.6. 2.1.0
- — Version 2.0.1 Fixed a bug, where the fallback to the default header did not work. Props carloscorrela. 2.0.1
- — Version 2.0.0 IMPORTANT : Version 2.0.0 breaks compatibility with WordPress versions prior to 3.2! Added the header selection field to Taxonomy and Author Edit screens. Fixed a minor bug for themes that have no header images registere 2.0.0
- — Version 1.5.3 Improved user experience when current theme does not support custom headers, on activation of the plugin. Deprecated settings functions for WP Save Custom Header in preparation for overhaul in v2.0.0. Updated utility cla 1.5.3
- — Version 1.5.2 Fixed a bug, where a selected header wouldn’t override the default selection on posts pages. 1.5.2
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 48 languages, 3 at 90% or more
Plus 24 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
0 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 Short description names no action; say what the plugin does for the site.
- ! Has a FAQ Only 2 questions in the FAQ; 3 or more gives an assistant something to match.
- ! FAQ asks real questions 1 of 2 FAQ entries are headings, not questions ("Plugin Filter Hooks").
- ! 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 555 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ! Tags match the text Only 2 of 5 tags appear in the text ("display header", "Dynamic", "posts" missing).
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-01-01 8K+ → 7K+ down after 257 days in tier
- 2025-04-19 9K+ → 8K+ down after 232 days in tier
- 2024-08-30 10K+ → 9K+ down
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).
-
GenerateBlocks 200K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A -
Post Duplicator 200K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
WP Popular Posts 100K+ installs · 4.5★ · 1 shared tag A -
YARPP – Yet Another Related Posts Plugin 100K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag C -
Public Post Preview 100K+ installs · 4.5★ · 1 shared tag A - W WP Meta and Date Remover 80K+ installs · 4.2★ · 1 shared tag B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for WP Display Header into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/wp-display-header" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="WP Display Header — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> WP Display Header: 7K+ active installs, 4.5★ (27 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/wp-display-header
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