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XML Sitemaps

By Denis de Bernardy

Site Structure & Navigation / Sitemaps & Site Structure

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

XML Sitemaps Review - In-Depth Analysis

Automatically generates XML Sitemaps for your site and notifies search engines when they're updated.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.85/10

User Rating

4.5/5 (based on 13+ reviews)

Active Installations

2,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

The XML Sitemaps plugin for WordPress will automatically generate XML Sitemaps for your site and notify search engines when they are updated.

Contrary to other plugins that generate sitemap files, this one will add a rewrite rule and store your cached sitemaps in the wp-content/sitemaps folder.

The XML Sitemaps plugin automatically assigns the rate of updates and the weight based on statistics collected on your site.

Pings occur automatically, on an hourly basis, if the sitemap file is updated.

Lastly, and contrary to the zillions of plugins that try to do the same as this one, this plugin will use the WP internals to determine the number of blog, category and tag pages on your site. This means it will play well with the likes of custom query string or Semiologic SEO.

Starting with version 2.0 there is now the ability to control the inclusion or exclusion of date archives (years and months), author, category and tags pages in your sitemap.

Additionally specific pages can also be excluded by entering their page IDs.

Go to Settings->XML Sitemaps to update settings.

The Plugin's Forum is the best place to report issues.

Comparing to Alternatives

XML Sitemaps offers a straightforward and effective solution for sitemap generation, with several notable alternatives available that cater to different user preferences.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Easy to configure and use with clear priority and frequency settings
Compatible with other SEO plugins like Yoast SEO
Generates a single sitemap.xml file, suitable for most sites
Stores a physical sitemap file in the WordPress folder
Simple codebase allowing for potential contributions

Weaknesses

Lacks advanced features found in some alternatives
No pro version or premium features available
Limited customization options compared to some competitors

User Sentiment Analysis

With a high rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 13 reviews, users generally express strong satisfaction with the plugin's simplicity and effectiveness.

Positive highlights

Very easy to configure and effective (SmartestReviews)
Resolved parsing errors that other plugins could not (grantmahy)
Pleased with long-term functionality and stability (O_Breda)
Generates a single sitemap.xml as expected, avoiding unnecessary files (Alexis Wilke)
Best for users needing a simple sitemap.xml file (salem80)

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Limited feature set compared to some alternatives
No active development updates mentioned recently
No premium support or advanced options

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a simple, reliable, and easy-to-configure sitemap plugin without the need for advanced features or premium support.

Not ideal for

Those who require extensive customization, advanced sitemap options, or premium features may find this plugin lacking.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides all core sitemap generation features needed for most websites, including priority and frequency settings.

Final Verdict

XML Sitemaps is a solid choice for users who want a straightforward and dependable sitemap generator without unnecessary complexity. Its high user ratings reflect satisfaction with its ease of use and effectiveness, especially for those who prefer a single sitemap.xml file.

While it lacks advanced features and a pro version, it remains a valuable tool for many WordPress users. The absence of known security vulnerabilities further enhances its appeal as a safe and stable plugin option.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free XML Sitemaps plugin.

Google Sitemap

Sitemaps

Xml Sitemap

Xml Sitemaps

FAQ

Upload the plugin folder to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
The plugin will then guide you through the installation process if any manual steps are necessary