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List category posts

By Fernando Briano

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

List category posts Review - In-Depth Analysis

Customizable plugin to list posts by category, tag, or author in posts, pages, or widgets. Uses the [catlist] shortcode for easy integration.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.76/10

User Rating

4.7/5 (based on 254+ reviews)

Active Installations

80,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

5.1 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

List Category Posts allows you to list posts by category in a post or page using the [catlist] shortcode. When you are editing a page or post, directly insert the shortcode in your text and the posts will be listed there. The basic usage would be something like this:

The shortcode accepts a category name or id, the order in which you want the posts to display, and the number of posts to display. You can also display the post author, date, excerpt, custom field values, even the content! A lot of parameters have been added to customize what to display and how to show it. Check the full documentation to learn about the different ways to use it.

The [catlist] shortcode can be used as many times as needed with different arguments on each post/page. There is an options page with a few options, new options will be implemented on demand as long as they make sense.

The different elements to display can be styled with CSS. You can define an HTML tag to wrap the element with, and a CSS class for this tag. Check the documentation for usage. You can also check a nice tutorial which gives lots of tips and how-to's to customize how to display the posts.

Great to use WordPress as a CMS, and create pages with several categories posts.

Comparing to Alternatives

List Category Posts is a straightforward plugin designed to display posts from specific categories using shortcodes. When compared to other post listing plugins, it offers simplicity and focused functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple shortcode implementation for listing posts by category.
Good customization options like post counts, ordering, excerpts, and author names.
Ability to detect current post’s category for dynamic listings.
Compatible with various themes and page builders like Beaver Builder.
Extensive documentation and active support.

Weaknesses

Limited to listing posts by category, less versatile than grid or slider plugins.
No built-in visual layout builder; relies on shortcode parameters.
Lacks advanced filtering and display options found in some alternatives.
No pro version to unlock additional features.

User Sentiment Analysis

Users generally praise List Category Posts for its ease of use and effectiveness in organizing content, though some note limitations in advanced features.

Positive highlights

"It changed the way I work, much easier now." – trevalyan
"Very useful for me." – d2pren
"Allows me to use WP like the database it is." – WebSprite
"Works great with the free Beaver Builder!" – Brisch
"Saves my day!" – gdavide

Common complaints

Requires some trial and error to master shortcode usage.
Limited advanced display options compared to other plugins.
No premium version to access enhanced features.

Weaknesses

Documentation is good but some users find initial setup challenging.
Customization is mostly shortcode-based, which may not suit all users.
Lacks visual editing interface for post lists.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who want a simple, reliable way to list posts by category using shortcodes, especially those comfortable with shortcode customization and seeking lightweight solutions.

Not ideal for

Users looking for advanced post grid layouts, visual builders, or extensive filtering options may find this plugin too basic and should consider more feature-rich alternatives.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full functionality for listing posts by category with customizable shortcode parameters, providing good value for users needing straightforward post lists.

Final Verdict

List Category Posts is a dependable and easy-to-use plugin for displaying category-based post lists via shortcode. It excels in simplicity and essential customization, making it a solid choice for users who need straightforward content organization.

However, it lacks advanced layout options and a visual interface, which limits its appeal for users seeking more sophisticated post display features. Overall, it is a valuable tool for those prioritizing simplicity and reliability over extensive functionality.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free List category posts plugin.

FAQ

Check out the Wiki

Please read the instructions and the FAQ before opening a new topic in the support forums.

The widget is quite simple, and it doesn’t implement all of the plugin’s functionality.

Since WordPress 4.9, you can use a shortcode in a widget. If you’re using a previous WordPress version, add this code to your theme’s functions.php file:

add_filter('widget_text', 'do_shortcode');

Then just add a new text widget to your blog and use the shortcode there as the widget’s content.

Contributors and developers

“List category posts” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Fernando Briano

zymeth25

Free Version Docs

WPS

6.76

Average

Ratings

4.7 out of 5 | 254

Version

0.95.0

Last updated

3 months ago

Active installations

80,000+

WordPress version

6.9.4 or higher

PHP version

5.6 or higher

Languages

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List category posts Review - In-Depth Analysis

Performance Overview

What It Does

Comparing to Alternatives

User Sentiment Analysis

Who Should Use This?

Pricing & Value

Final Verdict

Other Notable Features

FAQ

Contributors and developers

Ratings

Reviews (254)

Sort by:

Contributors & Developers

Interested in development?

Changelog

Security Status

Secure

No Unpatched Vulnerabilities

Known Vulnerabilities (8)

WPS

6.76

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