Custom Post Template Review - In-Depth Analysis
Select different templates for posts from the edit screen. Templates replace single.php for specified posts.
Performance Overview
User Rating
4.8/5 (based on 43+
reviews)
Active Installations
10,000+
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
This plugin provides a drop-down to select different templates for posts from the post edit screen. The templates are defined similarly to page templates and will replace single.php for the specified post. This plugin will NOT switch the templates for the different posts in a listing page, such as a date or category archive; it will only affect the template used for single posts.
Post templates, as far as this plugin is concerned, are configured similarly to page templates in that they have a particular style of PHP comment at the top of them. Each post template must contain the following, or similar, at the top:
<?php
/*
Template Name Posts: Snarfer
*/
?>
First note: Page templates use 'Template Name:', whereas post templates use 'Template Name Posts:'.
Second note: You must have the custom post template files in your theme in the same directory as your index.php template file, not in a sub-directory.
If you want to implement the custom post templates on a custom post type, you can use the cpt_post_types filter. Here’s an example of adding the custom post template selector and metabox to the 'Movie' and 'Actor' custom post types. This code can be added to a plugin or to the functions.php file in your theme.
Comparing to Alternatives
Custom Post Template offers a straightforward way to assign unique templates to posts, standing out among similar plugins.
Strengths
- Simple and easy to use interface.
- Allows different designs for individual posts.
- Stable performance despite lack of recent updates.
- Supports multiple custom templates for varied content.
Weaknesses
- No support for archive or category page templates.
- Lack of recent maintenance may affect compatibility.
- Limited features compared to some alternatives.
User Sentiment Analysis
Users appreciate the plugin's reliability and ease of use, even years after its last update.
Positive highlights
- "Easy to use and on most of my pages" - KevinX
- "Works great even after long time without maintenance" - Filip Albert
- "Best plugin for different designs on landing pages" - Glenn
- "Quick and easy to set up" - lh822184
- "Makes it easy to choose the right template" - willwenzel
Common complaints
- No updates for several years.
- Lack of support for archive page templates.
- Potential compatibility issues with latest WordPress versions.
Weaknesses
- No active development or support.
- Limited to post templates only.
Who Should Use This?
Best for
Users who need a simple and reliable way to assign custom templates to individual posts without extra features.
Not ideal for
Those looking for support with archive or category templates or requiring a plugin with active development and support.
Pricing & Value
Free version includes
The free version provides all core functionality to assign custom templates to posts, sufficient for most users' needs.
Final Verdict
Custom Post Template remains a dependable choice for assigning unique templates to posts, praised for its simplicity and effectiveness.
However, its lack of updates and limited scope mean users needing broader template control or active support may want to consider alternatives.
Other Notable Features
Here are a few other notable features of this free
Custom Post Template plugin.
FAQ
The plugin is simple to install:
- Download the plugin, it will arrive as a zip file
- Unzip it
- Upload
custom-post-template directory to your WordPress Plugin directory - Go to the plugin management page and enable the plugin
- Upload your post template files (see the Description for details on configuring these), and choose them through the new menu
- Give yourself a pat on the back
This is because your server is running PHP4. Please see “Other Notes > PHP4” for more information.
Contributors and developers
“Custom Post Template”
is open source software. The following people have
contributed to this plugin.
