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Custom Post Template

By Simon Wheatley

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

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

WPS Score

6.87/10

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 stands out in its category with several viable alternatives offering similar functionality for managing post templates.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Highly rated with a 4.8 average from 43 reviews
Easy to use and set up, praised for simplicity
Allows creation of different designs for individual landing pages
Stable and reliable despite lack of recent updates
No known security vulnerabilities reported

Weaknesses

No recent updates which may concern some users
Lacks features for archive page templates
No pro version or premium features available
Limited to post templates without broader content type management

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin enjoys overwhelmingly positive feedback with over 95% of users rating it 4 stars or higher, reflecting strong satisfaction and reliability.

Positive highlights

"Easy to use and on most of my pages" — KevinX
"It works great for me. Even after such a long time of not being maintained." — Filip Albert
"Amazing.. The best plugin if you want to create different design for every landing pages." — Glenn
"Quick and easy to set up." — lh822184
"This plugin worked like a charm for many custom templates." — metaeditor

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Lack of recent updates may raise concerns about future compatibility
No support for archive page templates
No premium features or paid support options
Limited scope compared to some alternatives with broader content management

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a straightforward, reliable plugin to assign custom templates to individual posts without needing advanced features or frequent updates.

Not ideal for

Those requiring ongoing support, frequent updates, or advanced template management including archive pages or custom post types might find this plugin limiting.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full functionality for assigning custom templates to posts, which satisfies most users' needs.

Final Verdict

Custom Post Template is a highly effective and user-friendly plugin that excels at providing custom templates for posts. Its strong user ratings and lack of security issues make it a dependable choice for users with straightforward needs. However, the absence of recent updates and premium support options may limit its appeal for users seeking long-term development and advanced features.

While alternatives exist with broader capabilities, this plugin remains a solid option for those prioritizing simplicity and reliability in custom post template management without additional costs. Users should consider their specific requirements and the plugin's update status before committing.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Custom Post Template plugin.

Post

Template

Theme

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