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Featured Post

By Sovit Tamrakar

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

Featured Post Review - In-Depth Analysis

Easily mark and display featured posts in WordPress without specific categories. Includes a widget for sidebar listings.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.73/10

User Rating

4.6/5 (based on 14+ reviews)

Active Installations

800+

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 allows you to easily mark posts as featured in WordPress without relying on specific categories. It provides a simple markup to display featured posts directly from your theme file.

To manage featured posts, simply add the following code before the post loop: <?php query_posts($query_string."&featured=yes"); ?>. You can also manage featured posts directly from the post edit list.

The plugin now includes a widget that allows you to list featured posts in your sidebar with a customizable number of posts displayed. It also supports custom post types.

Comparing to Alternatives

Featured Post stands alone in its category with no close direct alternatives available, making it a unique choice for users seeking its specific functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and easy to use interface for end-users
Lightweight and small plugin size
Customizable output with potential for advanced modifications
Compatible with older WordPress versions
No known security vulnerabilities reported

Weaknesses

Not compatible with PHP 8 due to deprecated function usage
No updates reflecting recent PHP compatibility
Lacks a pro version with enhanced features
Limited support for modern WordPress features

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin enjoys a high overall rating with 85.7% of users giving it 5 stars, reflecting strong satisfaction despite a small number of lower ratings.

Positive highlights

"This plugin is awesome, but how can I customize the output?" — vnastey
"I love this plugin. It’s simple, small and easy to modify." — Daniel Hendricks
"The plugin worked fine for many years." — rftbdev

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Incompatibility with PHP 8 due to deprecated create_function()
Lack of recent updates to address modern PHP and WordPress changes
No advanced features or pro version available

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users running older WordPress setups who need a simple, lightweight plugin to feature posts without complex requirements.

Not ideal for

Users on PHP 8 or newer WordPress versions seeking up-to-date compatibility and advanced features should look elsewhere.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers basic featured post functionality with a simple interface and customization potential.

Final Verdict

Featured Post is a straightforward and effective plugin that excels in simplicity and ease of use, making it a solid choice for users on older WordPress and PHP versions. Its lack of security issues and high user ratings reflect its reliability and user satisfaction.

However, the plugin's incompatibility with PHP 8 and absence of recent updates limit its suitability for modern environments. Users requiring ongoing support and advanced features may need to consider alternative solutions.

Other Notable Features

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

FAQ

This plugin was created to for the featured post management. Its easy and any minor wordpress developer or user can use and integrate into his wordpress theme with ease.