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HTML Import 2

By Stephanie Leary

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Migration & Cloning

HTML Import 2 Review - In-Depth Analysis

Imports well-formed HTML files into WordPress pages.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.85/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 32+ reviews)

Active Installations

5,000+

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 imports well-formed static HTML files into WordPress. It requires PHP 5 to function properly.

The plugin allows you to import a directory of files as either pages or posts. You can specify the HTML tag or Dreamweaver template region that contains the content you want to import.

If you are importing pages, the directory hierarchy will be preserved. It can also import linked media files to the media library and allows for various options such as specifying file extensions, excluding directories, and cleaning up imported HTML.

Comparing to Alternatives

HTML Import 2 is a specialized plugin designed to import static HTML pages into WordPress, standing out in its niche with focused functionality.

Top alternatives

HTML Import 2

Strengths

Efficiently imports large numbers of static HTML pages.
Compatible with recent WordPress versions.
Saves significant time during site migration.
Allows use of file names as slugs for easy URL management.

Weaknesses

Does not automate all aspects of migration; some manual cleanup needed.
Limited to importing HTML pages only.
No official support or updates guaranteed.
Lacks advanced customization options.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's effectiveness in saving time and handling large imports, though some users report issues.

Positive highlights

'Works perfect' - saves a lot of time and works on the newest WordPress.
'OMG I love it!' - saved many hours, very useful and well done. (revixi5)
'Saved a ton of time' - handled over 1000 pages migration efficiently. (mlipenk)
'Worked great on WP 5.5.1' - pages imported successfully. (deirdrebeth)
'Saving me a bucket load of time' - perfect for large imports, supports filename slugs. (pookywiss77)

Common complaints

Some users report the plugin not working in certain cases.
Requires manual cleanup after import.
Limited functionality beyond basic HTML import.

Weaknesses

No official support or frequent updates.
Occasional compatibility issues with newer WordPress versions.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users needing to migrate large numbers of static HTML pages into WordPress efficiently, especially those comfortable with some manual cleanup.

Not ideal for

Users seeking a fully automated migration tool or those requiring advanced customization and support.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full functionality to import static HTML pages into WordPress, suitable for most migration needs without cost.

Final Verdict

HTML Import 2 is a valuable tool for users migrating static HTML sites to WordPress, providing significant time savings and reliable performance for large imports.

While it lacks advanced features and official support, its free availability and focused functionality make it a practical choice for many users comfortable with some manual adjustments.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free HTML Import 2 plugin.

Import

Pages

Static Files

Taxonomies

Taxonomy

Screenshots

FAQ

Unzip the files and upload the plugin directory to /wp-content/plugins/
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
Go to Settings → HTML Import to begin. You must save the settings before proceeding to Tools → Import → HTML.

The importer will attempt to work around your server’s max_execution_time setting for PHP (usually 30 seconds), but some servers don’t allow this. You can try to increase it by adding a line to your .htaccess file:

php_value max_execution_time 160

If that gets you further but still doesn’t finish, just increase the number (it’s in seconds). However, note that your host might get irritated with you for hogging the server’s resources. If you have a lot of files to import, it’s best to install WordPress on your desktop (XAMPP for Windows and MAMP for Macs make it pretty easy) and run the importer there instead of doing it on your live server.

It’s also quite possible that the script is trying to use more memory than your server allows. You can try to change that setting, too, in .htaccess: