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Posts Viewed Recently

By Amit Sonkhiya

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

Posts Viewed Recently Review - In-Depth Analysis

Shows recently viewed posts or pages by a visitor. Displayed as a sidebar widget or via shortcode.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.73/10

User Rating

4.8/5 (based on 10+ reviews)

Active Installations

700+

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 responsive widget that displays posts or pages recently viewed by a visitor. You can customize the display to include various post types and choose how many posts to show.

The plugin allows you to show or hide the featured image, set dimensions for the image, and provide an alternate image URL if the featured image is not available. You can also choose whether to display the post date.

To use this widget on any post or page, simply copy and paste the provided shortcode into your content. Please note that this plugin uses cookies to track viewed posts, and it is essential to obtain user consent to comply with GDPR regulations.

Comparing to Alternatives

Posts Viewed Recently stands alone in its category with no close direct alternatives available, making it a unique choice for users seeking this functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and lightweight design ensuring minimal impact on site performance
Versatile shortcode option for easy integration
Outstanding developer support
Effectively tracks and displays recently viewed posts per user
Recognizes custom post types for broader applicability

Weaknesses

Limited customization options beyond basic CSS
Potential minor widget display issues with certain themes
May conflict with server-side caching systems like Varnish
Lacks updates for compatibility with the latest WordPress versions

User Sentiment Analysis

With a perfect 0% of 1-2 star reviews and an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5, users express strong satisfaction with Posts Viewed Recently.

Positive highlights

'Awesome, very helpful. The shortcode option makes it very versatile.' — smart.u
'Definitely deserves a 5 star. Saved me a lot of time in coding and researching.' — WPpress
'Great plugin, lightweight, works perfectly and easy to apply custom CSS. Support is outstanding!' — jelena1401
'Absolutely brilliant for recently viewed products on eCommerce sites.' — mounsey
'Simple, yet effective and recognizes custom posts.' — JJNW

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Limited options for customization
Potential widget display issues in some themes
Possible conflicts with server-side caching systems
Unclear compatibility with latest WordPress versions

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a straightforward, lightweight plugin to display recently viewed posts or products without complex setup or heavy features.

Not ideal for

Those needing extensive customization, compatibility with advanced caching setups, or guaranteed support for the latest WordPress versions may find this plugin less suitable.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers all core features including shortcode support, recognition of custom post types, and basic styling capabilities.

Final Verdict

Posts Viewed Recently is a highly rated, simple, and effective plugin that fills a unique niche without direct competitors. Its lightweight design and ease of use make it an excellent choice for users wanting to add recently viewed post functionality quickly and with minimal fuss.

While it lacks advanced customization and may have minor compatibility issues with caching or certain themes, its strong user satisfaction and absence of security vulnerabilities make it a reliable option for many WordPress sites.