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Really Simple CSV Importer

By Webã®ç¸è«æ

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Migration & Cloning

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

Really Simple CSV Importer Review - In-Depth Analysis

Really Simple CSV Importer is a powerful tool for importing CSV files into WordPress. It supports custom fields, taxonomies, and post types.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.78/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 107+ reviews)

Active Installations

40,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

7.1 / 10 (High Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Really Simple CSV Importer is an alternative CSV importer plugin designed for simplicity and power, making it perfect for developers and tech enthusiasts. This plugin allows you to import CSV files into your WordPress site seamlessly.

It supports various features including category and tag support, custom fields, custom taxonomies, and custom post types. You can also customize the import process with hooks and filters to suit your specific needs.

For those looking to enhance their import experience, the plugin integrates with Advanced Custom Fields and other custom field plugins. It also provides detailed documentation on how to use its features effectively.

Comparing to Alternatives

Really Simple CSV Importer stands out in the CSV import plugin category with a focus on simplicity and efficiency, making it a strong choice among its peers.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Very simple and clean interface that integrates well with WordPress UI.
Supports custom post type updates and ACF fields without premium features.
Efficient and saves significant time during import processes.
Handles media objects and images effectively.
Lightweight without unnecessary admin clutter.

Weaknesses

Has a known security vulnerability fixed only in version 1.3.1.
Lacks a pro version with advanced features.
Limited to CSV import functionality without extended import options.
May not suit users needing extensive customization or multi-format support.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a near-perfect rating of 4.9 out of 5 from 107 users, the plugin enjoys overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting its simplicity and effectiveness.

Positive highlights

"Great simple CPT updates" - Musiphilos
"Saves so much time" - James Cole
"Amazing plugin!! to upload acf contents" - Manuel Ramírez Coronel
"Finally a great simple CSV importer" - albertohrtzt
"Saved My Weekend!" - bixgomez

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Security vulnerability prior to version 1.3.1 requiring update.
No premium version limits access to advanced features.
Functionality focused solely on CSV imports without broader import options.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who need a straightforward, efficient CSV importer for WordPress, especially those working with custom post types and ACF fields, and who prefer a clean, minimal interface.

Not ideal for

Users requiring advanced import features, multi-format support, or those concerned about past security vulnerabilities without updating to the latest version.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a robust CSV import solution with support for custom post types, ACF fields, and media imports, providing excellent value for most users.

Final Verdict

Really Simple CSV Importer is an excellent choice for users seeking a no-frills, effective CSV import tool that integrates seamlessly with WordPress. Its high user ratings reflect its reliability and ease of use, especially for custom post types and ACF fields.

However, users should be aware of a past security vulnerability that has been addressed in the latest update and consider their need for advanced features not available in this free-only plugin. Overall, it offers great value for those prioritizing simplicity and efficiency.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Really Simple CSV Importer plugin.

CSV importer

custom fields

custom post types

FAQ

Upload All files to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
Go to the Import page under Tools menu.
Click CSV link, read the notification, then just upload and import.

Here is an example, assuming you have a field called cf47rs_images, format the csv cell data as,

http://localhost/websitename/photos/photo12345-1.jpg|http://localhost/websitename/photos/photo12345-2.jpg|http://localhost/websitename/photos/photo12345-3.jpg

or some other urls of files you want to import, and then use the really_simple_csv_importer_save_meta filter to hook into the import process,

add_filter( 'really_simple_csv_importer_save_meta', 'rsc_import_images',10,3); function rsc_import_images( $meta, $post, $is_update ) {   //convert to an array   $images = explode("|",$meta['cf47rs_images']);   $meta['cf47rs_images']=array();//reset the meta field    //directory to import images to   $artDir = 'wp-content/uploads/imported_cf47rs_images/';    //if the directory doesn't exist, create it   if(!file_exists(ABSPATH.$artDir)) {     mkdir(ABSPATH.$artDir);   }    require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-load.php');   require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/image.php');   global $wpdb;    //loop through each photos that need to be imported   foreach($images as $file_url){     //let's get the image file name     $new_filename = array_pop(explode("/", $file_url));      //move the file to our custom import folder     if (@fclose(@fopen($file_url, "r"))) { //make sure the file actually exists       $siteurl = get_option('siteurl');       $skip_attachment_insert=false;       //check if this image has already been imported,       if(file_exists(ABSPATH.$artDir.$new_filename) ){ //file already imported         //either change the name of the file  UNCOMMENT the following line         //$new_filename = date("Y-m-d H:i:s").$new_filename;          //.... or overwrite it, COMMENT OUT the next 3 lines of code if you choose to uncomment the renaming of file name.         //in which case we want to find the attachment ID and store it in our meta field         $attach_id = attachment_url_to_postid($siteurl.'/'.$artDir.$new_filename);         $meta['cf47rs_images'][$attach_id] = $siteurl.'/'.$artDir.$new_filename;         //no need to insert a new attachment, we reuse the same         $skip_attachment_insert=true;       }       //(over)write the new file       copy($file_url, ABSPATH.$artDir.$new_filename);        if($skip_attachment_insert) continue;        $file_info = getimagesize(ABSPATH.$artDir.$new_filename);        //create an array of attachment data to insert into wp_posts table       $artdata = array(         'post_author' => 1,         'post_date' => current_time('mysql'),         'post_date_gmt' => current_time('mysql'),         'post_title' => $new_filename,         'post_status' => 'inherit',         'comment_status' => 'closed',         'ping_status' => 'closed',         'post_name' => sanitize_title_with_dashes(str_replace("_", "-", $new_filename)),         'post_modified' => current_time('mysql'),         'post_modified_gmt' => current_time('mysql'),         'post_type' => 'attachment',         'guid' => $siteurl.'/'.$artDir.$new_filename,         'post_mime_type' => $file_info['mime']       );        $uploads = wp_upload_dir();       $save_path = $uploads['basedir'].'/imported_cf47rs_images/'.$new_filename;        //insert the database record       $attach_id = wp_insert_attachment( $artdata, $save_path );        $meta['cf47rs_images'][$attach_id] = $siteurl.'/'.$artDir.$new_filename;       //generate metadata and thumbnails, comment this out if you don't want thumbnails       if ($attach_data = wp_generate_attachment_metadata( $attach_id, $save_path)) {         wp_update_attachment_metadata($attach_id, $attach_data);       }     }   }     return $meta; }