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XML Sitemap & Google News

By Rolf Allard van Hagen

Site Structure & Navigation / Sitemaps & Site Structure

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

XML Sitemap & Google News Review - In-Depth Analysis

Create XML and Google News sitemaps for your WordPress site. Supports Multisite and various caching plugins. Optimize your site's visibility to search engines.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.9/10

User Rating

4.4/5 (based on 85+ reviews)

Active Installations

100,000+

Update Frequency

Very Good 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

This plugin allows you to control the WordPress core XML Sitemap with various options and adds a Google News Sitemap. It is compatible with Multisite, Polylang, and WPML, and does not create static files.

You can select which sitemaps are enabled, which Post Types and archive pages are included, and how Priority and Lastmod are calculated. Additionally, you can set extra robots.txt rules from the WordPress admin.

The Google News Sitemap becomes available at yourblog.url/sitemap-news.xml, ready for indexing by Google News. It is automatically referenced in the dynamically created robots.txt along with the regular XML Sitemap index.

This plugin is compatible with caching solutions like CloudFlare, WP Super Cache, and W3 Total Cache, improving performance for your site and sitemaps.

Comparing to Alternatives

XML Sitemap & Google News competes with several other sitemap plugins, offering a robust feature set including Google News integration. Here are some top alternatives to consider.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Supports Google News sitemap generation alongside standard XML sitemaps.
Automatic submission to Google and Bing search engines.
Effective handling of custom post types for sitemap inclusion.
User-friendly interface with options to exclude specific content types.
Responsive and helpful support team.

Weaknesses

Has had a recent high-severity security vulnerability (fixed in latest version).
Some users report occasional display issues such as white screens on sitemap pages.
Google indexing errors reported by some users, possibly due to sitemap processing delays.
Requires manual activation of Google News feature, which may be confusing for some users.

User Sentiment Analysis

With an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 85 users, the plugin is well-received, with the majority of reviews being positive. Users appreciate its functionality and support, though a minority report technical issues.

Positive highlights

"Awesome Sitemap" - Jimmy Ahyari
"Best Sitemap Plugin" - Alex Oreshkin
"Perfect plugin with great support!" - momocamel
"Really works with custom post types" - Krzysztof Busłowicz
"Finally! A sitemap plugin that allows me to edit my sitemap with ease." - kenfortune

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Recent security vulnerability requiring update to latest version.
Some users experience sitemap display issues such as white screens.
Google indexing errors reported by certain users.
Feature activation for Google News sitemap is not immediately obvious.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Website owners and SEO professionals who need a reliable sitemap plugin with Google News support and customizable options for content inclusion.

Not ideal for

Users who prioritize plugins with a spotless security record or those who prefer plugins with simpler, more straightforward feature activation may want to consider alternatives.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers comprehensive XML sitemap generation, automatic submission to search engines, and support for custom post types.

Pro version (19 - 79 EUR / year)

The pro version typically includes advanced features such as enhanced sitemap customization, priority support, and additional integrations, although specific premium features are not explicitly detailed.

Final Verdict

XML Sitemap & Google News is a powerful and flexible plugin that meets the needs of most users looking for comprehensive sitemap generation including Google News support. Its strong user ratings and positive feedback highlight its effectiveness and helpful support.

However, users should be aware of the past security vulnerability and occasional technical issues. Keeping the plugin updated is essential. Those seeking a plugin with simpler setup or without any security history might explore the listed alternatives.