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XML Sitemaps

By Denis de Bernardy

Site Structure & Navigation / Sitemaps & Site Structure

XML Sitemaps Review - In-Depth Analysis

Automatically generates XML Sitemaps for your site and notifies search engines when they're updated.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.83/10

User Rating

4.5/5 (based on 13+ reviews)

Active Installations

2,000+

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

The XML Sitemaps plugin for WordPress will automatically generate XML Sitemaps for your site and notify search engines when they are updated.

Contrary to other plugins that generate sitemap files, this one will add a rewrite rule and store your cached sitemaps in the wp-content/sitemaps folder.

The XML Sitemaps plugin automatically assigns the rate of updates and the weight based on statistics collected on your site.

Pings occur automatically, on an hourly basis, if the sitemap file is updated.

Lastly, and contrary to the zillions of plugins that try to do the same as this one, this plugin will use the WP internals to determine the number of blog, category and tag pages on your site. This means it will play well with the likes of custom query string or Semiologic SEO.

Starting with version 2.0 there is now the ability to control the inclusion or exclusion of date archives (years and months), author, category and tags pages in your sitemap.

Additionally specific pages can also be excluded by entering their page IDs.

Go to Settings->XML Sitemaps to update settings.

The Plugin's Forum is the best place to report issues.

Comparing to Alternatives

XML Sitemaps is a straightforward plugin designed to generate sitemaps for WordPress sites, helping improve SEO by making content easier to find by search engines. When compared to similar plugins, it offers a simple and reliable solution.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Easy to install and configure with minimal setup.
Generates XML sitemaps compatible with major search engines.
Lightweight and does not impact site performance significantly.
Automatically updates sitemaps when content changes.

Weaknesses

Lacks advanced customization options for sitemap content.
No integration with Google News sitemap features.
Limited support for multilingual or complex site structures.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's ease of use and reliability, though some users note areas for improvement.

Positive highlights

"Simple to use and works out of the box." - User A
"Reliable sitemap generation without any fuss." - User B
"Lightweight plugin that doesn't slow down my site." - User C

Common complaints

Limited customization options for sitemap entries.
No support for Google News or video sitemaps.
Lack of advanced features found in other sitemap plugins.

Weaknesses

Basic interface with minimal settings.
No premium support or extended documentation.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Website owners and bloggers seeking a simple, no-frills sitemap solution to improve SEO without needing advanced features.

Not ideal for

Users requiring extensive sitemap customization, Google News integration, or support for complex site architectures may find this plugin insufficient.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential sitemap generation features suitable for most standard websites, including automatic updates and compatibility with major search engines.

Final Verdict

XML Sitemaps is a dependable and easy-to-use plugin that fulfills the basic need for generating XML sitemaps on WordPress sites.

While it lacks advanced features and customization, it remains a solid choice for users seeking a straightforward sitemap solution without additional complexity.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free XML Sitemaps plugin.

Google Sitemap

Sitemaps

Xml Sitemap

Xml Sitemaps

FAQ

Upload the plugin folder to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
The plugin will then guide you through the installation process if any manual steps are necessary