7 Best related posts plugins for WordPress in 2026
Adding related posts to WordPress is one of the easiest ways to help visitors discover more of your content.
Instead of letting readers reach the end of an article with nowhere else to go, a related posts plugin can automatically recommend other relevant pages, strengthen your site’s internal linking structure and encourage visitors to continue browsing.
There are many different approaches, however. Some plugins match posts using categories and tags, others analyze titles and content, and newer solutions can use AI to understand the meaning and context of an article.
In this guide, we’ve selected 7 of the best related posts plugins for WordPress, covering traditional related-post sections, inline recommendations, AI-powered matching and lightweight taxonomy-based solutions.
Disclosure: TIP Related Posts and Internal Linking of Related Contents are developed by ThemeinProgress. We have included them because they address two different related-content use cases covered by this comparison. Features of third-party plugins are based on their current public documentation.
Best WordPress Related Posts Plugins at a Glance
| Plugin | Best for | Matching method | Free version |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIP Related Posts | Overall flexibility and AI matching | Categories, tags, titles, keywords, AI | Yes |
| Internal Linking of Related Contents | Inline related posts | Categories, tags, titles, keywords, AI | Yes |
| Contextual Related Posts | Content-based recommendations | Title, content, taxonomies | Yes |
| YARPP | Established all-purpose solution | Content, titles, categories, tags, taxonomies | Yes |
| Jetpack Related Posts | Offloading processing from your server | Content, categories and tags | Yes |
| Related Posts Thumbnails | Visual related-post grids | Categories, tags and taxonomies | Yes |
| Related Posts by Taxonomy | Taxonomy-based matching | Categories, tags and custom taxonomies | Yes |
1. TIP Related Posts – Best overall related posts plugin
TIP Related Posts is designed for site owners who want more control over both how related content is selected and how it is displayed.
The plugin can retrieve related posts using categories, tags, post titles and custom keywords. Its premium version also includes an AI Engine that can analyze the meaning and context of an article using OpenAI or locally hosted Ollama models.
This makes it particularly interesting for websites where taxonomy alone isn’t enough. Two articles may discuss closely related subjects even if they don’t share exactly the same category or tag, and semantic matching can help identify those relationships.
The plugin also provides multiple layouts, configurable post elements, a carousel option, exclusions for posts, categories and tags, shortcode support, AMP support and support for custom post types such as WooCommerce products.
Best for: Blogs, magazines and content-heavy websites that want several matching methods and optional AI-powered recommendations.
Key features
- Related posts based on categories and tags
- Matching based on post titles
- Custom keyword matching
- AI-powered semantic matching with OpenAI or Ollama
- Multiple layouts and carousel
- Category, tag and post exclusions
- Shortcode support
- Custom post type support
- WooCommerce support
- AMP support
Pros: Flexible matching methods, AI option and strong control over presentation.
Cons: The most advanced matching and display options require the premium version.
2. Internal Linking of Related Contents – Best for Inline Related Posts
Most related posts plugins place a group of recommendations at the end of an article.
Internal Linking of Related Contents takes a different approach: it can automatically insert related articles inside the content while the visitor is reading.
For example, a related article can appear after a configurable number of paragraphs rather than waiting until the end of a long post.
The plugin supports matching by categories, tags, titles and custom keywords. Its premium AI Engine can also use OpenAI or Ollama to identify semantically related WordPress posts based on their meaning and context.
Related content can be inserted automatically, grouped in a specific location or placed manually with a shortcode or Gutenberg block. Gutenberg blocks and Elementor widgets are also available in the premium version.
Best for: Publishers who want to build internal links and promote related articles throughout long-form content.
Key features
- Automatic inline related posts
- Configurable paragraph intervals
- Category and tag matching
- Title and custom keyword matching
- AI Engine with OpenAI and Ollama support
- Grouped related posts
- Gutenberg blocks
- Elementor widgets
- Exclusion filters
- Custom post type support
- Option to limit recommendations to recently published content
Pros: Different approach from standard end-of-post plugins, useful for long articles and extensive placement controls.
Cons: If you only want a simple related-post grid at the end of every article, a traditional plugin such as TIP Related Posts may be a more direct solution.
3. Contextual Related Posts
Contextual Related Posts is one of the most established dedicated related-post plugins available for WordPress.
Instead of relying exclusively on categories and tags, its algorithm can analyze the current post’s title and content. Categories, tags and selected custom fields can also contribute to the matching process.
The plugin supports automatic placement, a Gutenberg block, widgets and a shortcode. It also caches related-post output to reduce repeated processing.
The free plugin has a large active user base, while the Pro version adds features such as adjustable matching weights, enhanced indexing, lazy loading and additional performance controls.
Best for: Users looking for a mature content-analysis solution with a strong free version.
Key features
- Title and content analysis
- Category and tag matching
- Gutenberg block
- Shortcode and widget support
- Custom post types
- Automatic caching
- Thumbnail and excerpt support
- Advanced relevance controls in Pro
Pros: Mature plugin, sophisticated free version and many placement options.
Cons: Content analysis and indexing make it a more complex solution than simple taxonomy-based plugins.
4. YARPP
YARPP — Yet Another Related Posts Plugin has been part of the WordPress ecosystem for many years and remains one of the most widely used dedicated related-post solutions.
Its matching algorithm can consider titles, content, tags, categories and custom taxonomies to determine which entries are related to the current post. It supports posts, pages and custom post types.
YARPP is a good choice if you prefer an established plugin with extensive configuration options rather than newer AI-based recommendation methods.
Best for: Users who want a mature, traditional related-content algorithm with extensive WordPress usage history.
Key features
- Content and title matching
- Category and tag matching
- Custom taxonomy support
- Posts, pages and custom post types
- Built-in caching
- Customizable templates and display options
Pros: Long-established plugin, flexible matching algorithm and large user base.
Cons: Users specifically looking for semantic AI matching will need a different solution.
5. Jetpack Related Posts
If you already use Jetpack, its Related Posts feature can be a convenient option.
Jetpack analyzes post content, categories and tags to decide which articles should be displayed. The important difference is that the analysis and processing are performed using Jetpack’s cloud infrastructure rather than adding the full recommendation workload to your WordPress server.
Jetpack only displays the related-post section when it determines that it has enough suitable recommendations.
Best for: Existing Jetpack users who want related posts without performing the recommendation analysis entirely on their own hosting.
Key features
- Content analysis
- Category and tag analysis
- Cloud-based processing
- Automatic related-post section
- Integration with the wider Jetpack ecosystem
Pros: Recommendation processing is offloaded from your hosting and setup is simple for existing Jetpack users.
Cons: Installing the broader Jetpack ecosystem just for related posts may be unnecessary if you don’t use its other features.
6. Related Posts Thumbnails
Related Posts Thumbnails focuses heavily on presenting related content through images.
It can display a configurable group of thumbnails after your posts and allows you to adjust thumbnail size, colors, text, excerpts and other visual settings.
Recommendations can be based on categories, tags, categories and tags, random selection or custom taxonomies. Automatic output can also be disabled in favor of a shortcode, widget, Gutenberg block or PHP integration.
It remains a useful option for image-heavy blogs where presentation is particularly important.
Best for: Photography, lifestyle, food and other visual blogs.
Key features
- Thumbnail-based related posts
- Category and tag matching
- Custom taxonomy support
- Gutenberg block
- Shortcode
- Widget
- Customizable colors and typography
Pros: Strong visual customization and straightforward matching methods.
Cons: Less suitable if recommendation relevance or AI-based semantic analysis is your main priority.
7. Related Posts by Taxonomy
Related Posts by Taxonomy is a good fit when your WordPress categories, tags or custom taxonomies already provide a reliable description of how your content is connected.
Instead of performing semantic analysis, the plugin concentrates on taxonomy relationships. It supports categories, tags and custom taxonomies and includes options aimed at keeping queries efficient on larger websites.
Best for: Websites with a carefully organized taxonomy structure that want a focused related-post solution.
Key features
- Category matching
- Tag matching
- Custom taxonomy support
- Thumbnail support
- Query optimization options
- Optional lazy loading
Pros: Focused approach and particularly useful when categories and tags are well organized.
Cons: Recommendation quality depends heavily on the quality of your taxonomy structure.
Which Related Posts Plugin Should You Choose?
There isn’t one matching method that is ideal for every WordPress website.
If you want multiple matching methods and AI-powered recommendations, TIP Related Posts is the most flexible option in this comparison.
If your priority is placing recommendations inside long articles rather than only at the bottom, Internal Linking of Related Contents is specifically designed for that workflow.
For a mature free content-analysis solution, Contextual Related Posts is a strong alternative, while YARPP remains a well-established choice for traditional related-content matching.
Jetpack is worth considering when you already use its ecosystem and prefer cloud-based processing.
Finally, Related Posts Thumbnails is particularly useful for visually driven sites, while Related Posts by Taxonomy is a simple fit for websites with well-structured categories and tags.
The best choice ultimately depends on how you want WordPress to determine that two posts are related:
- Categories and tags work well for consistently organized websites.
- Titles and content can discover connections beyond taxonomy.
- Custom keywords provide manual editorial control.
- AI semantic analysis can identify articles that discuss similar concepts even when they use different wording.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best related posts plugin for WordPress?
The best plugin depends on your requirements. TIP Related Posts is a strong option when you want several matching methods, including AI-powered semantic recommendations. Contextual Related Posts and YARPP are established alternatives for traditional content analysis.
Can related posts improve WordPress SEO?
Related posts can improve your site’s internal linking structure and help search engines and visitors discover additional content. Their primary purpose should still be to provide genuinely useful navigation rather than simply generating more links.
Can WordPress automatically find related posts?
Yes. Related-post plugins can automatically select content using categories, tags, titles, article content, custom keywords or semantic AI analysis, depending on the plugin.
Are AI related posts better than categories and tags?
Not necessarily in every case. Categories and tags can work extremely well on a carefully organized site. AI becomes particularly useful when related articles discuss the same subject without sharing identical taxonomy terms or vocabulary.
Can I add related posts inside an article?
Yes. Internal Linking of Related Contents is specifically designed to insert related posts within the article flow at configurable positions, rather than limiting recommendations to the end of the post.
Final Thoughts
Related posts can turn an isolated WordPress article into an entry point to the rest of your website.
For many sites, a simple category- or tag-based solution is enough. Larger content libraries may benefit from title and content analysis, while AI-powered semantic matching provides another option when traditional metadata does not fully describe the relationships between articles.
Whichever plugin you choose, focus first on relevance. A smaller number of genuinely useful recommendations is usually more valuable to a reader than a large list of loosely connected posts.