Better WordPress External Links vs Yoast SEO
Compare WordPress plugins and tools side by side. Pick products with “Compare” in the software directory.
| Feature | Better WordPress External Links v1.1.3 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free · ★ 5.0/5 Visit Details | Yoast SEO v28.7 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.8/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | 400+ | 10M+ |
| Last updated | June 10, 2014 | October 13, 2026 |
| Editions | Better WordPress External Links | Yoast SEO · Yoast SEO Premium ($) |
| Pros | Nofollow and new-window options for external links; Domain filter to decide what counts as external; No external service calls | XML sitemaps and a schema graph in the free version; Breadcrumbs block and WooCommerce product support; Widely installed, with a large existing knowledge base |
| Cons | Only processes content through the_content; Options page is dense for a simple job; Older framework code base | Redirect manager and Local SEO need Premium or an add-on; AI tools use a limited free allowance; Usage tracking is opt-in and asks on first setup |
| Mentioned in our posts | — | 3 |
| Features (SEO plugins checklist) | ||
| Schema markup | — | Yes |
| XML sitemaps | — | Yes |
| Redirects | — | Paid |
| Local SEO | — | Paid |
| WooCommerce | — | Yes |
| AI content | — | Yes |
| Free version | — | Yes |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Rewrites external links in post content, Nofollow option for external links, Top-level domain and domain filtering for external detection | Breadcrumbs block, AI content generator, WooCommerce product SEO data |
| Integrations | ||
| E-commerce | — | WooCommerce |
| Plugins | — | Elementor |
| Requires WordPress | 3.0 | 6.9 |
| Requires PHP | — | 7.4 |
| Tested up to | 3.9 | 7.1 |
| Phones home | No | Only if you agree |
| External services | — | ai.yoa.st, oauth.semrush.com, api.wincher.com, my.yoast.com |
| Blocks | — | 3 |
| Shortcodes | — | 1 |