At a glance
WP Sitemap Page
Add a sitemap on any of your page using the simple shortcode [wp_sitemap_page]. Improve the SEO and navigation of your website.
Simple SEO
Allows the modification of META titles, descriptions and keywords for all pages and posts. Also allows for default setting for of META title, descript …
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | WP Sitemap Page | Simple SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 3.0+ | 4.6.2+ |
| Tested up to WP | 6.8.5 | 7.0.1 |
| Plugin age | 14 yrs | 9 yrs |
Quick Verdict
Choose WP Sitemap Page if you need a dedicated HTML sitemap on your site. It dominates with 200K+ active installs, which is 20x more installs than Simple SEO. Simple SEO focuses on meta tags, not sitemaps. For the specific task of creating an HTML sitemap, WP Sitemap Page is the clear winner.
Feature Comparison: WP Sitemap Page vs Simple SEO
| Feature | WP Sitemap Page | Simple SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Generates an HTML sitemap page | Modifies meta titles, descriptions, and keywords |
| Display method | Shortcode [wp_sitemap_page] placed on any page |
Meta fields added to post/page edit screens |
| Meta title editing | Not included | Included for all pages and posts |
| Meta description editing | Not included | Included with default settings support |
| Meta keywords editing | Not included | Included for all pages and posts |
| Default meta settings | Not included | Allows default meta title, description, and keywords |
| Navigation improvement | Yes, listed as a core benefit | Not a stated feature |
| SEO improvement | Yes, via better site structure | Yes, via direct meta tag control |
Who Should Use WP Sitemap Page
- Site owners who need a visual, clickable HTML sitemap for visitors and search engines. With 200K+ installs, this is the go-to tool for the task.
- Anyone searching for the best html sitemap plugin wordpress and wanting a simple shortcode solution. Just paste
[wp_sitemap_page]onto any page. - Users who value high satisfaction ratings. 91% of reviews give it 5 stars, with only 1% giving 1 star, showing consistent positive feedback.
Who Should Use Simple SEO
- Site owners who want a lightweight tool to control how to add meta description in wordpress without installing a heavyweight SEO suite.
- Bloggers or small businesses needing to change meta description wordpress page by page, with the ability to set defaults for new content.
- Anyone who needs to add meta keywords to wordpress posts directly from the edit screen, a feature not offered by WP Sitemap Page.
Community & Support
Both plugins show 0 open support threads in the last 2 months, and the sample size is too small to draw any meaningful conclusions about response times or resolution rates. The ratings tell a clearer story. WP Sitemap Page earns 91% 5-star reviews and only 1% 1-star reviews. Simple SEO also earns 91% 5-star reviews but has a higher 1-star rate at 6%. This suggests WP Sitemap Page users are slightly more consistently satisfied with their experience.
Verdict: WP Sitemap Page or Simple SEO for WordPress sites?
Pick WP Sitemap Page if your priority is creating an HTML sitemap. It is the best tool for the job, trusted by 200K+ users and rated 4.4/5 from 205 reviews. It solves the specific problem of how to create a sitemap page in wordpress with a single shortcode.
Pick Simple SEO if your primary need is managing meta tags. It offers meta title, description, and keyword controls that WP Sitemap Page does not. However, it cannot generate a sitemap page at all.
For the specific query of "wp sitemap page vs simple seo", the winner is WP Sitemap Page. It directly addresses the sitemap need with 20x more installs and a lower 1-star complaint rate (1% vs 6%). Use both plugins together if you need both a sitemap and meta tag control.
This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use WP Sitemap Page compared to Simple SEO?
WP Sitemap Page has 200K+ active installs while Simple SEO has 10K+, meaning WP Sitemap Page is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — WP Sitemap Page or Simple SEO?
WP Sitemap Page averages 4.8/5 from 205 reviews, while Simple SEO averages 4.7/5 from 33 reviews — WP Sitemap Page has the higher average rating.
Q Which is more actively maintained — WP Sitemap Page or Simple SEO?
Simple SEO was last updated on Jun 29, 2026 and WP Sitemap Page on Apr 15, 2025, so Simple SEO received the more recent update.
Q Are WP Sitemap Page and Simple SEO both free?
Yes — both WP Sitemap Page and Simple SEO are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.
Q Is WP Sitemap Page or Simple SEO better for WordPress sites?
Simple SEO is better if you need full control over meta titles and descriptions, but it does not create a visible sitemap page for visitors. WP Sitemap Page is the clear winner if your main goal is to display an HTML sitemap on any page using a shortcode. For most users who want a dedicated sitemap page, WP Sitemap Page is the better choice.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — WP Sitemap Page or Simple SEO?
WP Sitemap Page is easier for a beginner because you just install it, add the shortcode to any page, and your sitemap appears instantly. Simple SEO requires you to manually fill in meta fields for each post and page, which takes more time and knowledge. A beginner wanting a quick sitemap page should pick WP Sitemap Page.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between WP Sitemap Page and Simple SEO?
WP Sitemap Page focuses entirely on generating an HTML sitemap that you can place on any page with a shortcode, while Simple SEO focuses on adding meta tags like meta titles and descriptions to your content. They solve completely different problems: one gives you a visible page list for users, the other gives you backend SEO metadata for search engines.
Q Can you switch from WP Sitemap Page to Simple SEO (or the other way) without losing data?
Yes, you can switch between them without losing data because they store different types of information. WP Sitemap Page does not save any custom data to your posts, so deactivating it only removes the sitemap display. Simple SEO saves its meta fields to each post, and those fields will remain in the database even if you deactivate the plugin.
Q Which type of site should choose WP Sitemap Page, and which should choose Simple SEO?
Choose WP Sitemap Page if you run a large site with many pages and want to give visitors a clickable, organized list of all your content. Choose Simple SEO if your priority is controlling how each page appears in search results with custom meta titles and descriptions. Most sites benefit from both, but if you can only pick one, pick based on whether you need a user-facing sitemap or search engine metadata.
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