XML Sitemap Generator for Google
Plugin Review
AI-ResearchedWhat is XML Sitemap Generator for Google?
XML Sitemap Generator for Google is a dedicated sitemap creation tool for WordPress. It handles XML, HTML, RSS, news, video, and image sitemaps. The plugin is developed by Auctollo and is now 21 years old. It maintains 1.0 million active installs, making it one of the most widely used sitemap plugins. Its rating stands at 4.8 out of 5 stars from 2,231 ratings, with 94% of those being five-star reviews.
The plugin automatically generates a sitemap.xml file upon activation. It supports custom post types and taxonomies, ensuring all your content gets indexed. It also notifies major search engines whenever you publish a new post. This long-standing tool has been supported for more than a decade and remains a top choice for basic SEO sitemap needs.
Key Features of XML Sitemap Generator for Google
- Automatic Sitemap Generation – The plugin creates your sitemap.xml file immediately after activation, with no manual steps required.
- Multiple Sitemap Formats – It produces XML, HTML, RSS, Google News, Video, Image, and Mobile sitemaps from a single interface.
- Custom Post Type Support – You can include pages, posts, and any custom post types or taxonomies in your sitemap.
- Search Engine Notification – Every time you create a new post, the plugin pings Google, Bing, Yandex, and Baidu about the update.
- Custom URL Inclusion – You can add your own URLs to the sitemap, covering content outside standard WordPress pages.
- Priority and Frequency Settings – Each post type allows you to set change frequency and priority values for search engine crawlers.
- Translation Ready – The plugin includes a .pot file for translations, usable with tools like Poedit for international sites.
Who Should Use XML Sitemap Generator for Google?
This plugin suits beginners and site owners who want a simple, set-and-forget sitemap solution. It requires no coding or technical SEO knowledge. With 1.0 million active installs, it appeals to personal blogs, small business sites, and commercial websites that need basic search engine indexing. The 4.8 rating from 2,231 users confirms it meets these core needs reliably.
It also works for developers managing custom post types or multilingual sites. The 21-year history means it has been tested across many WordPress versions. However, users with complex SEO requirements might need more granular control. The plugin remains ideal for anyone who finds other sitemap tools too heavy or confusing.
Installation & Setup
Installation follows the standard WordPress process via the Add Plugin screen or FTP upload. Once activated, the plugin generates a sitemap at /sitemap.xml automatically. Beginners should deactivate any other sitemap generators first, as duplicate sitemaps can confuse search engines. The configuration page is straightforward, letting you adjust settings in a few clicks.
Support & Community
Support data from the last two months shows 7 open threads and only 1 resolved, giving a 14% resolution rate. This low rate suggests that common issues are well-documented, or that users rely on the plugin’s stable performance rather than direct help. The 3% one-star ratings often cite conflicts with specific hosting environments or outdated PHP requirements (minimum PHP 5.0).
The 94% five-star ratio indicates strong general satisfaction. Many reviews praise the plugin for doing exactly what it promises. The active install base of 1.0 million also implies a large community of users who share tips in forums. For a free plugin with 21 years of history, this support structure works for most typical use cases.
Pros & Cons
- Rated 4.8/5 from over 2,231 reviews with 94% five-star ratings, indicating high user satisfaction for a free plugin.
- Supports multiple sitemap types (XML, HTML, image, news, video, RSS) and custom post types/taxonomies to cover all content indexing needs.
- Actively installed on over 1 million sites, demonstrating long-term reliability and widespread trust.
- Automatically notifies major search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) whenever new content is published, helping with faster indexing.
- Free and open-source under GPL, with translations available, making it accessible for personal and commercial use without cost.
- Support is extremely limited, with only 7 total threads and a 14% resolution rate, leaving users with unresolved issues.
- The plugin may create performance overhead on large sites with thousands of posts, as it generates sitemaps dynamically without built-in caching.
- Lacks advanced features like automatic splitting of large sitemaps or priority/change frequency automation, requiring manual configuration for optimal SEO.
Technical Details
- Requires WordPress
- 4.6+
- Requires PHP
- 5.0+
- Tested up to WP
- 7.0
- First Released
- 2005 (21+ years)
- Support (last 2 months)
- 7 threads — 14% resolved
Feature Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is completely free for everyone. It is released under the GPL license, so you can use it on personal or commercial sites without any cost.
The plugin has over 1.0 million active installs on WordPress sites. This makes it one of the most widely used sitemap plugins available.
It requires WordPress version 4.6 or higher to run properly. Most modern WordPress installations will meet this requirement without issues.
Yes, it is actively maintained and was last updated on May 31, 2026. The plugin has been supported since its first release in 2005, showing long-term reliability.
The plugin requires PHP version 5.0 or higher. This ensures compatibility with most hosting environments, including older setups.
Support is available through the official support forum, though only 1 out of 7 recent threads (14%) was resolved in the last 2 months. Most users find the plugin works reliably without needing support.
Yes, it features a user-friendly interface that allows you to generate sitemaps in just a few clicks. After activation, it automatically creates a sitemap.xml file without any complex setup.
It generates XML, HTML, RSS, and various sitemap types including pages, posts, Google News, video, image, and mobile sitemaps. It also supports custom post types, taxonomies, and notifies major search engines whenever you create new content.