Newpost Catch
Plugin Review
AI-ResearchedWhat is Newpost Catch?
Newpost Catch is a focused widget plugin that places thumbnails from your newest articles directly into your sidebar. Developed by Tetsuya Imamura, this plugin has been available for 14 years, proving its stability over the long term. With 10K+ active installs and a perfect 5.0/5 rating from 2 reviews, it serves a specific need without unnecessary complexity. It delivers a simple way to show latest post thumbnails widget on any WordPress site.
The plugin generates a list of recent posts with thumbnail images, controlled by a shortcode or a sidebar widget. Its description from the repository is direct: "Thumbnails in new articles setting widget." This clarity reflects its design philosophy. The current version is 1.3.23, last updated on May 25, 2026, which shows continued maintenance for a 14-year-old product.
Key Features of Newpost Catch
- Sidebar Widget Integration — Adds a configurable widget to display recent post thumbnails in any widget area.
- Shortcode Support — Use the
[npc]shortcode inside text widgets or theme template files for flexible placement. - Custom CSS Override System — Apply your own styling via a
newpost-catch.cssfile, which takes priority over the defaultstyle.css. - Custom Post Type Support — Choose which post types appear in the thumbnail list via the
post_typeshortcode parameter. - ID Attribute Control — Set a custom
idattribute for theulelement using the shortcode, enabling precise CSS targeting. - Lightweight Codebase — Requires only PHP 7.4+ and WordPress 5.6+, keeping server load minimal.
- Manual CSS Priority — Custom styles in
newpost-catch.cssoverride default styles, preventing loss of edits during plugin updates.
Who Should Use Newpost Catch?
This plugin suits site owners who want a straightforward thumbnail widget for WordPress without extra features or bloat. It fits beginners because installation involves only unzipping, uploading, and activating the plugin. Users who need to show latest post thumbnails in their sidebar will find the widget ready within minutes. The 100% five-star rating from 2 ratings suggests it satisfies users who need exactly this function.
Bloggers, news sites, and portfolio owners benefit most from Newpost Catch. It displays new post thumbnails sidebar content that drives readers to recent articles. The plugin does not include social sharing, sliders, or gallery functions, which suits those who prefer a dedicated image widget plugin for WordPress that does one thing well. With 10K+ active installs and no support threads open in the last two months, it reliably serves its niche audience.
Installation & Setup
Installation follows the standard WordPress plugin process: unzip the archive, upload the newpost-catch folder to /wp-content/plugins/, and activate from the Plugins menu. After activation, add the widget from Appearance > Widgets and configure the display options. The plugin requires PHP 5.6+, though the technical data lists PHP 7.4+ as the current minimum for version 1.3.23.
Support & Community
Support data shows 0 open threads and 0 resolved threads over the last two months, yielding a 0% resolution rate. This figure likely reflects the plugin's stability rather than neglect, as the 14-year-old codebase has matured. The 100% five-star rating from 2 reviews, with no one-star ratings, indicates that users encounter few problems.
The developer provides documentation for CSS customization, explaining how to create a newpost-catch.css file inside your theme's /css/ directory. This approach prevents style overwrites during plugin updates. For a plugin with 10K+ active installs, the absence of support requests suggests the setup and operation remain straightforward for most users.
Pros & Cons
- With 10K+ active installs and a perfect 5.0 rating from 2 reviews, the plugin demonstrates strong user satisfaction and reliability.
- 100% of its ratings are 5-star, indicating that every user who left feedback found the widget for displaying thumbnails in new articles to be effective.
- The plugin focuses on a single, clear function—showing thumbnails in a sidebar widget for recent posts—which reduces complexity and potential conflicts.
- Its lightweight design likely contributes to minimal performance overhead, as it only adds a widget for new article thumbnails without extra bloat.
- Zero support threads suggest the plugin is either extremely stable or so simple that users rarely encounter issues requiring help.
- With only 2 total ratings, the perfect score may not reflect the experience of the broader user base of over 10,000 installs.
- The plugin lacks any support threads, meaning no publicly documented solutions exist for potential problems, which could be risky for new users.
- It offers no customization options beyond basic widget settings, limiting its use for sites needing control over thumbnail size, layout, or post selection criteria.
Technical Details
- Requires WordPress
- 5.6+
- Requires PHP
- 7.4+
- Tested up to WP
- 7.0.1
- First Released
- 2012 (14+ years)
- Support (last 2 months)
- 0 threads
Feature Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Newpost Catch is completely free and available on WordPress.org. It has 10K+ active installs and is rated 5.0/5 from 2 ratings.
Newpost Catch has 10K+ active installs according to WordPress.org. It was first released in 2012 and is currently at version 1.3.23.
Newpost Catch requires WordPress 5.6 or higher to run properly. It also requires PHP 7.4+ for compatibility.
Yes, the plugin was last updated on May 25, 2026 and is currently at version 1.3.23. It has been maintained since its first release in 2012.
Newpost Catch requires PHP 7.4 or higher. This ensures the plugin works reliably with modern WordPress installations.
Support threads for Newpost Catch show 0 total threads in the last 2 months, with 0 resolved. The plugin has a perfect 5.0/5 rating from 2 ratings, suggesting most users find it works well out of the box.
Yes, beginners can easily install it by uploading the folder, activating it, and adding the widget from Appearance > Widgets. You can also use the shortcode [npc] in text widgets or theme files for more control.
Newpost Catch displays thumbnails in a new articles widget and supports custom CSS via a 'newpost-catch.css' file in your theme's css folder. It also offers a shortcode with parameters like 'id' and 'post_type' for flexible display.