Let’s get one thing straight…a news site’s design and layout differ drastically from a blogging site’s. Yet, many people confuse the two, thinking they’re the same.
But… regardless of whether you have a news site or a blogging site, WordPress allows you to create a website that perfectly meets your content publishing needs.
WordPress news plugins are specifically designed to help website owners add and manage news content efficiently. Premium plugins can rewrite news articles, making content creation effortless by integrating with various APIs like Bing News Search API, PagePixels, and OpenAI.
In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of the ten best WordPress news plugins you can use in 2024. We’ve also included a step-by-step guide on installing and managing a WordPress news plugin if you’re new to all this.
What Is WordPress News Plugin?
A WordPress news plugin is a tool that helps website owners add and manage news content more effectively on their WordPress site.
These plugins come with features like news feeds, breaking news tickers, and news grids, making it easier to organize and display articles in a clean and engaging format.
Why Are Plugins Necessary for News Websites?
News websites often require specialized functions like breaking news tickers, RSS feeds, and advanced article categorization to handle large volumes of content. Plugins make it easy to implement these features without needing to write custom code.
Moreover, plugins improve the user experience by offering customizable layouts, faster loading times, and tools for automating news syndication.
This saves time and effort, helping news sites run smoothly and keep up with rapid content production.
10 Best WordPress News Plugins To Use in 2024
| Plugin Name | System Requirements | User Reviews and Ratings | Update Frequency and Support | Plans and Pricing Model |
| XML Sitemap & Google News | WordPress 4.4, PHP 5.6+ | 4.4 out of 5 | Frequently updated, dedicated support forum | Free with premium plans starting at $49.5/year |
| Post Grid Gutenberg Blocks and WordPress Blog Plugin – PostX | WordPress 5.0+, PHP 6.6+ | 4.7 out of 5 | Regular updates, and premium support options are available | Free with premium plans starting at $25/ one-time |
| News Blog Designer Pack – WordPress Blog Plugin | WordPress 4.7+, PHP 5.4+ | 4.7 out of 5 | Regularly updated, dedicated support via forum and email | Free with pro version starting at $47/one-time purchase |
| GN Publisher: Google News Compatible RSS Feeds | WordPress 3.5+, PHP 5.4+ | 4.9 out of 5 | Frequently updated, active support team | Basic plans starting from $99/year |
| Pojo News Ticker | WordPress 4.1, PHP 6.3 | 1 out of 5 | Updated regularly, support via forum | Free with premium starting from $15 per client |
| Publish To Apple News | WordPress 6.3, PHP 8 | 3.8 out of 5 | Regular updates, dedicated email support | Free for basic usage, premium plans available at $99/year |
| Live News | WordPress 5.0, PHP 7.2 |
|
Frequently updated support via the ticket system | Premium starting at $39/one-time purchase |
| WordPress News Plugin – TopNewsWp | WordPress 5.2, PHP 7.2 | 5 out of 5 | Regular updates and premium support options are available | premium plans starting at $29.99/single site |
| Ditty news ticker | WordPress 6.2, PHP 7.1 | 4.5 out of 5 | Monthly | Free |
1. XML Sitemap Google News
XML Sitemap Google News plugin creates XML sitemaps specifically for Google News, helping news content to be indexed efficiently. It supports multisite setups and is compatible with Polylang and WPML while avoiding the need to generate static files.
Users can control which post types and archive pages are included in the sitemap and adjust settings for how Priority and Lastmod are calculated. The plugin is simple to use, and there is no need to modify file permissions or manage complex configurations from outside the WordPress admin panel.
Features:
- Automatic XML and Google News Sitemap Generation: The plugin instantly provides an XML Sitemap Index at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml, encompassing references to posts and pages by default. When the Google News Sitemap feature is activated, it becomes accessible at yoursite.com/sitemap-news.xml, facilitating prompt indexing by Google News.
- Multisite and Multilingual Compatibility: Designed to function seamlessly with WordPress multisite networks, Polylang, and WPML, the plugin ensures that sitemaps are correctly generated across various site setups and languages, catering to a global audience.
- Simplified Configuration: Emphasizing user-friendliness, the plugin operates effectively with its default settings, minimizing the need for complex configurations. This simplicity makes it accessible to users without technical expertise, streamlining the sitemap creation process.
Pros and Cons
✓ Customizable sitemap settings
✓ Include more than one post type in the same News Sitemap.
✓ Compatible with multi-lingual sites
✗ Potential Compatibility Issues
Review and Rating
2. Post Grid Gutenberg Blocks and WordPress Blog Plugin – PostX
PostX offers customizable grid layouts for blog posts and works well with the Gutenberg editor, giving users control over how content is displayed. It comes with 40+ blocks and over 250 premade patterns, which I think is more than enough for most news sites.
This plugin also provides starter sites for various niches, like news or magazines, allowing users to quickly set up a complete site with minimal effort.
It includes useful features like a dynamic site builder for creating custom templates, multiple layout options for posts, and tools like Ajax filters and pagination to improve site navigation. It integrates with popular page builders and SEO plugins, making it versatile for different site needs.
Features:
- Advanced Query Builder: This feature allows users to filter posts based on categories, tags, authors, and other parameters, ensuring precise control over displayed content.
- Premade Templates and Starter Packs: PostX provides a library of pre-designed templates and starter packs, facilitating quick page creation without extensive design work.
- Integration with SEO Plugins: The plugin seamlessly integrates with popular SEO tools like Yoast SEO and Rank Math, allowing users to fetch meta descriptions and enhance search engine optimization.
Pros & Cons
✓ Customizable grid layouts
✓ Integration with Gutenberg editor
✓ Advanced filtering and sorting options
✓ Supports multiple post types
✗ Has a steep learning curve for beginners
✗ Extensive use of multiple blocks and features may impact site performance
Review and Rating
3. News Blog Designer Pack – WordPress Blog Plugin
Next, we have the News Blog Designer Pack. This plugin is great for building magazine, news, or blog websites. It offers a range of layout options, including grids, sliders, carousels, and lists, allowing users to experiment with different designs without having to dive into code.
It offers 7 built-in layouts and customizable shortcodes to help you create a site that compliments your writing style.
If you want more control and features, the premium version offers features like additional design options, post-filtering, and Ajax pagination.
Best of all, it integrates smoothly with popular page builders like Elementor, making it useful for both simple blogs and more complex news sites.
Features:
- Multiple Layout Options: The plugin provides seven blog layouts with two designs each, including post grids, sliders, carousels, lists, masonry, and timelines. This variety enables users to choose the most appropriate format for their content.
- Custom Post Type Support: Users can create custom post types and taxonomies, allowing for tailored content organization and display. This feature is beneficial for websites with diverse content categories.
- Widgets and Shortcodes: The plugin includes two widgets for displaying the latest posts and vertical scrolling posts, as well as shortcodes for easy integration of various layouts into posts and pages. This functionality simplifies the process of embedding dynamic content throughout the site.
Pros & Cons
✓ Customizable templates and layouts
✓ Built-in slider and carousel features
✓ Social sharing integration
✓ Responsive design
✗ Limited Advanced Features in Free Version
✗ Potential Compatibility Issues
Review and Ratings
4. GN Publisher: Google News Compatible RSS Feeds
The GN Publisher: Google News Compatible RSS Feeds plugin for WordPress is designed to create RSS feeds that comply with Google’s technical requirements for inclusion in the Google News Publisher Center.
By addressing common RSS compatibility issues such as incomplete articles, duplicate or missing images, and missing content, the plugin increases the chances of your news being accurately and promptly indexed by Google News.
Features:
- Automated Google News-Compatible: The plugin automatically generates RSS feeds that meet Google’s specifications, enabling seamless integration with the Google News Publisher Center and improving the visibility of your content.
- Ping Functionality for Faster Updates: The plugin includes a feature that pings Google whenever your feeds are updated, promoting quicker indexing and more timely reflection of new content in Google News.
- Pro Version Enhancements: Upgrading to GN Publisher PRO provides additional features such as content scraping protection, the ability to exclude specific categories from the main feed, and compatibility with platforms like Flipboard.com, PublishPress Authors, and Translate Press, offering greater control and expanded reach for your content.
Pros & Cons
✓ User-Friendly Setup
✓ Improved Content Indexing
✗ Potential Compatibility Issues
✗ Limited Advanced Features in Free Version
Review and Ratings
5. Pojo News Ticker
The Pojo News Ticker plugin is a great option for adding a dynamic news ticker to your WordPress site.
The Pojo News Ticker plugin is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Pojo Framework, enabling WordPress users to display dynamic news tickers on their websites. This functionality is beneficial for magazine and news-oriented sites aiming to showcase headlines or updates in an engaging manner.
This plugin allows you to display scrolling news headlines, making it perfect for news websites. You can also choose to display posts from specific categories or tags, giving you full control over the content that appears.
By adding a customizable widget to any widget area or using the Builder, users can present selected posts in a ticker format, enhancing the site’s interactivity and user engagement
Features:
- Multiple Display Modes: The plugin offers three distinct modes for presenting news tickers: Slide, Fade, and Typing. This variety allows users to choose the animation style that best aligns with their website’s aesthetic and user experience goals.
- Customizable Post Selection and Ordering: Users can specify the number of posts to display per category and arrange them based on various parameters, including Title, Date, Author, Post Slug, Modified Date, etc.
- Date and Time Display Options: The plugin allows the inclusion of date and time alongside each post in the ticker, providing context regarding the recency of the news items.
Pros & Cons
✓ Enhanced User Engagement
✓ Ease of Use
✗ Framework Dependency
✗ Limited User Feedback
Review and Ratings
6. Publish To Apple News
Next, we have the Publish To Apple News plugin. This plugin is great for getting your content published on Apple News, expanding your audience to millions of Apple users.
The Publish to Apple News plugin enables WordPress sites with approved Apple News channels to publish content directly on Apple News.
This integration allows publishers to reach a broader audience by delivering their content seamlessly to Apple’s news platform. The plugin automatically converts WordPress content into the Apple News format and offers customization options to align the design with the publisher’s branding.
Features:
- Automatic Content Conversion: The plugin converts WordPress content into the Apple News format automatically, ensuring compatibility and optimal display on Apple News without requiring manual adjustments.
- Custom Design Capabilities: Users can create a custom design for their Apple News content without any programming knowledge, allowing for a consistent and branded appearance across platforms.
- Flexible Publishing Options: The plugin offers both automatic and manual publishing of posts from WordPress to Apple News, providing control over which content appears on the platform.
Pros & Cons
✓ Publishes content to Apple News
✓ Supports rich media formats
✓ Customizable article settings
✓ Easy-to-use interface
✗ Need Apple News channel approval
✗ Potential Compatibility Issues
Review and Ratings
7. Live News
The Live News plugin is a plugin designed to add a dynamic, fixed news ticker. By default, the ticker features a “Featured News” section in red and a “Sliding News” section in black, similar to those seen on major news networks like Fox News, CNN, and Sky News.
This plugin is highly customizable and comes with 46 options per news ticker, 4 options per featured news, 9 options per sliding news, and 4 general options.
The plugin offers multiple methods for publishing news, including manual entry, automatic generation from blog posts, integration with Twitter feeds, and importing from RSS feeds.
This flexibility makes it a valuable asset for websites aiming to keep their audience informed with the latest updates.
Features:
- Multiple News Sources: Live News allows for the inclusion of news items from various sources, such as manual entries, automatic extraction from blog posts, Twitter feeds, and RSS feeds. This versatility ensures that the news ticker remains current and relevant.
- Customization Options: The plugin provides over 70 customization options, enabling users to tailor the news ticker’s appearance and behavior to align with their website’s design and user experience preferences.
- Multisite and Multilanguage Support: Live News is compatible with WordPress multisite networks and supports multiple languages, making it suitable for a diverse range of websites and audiences.
Pros & Cons
✓ Sliding News Images
✓ Links in the News Ticker
✓ WordPress Transients API
✓ Support for RTL Layouts
✓ Real-Time Updates
✗ Manual Content Management
✗ Advanced Features in Pro Version
8. WordPress News Plugin – TopNewsWp
The WP Top News plugin is a highly customizable news plugin for WordPress. It allows you to display both internal and external news feeds in various layouts, such as grid, list, or ticker
The TopNewsWp plugin is ideal for WordPress users who want to display news content dynamically on their websites. It offers the flexibility to showcase news from both internal sources—such as your own posts—and external sources, including RSS feeds and renowned newspapers worldwide.
For internal news, it provides an intuitive interface for adding news directly through the WordPress dashboard. Similarly, for external news sources, the plugin integrates with NewsAPI.org, letting you pull news from specified APIs or RSS feeds.
The plugin supports RTL layouts and is mobile-responsive, ensuring compatibility across various devices.
Features:
- Diverse Display Layouts: TopNewsWp provides multiple layouts—grid, list, ticker, and featured views—allowing users to present news content in formats that best suit their website’s design and audience engagement strategies.
- Extensive External News Integration: The plugin supports news aggregation from 128 prominent newspaper sources across 54 countries, enabling users to enrich their websites with a wide array of global news content.
- Responsive Design and Customization: TopNewsWp is fully responsive, ensuring optimal display across various devices. It also offers customization options, such as setting the number of news items, adjusting title and description lengths, and choosing whether to display news sources and dates
Pros & Cons
✓ Trending news features keep visitors engaged.
✓ 128 newspaper sources for external news.
✓ SEO-optimized structure.
✓ Built-in support for multimedia news posts.
✓ No coding required
✗ Dependency on External APIs
✗ Limited Advanced Features in Free Version
Review and Rating
How to Add a News Section to a WordPress Site on Cloudways?
Adding a news section to your WordPress site is an excellent idea to keep your audience updated with the latest happenings.
I’ll walk you through the steps to set up a fully functional news section on a WordPress site hosted on Cloudways.
Let’s Start!
Step 1: Log in to your Cloudways Account
- Log into the Cloudways Platform with your credentials.
Step 2: Create a WordPress Application on Cloudways
- Once logged in, click the “Add Server” button on the top-right corner of the Cloudways dashboard.
- Choose WordPress from the dropdown menu.
- Configure the application by naming your app, server, and project and choosing a server provider.
- Select your server size and location based on your needs and audience.
- Click “Launch Now” to deploy your server with the WordPress application installed.
Step 3: Open Application via Access Details
- Click on the newly created WordPress application to open its management panel.
- In the “Access Details” section, note the admin URL, username, and password for your WordPress admin panel.
- Use these credentials to log in to your WordPress site.
- After logging in, navigate to the plugins.
- Deactivate any existing cache plugins to avoid plugin conflict.
- Next, click the Plugins tab in the left panel and then click Add New.
Step 4 Instal the WPNews Plugin
- Search for the WP News and Scrolling Widgets plugin, and install and activate it.
Step 5: Using the Plugin
Once you have installed and activated the plugin, you will find a new menu item on your WordPress dashboard.
- Click on the “News” in the menu bar.
- This enables you to add categories and new news posts.
- To add a new post, click Add New Item under the News menu.
- Type in the title of the news post and then fill in the content,
- Select the category and set a featured image if required.
- Once done, just as you would for any other type of normal post, click on Publish.
- To add new categories or update existing ones, click on Category under the News Menu.
- Type in the name for the category, and add a slug.
- Click on Add New Category.
That’s it. You’re ready to publish your News!
You can now manage the plugin to meet your needs and customize its features as required for your site.
Conclusion
There you have it, the top 10 WordPress news plugins to power your online news outlet in 2024!
Choosing the right WordPress news plugin can make a huge difference in how you manage and present news on your site.
Each plugin offers unique features and benefits, so be sure to explore them and choose the one that best aligns with your specific needs and goals.
Q1. Which plugin is best for a news website?
A) The best plugin depends on your needs, but WP News and GN Publisher are top choices for versatile news display and integration with Google News.
Q2. How do I show news in WordPress?
A) You can show news in WordPress using plugins like Wp News and Scrolling widgets for custom grids or Pojo News Ticker for scrolling updates. Simply install and configure the plugin to display news.
Q3. Is WordPress good for news websites?
A) Yes, WordPress is excellent for news websites due to its flexibility, ease of use, and wide range of plugins tailored for managing news content.
Inshal Ali
Inshal is a Content Marketer at Cloudways. With background in computer science, skill of content and a whole lot of creativity, he helps business reach the sky and go beyond through content that speaks the language of their customers. Apart from work, you will see him mostly in some online games or on a football field.
