Display an RSS Feed in a widget, on a page or post by shortcode using…
WordPress comes with a default site-wide RSS feed, but it isn’t sufficient for podcasts, as it only shares blog posts. RSS Feed Pro is a full-featured podcasting plugin designed for both beginners and power users. A user first sets up their preferred podcast hosting, and the plugin delivers it to your WordPress build.
The plugin is an upgraded and advanced revision of Frank Bültge’s RSSImport. RSS Feed Pro will display feeds in your blog, using PHP, a widget, or a shortcode. If you uninstall RSSImport and install RSS Feed Pro, you should not lose any of your current configurations. The plugin uses only standard WordPress functionality; therefore, no external libraries are required. As with all other content you publish, ensure that you are allowed to stream the content from the feeds you are importing.
To create a shortcode for sorting your RSS feeds archive catalog, please activate the plugin then click on RSS Archives > Add New Under “Shortcode Details”. Add the feed URL, then the user can select their sort mode (By Year, By Category, and By Author Name)
To use the RSS Feed Pro widget, navigate to widgets and locate a widget named “RSS Feed Pro”. Select the checkboxes for the shortcodes you’d like to use for your widget. Please click the “Installation” tab above for a comprehensive guide of the plugin’s features and functions.
As of version 1.1.12, it enhances image support for the %picture_url% placeholder. The plugin now detects images from multiple RSS feed formats, including enclosure thumbnails, image enclosures, media:thumbnail elements, and images embedded within the feed content.
The plugin’s language support includes: English, Spanish, French, German, and Russian.
Acknowledgements
Based on Frank Bültge RSSImport plugin that was no longer supported. Thanks to Dave Wolf for the original idea, to Thomas Fischer and Gunnar Tillmann for code enhancements in the original build-up to version 4.6.1 and Ilya Shindyapin, http://skookum.com for the idea and solution of pagination before version 4.6.1.
License
This advance fee plugin is public domain. Since it’s released under the GPL, you can use it free of charge on your personal or commercial blog. However, if you have gained value from this plugin, you can thank us by leaving a donation which will support the needy globally.
Technical Details for Release 1.1.12
Load time: 0.250 s; Memory usage: 3.57 MiB
PHP up to tested version: 8.3.28
MySQL up to tested version: 8.4.7
MariaDB up to tested version: 12.0.2
cURL up to tested version: 8.17.0, OpenSSL/3.6.0
PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 compliant. Not tested on 8.4 yet.
Screenshots
RSS Archive Shortcode Settings Table
Archive Shortcodes Added with Block Editor and Results
RSS Widget Fields Shown in Order, Left to Right Part 1
RSS Widget Fields Shown in Order, Left to Right Part 2
RSS Widget Fields Shown in Order, Left to Right Part 3
Is this plugin frequently updated to WordPress compliance?
Yes, attention is given on a staged installation with many other plugins via debug mode.
Is the plugin as simple to use as it looks?
Yes. No other plugin exists that adds a RSS stream easily with so many options.
Has there ever any compatibility issues?
To date, none have ever been reported.
What podcast hosting services does this plugin work with?
Updated especially for Castos, it works with Buzzsprout, Captivate, Transistor, Podbean, Simplecast, and Resonate just to name a few.
Is the code in the plugin proven stable?
Please click the following link to check the current stability of this plugin:
https://plugintests.com/plugins/rss-feed-pro/latest
ChangeLog
1.1.12 12/13/2025
– Bug Fix: Fixed %picture_url% placeholder not displaying images from RSS feeds
1.1.11 12/12/2025
– Security: Added nonce verification to admin AJAX calls (rfp_dismiss_notice, rfp_review_clicked)
– Security: Added isset() checks before accessing $_POST variables to prevent undefined index notices
– Security: Added wp_unslash() to properly sanitize POST data
– Bug Fix: Fixed nag bar not appearing – added activation hook to set initial 30-day timer
– Bug Fix: Nag bar now properly resets 30-day timer when X is clicked
– Bug Fix: Nag bar permanently disabled when review link is clicked
– Bug Fix: Fixed esc_html() used for URL output, now uses esc_url() (line 295)
– Bug Fix: Fixed esc_html() used for attribute output, now uses esc_attr() (line 249, 515)
– Bug Fix: Fixed wp_kses_post() return value not being used (line 250)
– Bug Fix: Fixed error message not outputting properly in get_feed_items() (line 342)
– Bug Fix: Added proper return array when feed fetch fails to prevent errors
– Bug Fix: Added missing text domain to esc_html_e() calls (lines 518, 530, 542)
– Code Quality: Removed duplicate $feed_items initialization (line 353-354)
– Code Quality: Removed dead code – first $link assignment immediately overwritten (line 364)
– Code Quality: Removed unused $query_vars variable (line 302)
– Code Quality: Removed unused $rfp_dismissed variable
– Code Quality: Cleaned up commented legacy code
– Code Quality: Changed parameter name from $sorb_by to $sort_by for clarity
– i18n: Added German (de_DE) translation
– i18n: Added Russian (ru_RU) translation
– i18n: Generated updated POT template file
– Assure compliance with WordPress 6.9.0
1.1.10 08/18/2025
– Fixed: Add missing closing in widget output template
1.1.9 08/08/2025
– SECURITY: Fixed stored XSS in feed URL field
– Added nonce verification, input sanitization (esc_url_raw), output escaping (esc_attr)
– Implemented CSRF protection and capability checks
– Assure compliance with WordPress 6.8.2
– Assure compatibility with PHP 8.4 release
1.1.8 04/06/2025
– Fixed: Plugin could not be activated because of fatal error.
– Fixed: Undefined variable $last_nag_time on line 578
1.1.7 03/21/2025
– Update: Donation link to Zeffy
– Update: Adjusted review notice bar
– Assure compliance with WordPress 6.7.2
1.1.6 09/01/24
– Minor edits to language files
– Assure compliance with WordPress 6.6.1
1.1.5 04/06/24
– Make adjustments and minor edits
– Assure compliance with WordPress 6.5
1.1.4 12/02/23
– Fix the cause of short code error Not a Valid JSON Response
– Assure compliance with WordPress 6.4.1
1.1.3 05/16/23
– Add option to sort feed in ASC/DESC by date order
– Update: Compatibility for WordPress 6.2.1
– Assure compatibility with PHP 8.3 release
1.1.2 04/16/23
– Optimize for PHP 8.1 and WordPress 6.2
– Ensure current stable PHP 8.1 and 8.2 use
1.1.1 05/23/22
– Text edits along with translations
– Assure compliance with WordPress 6.0
1.1.0 02/08/2022
– Update: Added ‘remove_link’ parameter to RSSImport shortcode
– Update: Setting remove_link=’1′ will remove permalink from feed
– Update: Compatibility for WordPress 5.9
– Update: All language files
– Fixed: Fixed error that prevented some feeds from working properly
– Fixed: Fixed some PHP and WordPress warning
– Fixed: Update some old code to prevent conditional error
– Assure current stable PHP 8.1.1 use
1.0.9 05/14/2021
– Update: Edit for compatibility with WordPress 5.7.2
1.0.8 09/24/20
– Fix a JavaScript error
– Fix a PHP-generated warning
1.0.7 09/23/20
– Fix sanitization functions to escape
– Change unique function names to avert conflicts
– Add a nounce check for trigger submission checks
1.0.6 09/22/20
– Add Shortcode table with settings
– Add date, category, and author archive options
– Add archive results modal popup within feed page
– Add language support, including Spanish and French
– Update: Compliance with PHP 7.4.8 backward to 5.6.2
– Update: Edit for compatibility with WordPress 5.5.1
1.0 08/15/20
– Rebuild RSSImport 4.6.1
