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WordPress Guide → SEO → XML Sitemap
Best XML sitemap generator for WordPress
Search engines rely on XML sitemaps to understand and crawl your website efficiently. With WordPress, generating one doesn’t require any coding—you just need the right plugin. Whether you want a full SEO suite or a lightweight sitemap-only tool, there’s a solution to match your needs.
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Comparison table: Top XML sitemap plugins at a glance
Plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, and All in One SEO offer powerful sitemap features alongside comprehensive SEO tools. Others, such as XML Sitemap Generator for Google, provide a more focused approach.
| Feature | Yoast SEO | Rank Math | AIOSEO | XML Sitemap Generator | Slickplan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic sitemap | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Custom post types | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (manual) |
| WooCommerce support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| SEO tools included | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Beginner friendly | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Starting at | Free | Free | Free | Free | $10.99/mo |
Visual tools like Slickplan are great for content planning and structure, even if they aren’t integrated directly with WordPress.
1. Yoast SEO: Best all-around sitemap and SEO plugin
Yoast SEO is the most popular SEO plugin for WordPress, and its XML sitemap generation is fully automated. It creates and updates your sitemap in real time as you publish or update content. It also includes structured data tools, content readability analysis, and integrations with Google Search Console.
Unique strengths:
- Instantly generates and updates XML sitemaps
- Includes SEO analysis, schema markup, and canonical URL settings
- Automatically adds sitemap reference to robots.txt
Starting at: Free (Premium starts at $99/year)
2. XML Sitemap Generator for Google: Best standalone sitemap plugin
If you don’t need a full SEO plugin, XML Sitemap Generator for Google is a purpose-built tool focused solely on sitemap generation. It offers more technical control over indexing, change frequencies, and content priority. The plugin can also notify Google and Bing automatically whenever you update your site.
Unique strengths:
- Standalone sitemap plugin with advanced config options
- Supports custom URLs, media content, and priority settings
- Sends automatic pings to search engines on update
Starting at: Free
3. Rank Math: Best for advanced users and WooCommerce sites
Rank Math is a powerful SEO plugin that includes a dynamic XML sitemap module, designed with developers and power users in mind. It works especially well for complex WordPress sites, including multilingual blogs and WooCommerce stores.
The setup wizard makes it fairly accessible, even for non-tech users.
Unique strengths:
- Supports WooCommerce products and multilingual sitemaps
- Auto-pings search engines and includes schema support
- Modular settings give advanced users more control
Starting at: Free (Pro starts at $69/year)
4. All in One SEO (AIOSEO): Best for automation and beginners
AIOSEO combines simplicity with powerful features, including easy sitemap generation. It supports advanced formats like Google News and Video sitemaps, and has a visual sitemap preview to help you verify what’s being indexed.
The plugin also auto-updates your sitemap and notifies search engines.
Unique strengths:
- Google News and Video sitemap support
- Visual sitemap viewer and smart automation
- One-click setup for beginners
Starting at: Free (Pro starts at $124/year)
5. Slickplan: Best for planning visual sitemaps (non-WordPress)
Slickplan is not a WordPress plugin, but it’s worth mentioning for teams focused on content architecture. It lets you visually build and organize a sitemap, which can then be exported as XML or HTML and uploaded to your WordPress site using other plugins or manual tools.
Unique strengths:
- Drag-and-drop sitemap builder with collaboration tools
- Export as XML for WordPress import
- Ideal for content strategists and design teams
Starting at: $10.99/month
6. Other notable sitemap plugins
SEOPress
SEOPress is a lightweight and privacy-focused WordPress SEO plugin that includes tools for XML sitemaps, schema markup, content analysis, and more. SEOPress didn’t make the main list because its sitemap features, while solid, are less beginner-friendly and not as widely adopted as options like Yoast or Rank Math.
- Privacy-focused alternative with robust sitemap and SEO tools
- White label options and lightweight performance
- Starting at: Free (Pro $49/year)
SmartCrawl by WPMU DEV
SmartCrawl offers one-click sitemap generation, automatic link crawling, schema support, and SEO auditing tools. It didn’t make the main list because it’s tied to a WPMU DEV membership, which may not appeal to users looking for standalone or free solutions.
- One-click sitemap generation with built-in SEO audits
- Automatic link crawling and schema support
- Starting at: Free (Pro via WPMU DEV membership)
WP Sitemap Page
WP Sitemap Page generates customizable HTML sitemaps to improve site navigation for human visitors, not search engines. It didn’t make the main list because it creates HTML sitemaps rather than XML sitemaps, which limits its usefulness for SEO and search engine indexing.
- Creates HTML sitemaps for site visitors (not search engines)
- Customizable display of posts, pages, and taxonomies
- Starting at: Free
How to choose the best sitemap plugin for your site
Choosing the right plugin depends on your goals:
- For beginners: Yoast SEO or AIOSEO offer ease of use and broad features.
- For developers: XML Sitemap Generator for Google gives full control.
- For WooCommerce or multilingual: Rank Math handles product pages and languages well.
- For content planning: Slickplan helps you visualize the site structure first.
How to verify your sitemap with Google Search Console
After installing your plugin and generating a sitemap, you’ll want to verify it with Google to ensure the algorithm can find, crawl, and index your website content accurately and efficiently.:
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Select your property (domain).
- Go to Sitemaps in the sidebar.
- Enter the full sitemap URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml).
- Click Submit.
- Check back for status updates and errors.
If Google doesn’t accept your sitemap, check for trailing slashes, plugin conflicts, or ensure your site isn’t blocking crawlers via robots.txt.
Getting started with the best XML sitemap generator for WordPress
The best sitemap plugin is the one that fits your goals, site size, and technical comfort level. Whether you’re optimizing a simple blog or managing a large ecommerce site, generating and maintaining an accurate XML sitemap is crucial for search visibility.
Pick a plugin that fits your workflow—whether that means simplicity, flexibility, or advanced features—and take the extra step to verify it in Search Console.
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Leslie Bowman is an Organic SEO Manager at Liquid Web and expert wordsmith. She specializes in driving revenue through organic and paid channels with SEO and CRO. When she’s not bending search algorithms to her will, she’s most likely spending time with animals, reading nonfiction, or marveling at nature’s beauty.