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Free Plugin by VillaTheme v1.1.4

EXMAGE

Add images using external links - Save your storage with EXMAGE effortlessly

EXMAGE

The facts

Rating
5★ from 33
Active installs
6k+
Price
Free
Last updated
22 Aug 2026
Added
Dec 2021
Requires WP
5.0
Tested up to
WP 7.1
Requires PHP
7.4
Downloads
172,645

Our analysis

AI-assisted

EXMAGE – WordPress Image Links is a plugin that allows you to use external image URLs to save storage space on your WordPress site. It integrates with the Media Library, enabling you to manage external images as if they were local, allowing you to select them for posts, product galleries, and more.

This plugin supports adding single or multiple image URLs and distinguishes external images with an icon. It is compatible with the ALD plugin, allowing AliExpress images to be used directly without saving them to your server.

Best for: This plugin is suitable for WordPress users looking to optimise storage by using external images, particularly in eCommerce settings.

What it does well

  • Saves storage by using external image URLs
  • Integrates with Media Library for easy management
  • Supports single and multiple image URL uploads
  • Compatible with ALD plugin for AliExpress images
  • Distinguishes external images with an icon

Where it falls short

  • Only supports real image URLs with correct mime types
  • Does not support images from popular hosting or storage services
  • External images will not work if the plugin is inactive

Verdict

EXMAGE – WordPress Image Links provides a practical solution for managing external images in WordPress, especially for those with storage concerns. However, it has limitations regarding the types of image URLs it supports.

From the developer

VillaTheme's own description of EXMAGE, lightly tidied.

EXMAGE – WordPress Image Links helps you save storage by using external image URLs. These images are shown in Media library like normal images so that you can choose them for post/product featured image, WooCommerce product gallery… or everywhere that images are chosen from Media library.

Try the Demo | Documents | Pro Version | | Facebook group

Preview EXMAGE – WordPress Image Links

How to install and use the plugin

Important Notice:

  • This plugin only supports real image URLs that have correct image mime type. It does not support image URLs from an image hosting service(such as Flickr, Imgur, Photobucket …) or a file storage service(such as Google drive)

  • External images added by this plugin will no longer work if the plugin is not active

Features

  • Ability to add single image URL on Upload files tab of the Media library

  • Ability to add multiple image URLs at once on below the File upload on Upload New Media page

  • External images have an icon to distinguish them from normal attachments.

  • External images also have attachment ID like normal attachments so that you can use them wherever that allows to insert images from Media library such as Post/Product featured image, product gallery images, variation image, product category image…

  • Compatible with ALD plugin: when this plugin is active, there will be an option named “Use external links for images” in the ALD plugin settings/Products. By enabling this option, AliExpress products imported by ALD plugin will use original AliExpress image URLs for product featured images, gallery images and variation images instead of saving images to your server.

=Integration=

if(class_exists( 'EXMAGE_WP_IMAGE_LINKS' )){
    $add_image = EXMAGE_WP_IMAGE_LINKS::add_image( $url, $image_id, $post_parent );
}

-$url: URL of the image you want to process
-$image_id: Passed by reference
-$post_parent: ID of the post that you want the image to be attached to. If empty, the image will not be attached to any post
-Return:

        [
        'url'       => $url,//Input URL
        'message'   => '',//Additional information
        'status'    => 'error',//error or success
        'id'        => '',//Attachment ID if added new or the attachment exists
        'edit_link' => '',//Attachment's edit link if added new or the attachment exists
        ]

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Read the full description on the official page →

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