Engagement is a key factor in building a successful WordPress website, and one of the best ways to highlight popular content is by displaying the Most Commented Posts in WordPress. Posts with high engagement indicate valuable content that resonates with readers, making them a great addition to your homepage or sidebar. By showcasing these posts, you can encourage further interaction, keep visitors on your site longer, and improve overall user experience.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through different methods to display the Most Commented Posts in WordPress whether using built-in WordPress features, plugins, or custom coding. Each method provides a unique way to showcase your most discussed content and improve content visibility.
At Creta Themes, we understand the importance of an engaging and user-friendly website. Our WordPress Block Themes are designed with SEO optimization and customization in mind, making it easier to highlight your most popular posts. Follow this guide to effectively display your top-commented articles and enhance your site's engagement.
Why Display the Most Commented Posts in WordPress?
Displaying the Most Commented Posts in WordPress is a powerful way to enhance user engagement, highlight valuable content, and improve your website’s overall performance. Here’s why it’s beneficial for your WordPress site:
1. Boosts Engagement and Interaction
Comments indicate active reader participation, which means that posts with high comment counts have already sparked discussions. When visitors see these posts prominently displayed, they are more likely to engage, add their opinions, and continue the conversation. This can foster a sense of community and encourage users to return to your site.
2. Highlights Popular and Valuable Content
If a post has received a significant number of comments, it is likely one of your most compelling or insightful articles. Showcasing these posts helps new visitors quickly find high-value content that others have found useful or interesting. It also reinforces your expertise in your niche.
3. Increases Page Views and Time on Site
When visitors see a section of Most Commented Posts in WordPress, they are naturally drawn to explore these discussions. This increases page views, reduces bounce rates, and encourages visitors to spend more time on your website, which is beneficial for SEO.
4. Strengthens SEO Performance
Search engines value user engagement metrics such as time spent on a page and interaction through comments. The more engagement your posts receive, the better they may perform in search rankings. Displaying these posts prominently can drive even more traffic to them, reinforcing their SEO value.
5. Encourages More Comments and Discussions
When visitors see that a post has many comments, they may feel encouraged to join the conversation. People are more likely to comment on posts that already have discussions going, as it makes them feel part of a larger conversation.
6. Helps Showcase Evergreen and Trending Content
Your Most Commented Posts in WordPress may include both evergreen and trending topics. By featuring these posts, you ensure that high-performing content remains visible to visitors, even if they are not the most recently published articles. This keeps your best posts relevant and accessible.
7. Builds Credibility and Trust
A post with a high number of comments suggests that it is well-received by the audience. When new visitors see such posts, it builds trust and credibility in your content. This is particularly useful for business websites, blogs, and news sites looking to establish authority.
8. Encourages Social Sharing
Highly discussed posts are often more shareable. When visitors see a post with an active discussion, they are more likely to share it on social media, further boosting traffic and engagement.
To further amplify the reach of your most commented posts, integrating the best Social Sharing plugins makes it easy for readers to share these highly engaging discussions across social media platforms, driving even more traffic and interaction to your WordPress site.
How to Display the Most Commented Posts in WordPress
There are two main ways to display the Most Commented Posts in WordPress: using a plugin (which is the easiest method) or adding custom code (for those who prefer a manual approach). Below, we’ll go over both methods in detail.
Method 1: Display Most Commented Posts With a Plugin in WordPress (Recommended)
Using a plugin is the simplest and most efficient way to display the Most Commented Posts in WordPress. It requires no coding skills, and you can customize the output easily. Several plugins offer this functionality, but some of the best include:
- WordPress Popular Posts
- Top 10 – Popular Posts Plugin for WordPress
- Jetpack (with the “Top Posts & Pages” widget)
Here’s how you can use the WordPress Popular Posts plugin to display your most commented posts:
Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Plugins → Add New and search for WordPress Popular Posts.
- Click Install Now, then Activate the plugin.
Step 2: Configure the Plugin Settings
- After activation, go to Appearance → Widgets.
- Drag and drop the WordPress Popular Posts widget into your desired widget area (e.g., Sidebar or Footer).
- In the widget settings, customize the following:
1. Title: Enter a heading like Most Commented Posts.2. Sort By: Select Comments to rank posts based on the number of comments.3. Time Range: Choose a time frame (e.g., last 30 days or all time).4. Post Type: Select Posts if you only want blog posts to be included.5. Limit: Set how many posts you want to display.
- Click Save, and the most commented posts will now be displayed on your site.
Step 3: Customize the Display (Optional)
You can style the widget using custom CSS if needed.Some plugins allow you to insert the Most Commented Posts using shortcodes, so you can display them anywhere on your site, including pages and posts.
Why Use a Plugin?
- Beginner-friendly – No coding required.
- Highly customizable – Offers various display options.
- Time-saving – Quick setup without modifying theme files.
Because of their ease of use and flexibility, plugins like WordPress Popular Posts are considered must have WP plugins for bloggers who want to highlight high-engagement content and improve overall user interaction without touching a single line of code.
Method 2: Display Most Commented Posts Using Code
For those comfortable with editing theme files, you can manually display the Most Commented Posts in WordPress by adding custom PHP code to your theme. This method gives you full control over the output and can be useful if you want a lightweight solution without relying on plugins.
Step 1: Add Custom Code to Your Theme
You need to modify the functions.php file of your theme. Follow these steps:Go to Appearance → Theme File Editor in your WordPress dashboard.Open the functions.php file of your active theme.
Add the following code snippet:
phpCopyEditfunction get_most_commented_posts() {$args = array( 'posts_per_page' => 5, // Number of posts to display 'orderby' => 'comment_count', // Order by number of comments 'order' => 'DESC', // Show highest commented posts first 'post_status' => 'publish');$most_commented_posts = new WP_Query($args);if ($most_commented_posts->have_posts()) { echo '<ul>'; while ($most_commented_posts->have_posts()) { $most_commented_posts->the_post(); echo '<li><a href="' . get_permalink() . '">' . get_the_title() . ' (' . get_comments_number() . ' comments)</a></li>'; } echo '</ul>';}wp_reset_postdata();}
Step 2: Display the Most Commented Posts
To display the most commented posts, add the following line of code in your theme’s sidebar.php, footer.php, or any other template file where you want the list to appear:
phpCopyEdit<?php get_most_commented_posts(); ?>
Step 3: Save Changes and Test
Once you save your changes, the most commented posts will appear in the chosen location of your site.
Why Use Code?
No plugin dependency: Reduces website bloat.Full customization: You can modify the query to suit your needs.Faster loading: Lighter than plugins in some cases.
Which Method Should You Choose?
If you prefer a simple, no-code solution, use Method 1 (plugin).If you want full control and minimal plugin usage, use Method 2 (custom code).Both methods effectively showcase your most discussed posts, improving user engagement and SEO performance. Let me know if you need any tweaks or additional tips!
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Conclusion
Displaying the Most Commented Posts in WordPress is a great way to boost engagement, encourage discussions, and highlight your most popular content. Whether you choose a plugin for a quick, hassle-free setup or prefer a custom-coded solution for better control, both methods effectively showcase your top discussions. By implementing this feature, you can keep visitors engaged and improve your site's SEO. Choose the approach that best fits your needs and start showcasing your most engaging content today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does “most commented posts” mean in WordPress?
Most commented posts in WordPress are blog posts that have received the highest number of user comments. WordPress tracks comments for every post, and you can use this data to highlight popular content. Displaying most commented posts helps showcase engaging articles and encourages visitors to join discussions.
2. Why should I display most commented posts on my WordPress website?
Displaying most commented posts improves user engagement and keeps visitors on your site longer. These posts act as social proof, showing readers what content others find interesting. It also helps increase page views, reduce bounce rates, and improve overall site navigation.
3. Can I display most commented posts without using a plugin?
Yes, you can display most commented posts without a plugin by adding a custom WP_Query or get_posts() code snippet to your theme files or widgets. This method offers more control and better performance, but it requires basic knowledge of PHP and WordPress theme structure.
4. Which is better for displaying most commented posts: plugin or custom code?
Plugins are ideal for beginners because they are easy to set up and require no coding. Custom code works better for advanced users who want lightweight solutions and full design control. The best option depends on your technical skills and customization needs.
5. Where should I place the most commented posts section for best results?
You can place most commented posts in the sidebar, footer, homepage, or below blog posts. Sidebars work well for constant visibility, while homepage placement highlights popular content immediately. Choose a location that matches your layout and improves content discovery.
