A nofollow link tells search engines not to pass ranking credit to the page you link to. Google asks you to mark paid, sponsored, and affiliate links (with rel=”sponsored” or rel=”nofollow”) and user-generated links like comments (with rel=”ugc”). If you sell links without these tags, your site can be penalized.
The WordPress block editor does not have a nofollow option built in, and editing HTML for every link is slow. These plugins make it a one-click job, or fully automatic. For the basics, read how and when to add nofollow to a link.
| Plugin | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rank Math SEO | SEO suite | Per-link nofollow and sponsored toggles |
| Yoast SEO | SEO suite | Per-link nofollow and sponsored toggles |
| All in One SEO | SEO suite | Per-link controls plus link tools |
| External Links | Link manager | Rules for all external links |
| Nofollow for External Link | Automatic | Nofollow every external link |
| Title and Nofollow For Links | Classic Editor | Checkbox in the classic link dialog |
| ThirstyAffiliates | Affiliate links | Auto nofollow and sponsored on affiliate links |
1. Rank Math SEO
Rank Math is a free SEO plugin that we use on this site. When you add a link in the block editor, it adds toggles for nofollow and sponsored right in the link popup. In its settings you can also nofollow all external links automatically, with an exclude list for sites you trust.
2. Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO adds two checkboxes to the block editor link popup: one to mark a link as nofollow and one to mark it as sponsored. If you already use Yoast, you do not need another plugin.
3. All in One SEO
All in One SEO (AIOSEO) also adds nofollow and sponsored options to the link popup, plus a title attribute field. Its premium Link Assistant helps manage internal and external links across your site.
4. External Links
External Links (formerly WP External Links) lets you set rules for all external links at once: nofollow, sponsored, noopener, noreferrer, and open in a new tab. You can exclude domains and also add an icon to external links. A great choice if you do not want to handle links one by one.
5. Nofollow for External Link
Nofollow for External Link is a simple free plugin that automatically adds nofollow to every external link in your posts and pages. You can exclude domains you want to keep followed.
6. Title and Nofollow For Links (Classic Editor)
Still using the Classic Editor? Title and Nofollow For Links adds a nofollow checkbox and a title field to the classic insert link dialog.
7. ThirstyAffiliates
If your main concern is affiliate links, a link manager handles it automatically. ThirstyAffiliates adds nofollow and sponsored to every cloaked affiliate link. See how to cloak affiliate links in WordPress.
Which Nofollow Plugin Should You Choose?
- Already using an SEO plugin? Use its built-in link options (Rank Math, Yoast, or AIOSEO). No extra plugin needed.
- Want rules for all external links? Choose External Links.
- Want every external link nofollowed with zero effort? Choose Nofollow for External Link.
- Mostly affiliate links? Use ThirstyAffiliates.
Tip: you do not need to nofollow every external link. Linking to helpful, trusted sources with normal links is natural and good for readers. Use nofollow or sponsored for paid, affiliate, and untrusted links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WordPress add nofollow automatically?
WordPress adds nofollow and ugc to links in comments automatically. Links in posts are followed unless you add the attribute yourself or use a plugin.
What is the difference between nofollow and sponsored?
rel=”sponsored” is for paid and affiliate links. rel=”nofollow” is for links you do not want to vouch for. Google accepts nofollow for paid links too.
Should I nofollow all external links?
No. Normal links to trusted, relevant sources are fine and natural. Use nofollow or sponsored for paid, affiliate, or low-trust links.
How do I add nofollow without a plugin?
In the block editor, select the block, click the three dots, choose Edit as HTML, and add rel=”nofollow” inside the link tag.
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