301 Redirects vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org 404 Error Plugins top 10: 301 Redirects at #6 and Smart Custom 404 Error Page at #1. Smart Custom 404 Error Page leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
301 Redirects
301 Redirects & 404 Error Log
Create & manage 301 redirects. Easily test redirects. Includes 404 error log.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page
Create a custom 404 error page the easy way! No coding, and no redirects.
Who leads on what
Smart Custom 404 Error Page leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in 404 Error Plugins.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: 301 Redirects has 28, Smart Custom 404 Error Page has 1,196. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page has more reviews behind its score: 1,196 against 28.
301 Redirects was updated more recently, on August 15, 2026; Smart Custom 404 Error Page on May 21, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
301 Redirects
Pick 301 Redirects if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page
Pick Smart Custom 404 Error Page if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
301 Redirects vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page side by side
| 301 Redirects | Smart Custom 404 Error Page | |
|---|---|---|
| 404 Error Plugins ranking | #6 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 28 | 1,196 |
| Active installs | 30,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 185,360 | 2,737,803 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 15, 2026 | May 21, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 8, 2015 | Sep 30, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
301 Redirects ratings
Smart Custom 404 Error Page ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither 301 Redirects nor Smart Custom 404 Error Page can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the 404 Error Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
301 Redirects vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page: common questions
Is 301 Redirects better than Smart Custom 404 Error Page?
Smart Custom 404 Error Page leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Smart Custom 404 Error Page ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which has more users, 301 Redirects or Smart Custom 404 Error Page?
Smart Custom 404 Error Page ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which is rated higher, 301 Redirects or Smart Custom 404 Error Page?
Smart Custom 404 Error Page has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are 301 Redirects and Smart Custom 404 Error Page free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. 301 Redirects may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Smart Custom 404 Error Page may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to 301 Redirects and Smart Custom 404 Error Page
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Redirect 404 Error Page to Homepage or Custom Page
10,000+ installs · 5.0 from 45 reviews
-
Custom URL
4,000+ installs · 5.0 from 2 reviews
-
All 404 Redirect to Homepage
200,000+ installs · 4.1 from 96 reviews
-
Redirect 404 to Homepage
60,000+ installs · 4.6 from 23 reviews
-
404 Solution
10,000+ installs · 4.9 from 44 reviews
More 404 Error Plugins comparisons
- 301 Redirects vs 404 Solution
- 301 Redirects vs Redirect 404 to Homepage
- 301 Redirects vs All 404 Redirect to Homepage
- 301 Redirects vs Colorlib 404 Customizer
- 301 Redirects vs Custom 404 Error Page
- 301 Redirects vs Custom 404 Pro
- 301 Redirects vs Redirect 404 Error Page to Homepage or Custom Page
- 301 Redirects vs Custom URL
- 301 Redirects vs Redirection
- 404 Solution vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page
- Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page
- Smart Custom 404 Error Page vs All 404 Redirect to Homepage
Weekly · free
What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.