301 Redirects vs 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 Custom 404 Error Page at #11. 301 Redirects leads on 4 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.
Custom 404 Error Page
Use any static page as the 404 error page.
Who leads on what
301 Redirects leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
301 Redirects ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #11 in 404 Error Plugins.
301 Redirects has more users: 30,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: 301 Redirects has 28, Custom 404 Error Page has 9. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
301 Redirects has more reviews behind its score: 28 against 9.
301 Redirects was updated more recently, on August 15, 2026; Custom 404 Error Page on October 22, 2025.
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 go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Custom 404 Error Page
Custom 404 Error Page does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
301 Redirects vs Custom 404 Error Page side by side
| 301 Redirects | Custom 404 Error Page | |
|---|---|---|
| 404 Error Plugins ranking | #6 | #11 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| Reviews | 28 | 9 |
| Active installs | 30,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 185,360 | 30,486 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 15, 2026 | Oct 22, 2025 |
| First published | Apr 8, 2015 | Feb 13, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.8.8 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | – |
| 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
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 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 Custom 404 Error Page: common questions
Is 301 Redirects better than Custom 404 Error Page?
301 Redirects leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. 301 Redirects ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #11 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which has more users, 301 Redirects or Custom 404 Error Page?
301 Redirects ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #11 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which is rated higher, 301 Redirects or Custom 404 Error Page?
301 Redirects has more users: 30,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are 301 Redirects and Custom 404 Error Page free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. 301 Redirects may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Custom 404 Error Page may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to 301 Redirects and Custom 404 Error Page
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
404 Solution
10,000+ installs · 4.9 from 44 reviews
-
Smart Custom 404 Error Page
100,000+ installs · 4.9 from 1,196 reviews
-
Redirect 404 Error Page to Homepage or Custom Page
10,000+ installs · 5.0 from 45 reviews
-
Redirect 404 to Homepage
60,000+ installs · 4.6 from 23 reviews
-
Custom 404 Pro
7,000+ installs · 4.2 from 22 reviews
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