404 to 301 vs Simple 301 Redirects (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Redirect Plugins top 10: 404 to 301 at #9 and Simple 301 Redirects at #7. Simple 301 Redirects leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
404 to 301
404 to 301 – Redirect Manager, 301 Redirection, 404 Error Logs & 404 Monitoring
Redirect manager for 301, 302 and 307 redirection. Monitor and fix 404 errors, log every broken link and protect your SEO after a migration.
Simple 301 Redirects
Simple 301 Redirects by BetterLinks – Easy Redirect Manager
Simple 301 Redirects provides an easy method of redirecting requests to another page on your site or elsewhere on the web.
Who leads on what
Simple 301 Redirects leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Simple 301 Redirects ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Redirect Plugins.
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
404 to 301 is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 320 reviews, against 3.8 from 162 reviews.
404 to 301 has more reviews behind its score: 320 against 162.
Simple 301 Redirects was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; 404 to 301 on September 30, 2026.
Simple 301 Redirects was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 90,253 times against 61,686.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
404 to 301
Pick 404 to 301 if the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Simple 301 Redirects
Pick Simple 301 Redirects if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
404 to 301 vs Simple 301 Redirects side by side
| 404 to 301 | Simple 301 Redirects | |
|---|---|---|
| Redirect Plugins ranking | #9 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 3.8 |
| Reviews | 320 | 162 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,383,594 | 3,157,884 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 61,686 | 90,253 |
| Last updated | Sep 30, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 24, 2014 | Sep 2, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
404 to 301 ratings
Simple 301 Redirects 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 404 to 301 nor Simple 301 Redirects can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Redirect Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
404 to 301 vs Simple 301 Redirects: common questions
Is 404 to 301 better than Simple 301 Redirects?
Simple 301 Redirects leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Simple 301 Redirects ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Redirect Plugins.
Which has more users, 404 to 301 or Simple 301 Redirects?
Simple 301 Redirects ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Redirect Plugins.
Which is rated higher, 404 to 301 or Simple 301 Redirects?
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are 404 to 301 and Simple 301 Redirects free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. 404 to 301 may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Simple 301 Redirects may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to 404 to 301 and Simple 301 Redirects
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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