Redirect 404 to Homepage 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: Redirect 404 to Homepage at #3 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.
Redirect 404 to Homepage
Redirect 404 missing pages to the homepage using SEO 301 redirection. Super lightweight!
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 #3 in 404 Error Plugins.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 60,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Redirect 404 to Homepage has 23, 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 23.
Redirect 404 to Homepage was updated more recently, on August 26, 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.
Redirect 404 to Homepage
Pick Redirect 404 to Homepage 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.
Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page side by side
| Redirect 404 to Homepage | Smart Custom 404 Error Page | |
|---|---|---|
| 404 Error Plugins ranking | #3 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 23 | 1,196 |
| Active installs | 60,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 172,471 | 2,737,803 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 26, 2026 | May 21, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 13, 2019 | Sep 30, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Redirect 404 to Homepage 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 Redirect 404 to Homepage 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.
Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page: common questions
Is Redirect 404 to Homepage 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 #3 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which has more users, Redirect 404 to Homepage or Smart Custom 404 Error Page?
Smart Custom 404 Error Page ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Redirect 404 to Homepage or Smart Custom 404 Error Page?
Smart Custom 404 Error Page has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 60,000+.
Are Redirect 404 to Homepage and Smart Custom 404 Error Page free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Redirect 404 to Homepage 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 Redirect 404 to Homepage and Smart Custom 404 Error Page
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
All 404 Redirect to Homepage
200,000+ installs · 4.1 from 96 reviews
-
Redirection
2 million+ installs · 4.4 from 703 reviews
-
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
-
301 Redirects
30,000+ installs · 4.6 from 28 reviews
More 404 Error Plugins comparisons
- 301 Redirects vs Redirect 404 to Homepage
- 301 Redirects vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page
- 404 Solution vs Redirect 404 to Homepage
- 404 Solution vs Smart Custom 404 Error Page
- Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Colorlib 404 Customizer
- Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Custom 404 Error Page
- Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Custom 404 Pro
- Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Redirect 404 Error Page to Homepage or Custom Page
- Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Custom URL
- Smart Custom 404 Error Page vs All 404 Redirect to Homepage
- Smart Custom 404 Error Page vs Colorlib 404 Customizer
- Smart Custom 404 Error Page vs Custom 404 Error Page
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.