Redirect 404 to Homepage 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: Redirect 404 to Homepage at #10 and Simple 301 Redirects at #7. Simple 301 Redirects leads on 5 of the 6 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!
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 5 of the 6 measures we track.
Simple 301 Redirects ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in Redirect Plugins.
Simple 301 Redirects has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 60,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Redirect 404 to Homepage has 24, Simple 301 Redirects has 162. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Simple 301 Redirects has more reviews behind its score: 162 against 24.
Simple 301 Redirects was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; Redirect 404 to Homepage on September 23, 2026.
Simple 301 Redirects was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 90,253 times against 38,127.
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
Redirect 404 to Homepage does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Simple 301 Redirects
Pick Simple 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, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Simple 301 Redirects side by side
| Redirect 404 to Homepage | Simple 301 Redirects | |
|---|---|---|
| Redirect Plugins ranking | #10 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 3.8 |
| Reviews | 24 | 162 |
| Active installs | 60,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 211,575 | 3,157,884 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 38,127 | 90,253 |
| Last updated | Sep 23, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 13, 2019 | Sep 2, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Redirect 404 to Homepage 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 Redirect 404 to Homepage nor Simple 301 Redirects can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Redirect Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Redirect 404 to Homepage vs Simple 301 Redirects: common questions
Is Redirect 404 to Homepage better than Simple 301 Redirects?
Simple 301 Redirects leads on 5 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 #10 in Redirect Plugins.
Which has more users, Redirect 404 to Homepage or Simple 301 Redirects?
Simple 301 Redirects ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in Redirect Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Redirect 404 to Homepage or Simple 301 Redirects?
Simple 301 Redirects has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 60,000+.
Are Redirect 404 to Homepage and Simple 301 Redirects free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Redirect 404 to Homepage may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Simple 301 Redirects may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Redirect 404 to Homepage and Simple 301 Redirects
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.