Smart Custom 404 Error Page vs Custom 404 Pro (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: Smart Custom 404 Error Page at #1 and Custom 404 Pro at #8. 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.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page
Create a custom 404 error page the easy way! No coding, and no redirects.
Custom 404 Pro
Take control of every 404 on your site — redirect visitors to a custom page or URL, log what broke, and get notified when it matters.
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 #8 in 404 Error Plugins.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 7,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Smart Custom 404 Error Page has 1,196, Custom 404 Pro has 22. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page has more reviews behind its score: 1,196 against 22.
Custom 404 Pro was updated more recently, on August 30, 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.
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.
Custom 404 Pro
Pick Custom 404 Pro if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page vs Custom 404 Pro side by side
| Smart Custom 404 Error Page | Custom 404 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| 404 Error Plugins ranking | #1 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 1,196 | 22 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 7,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,737,803 | 313,339 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | May 21, 2026 | Aug 30, 2026 |
| First published | Sep 30, 2013 | Apr 23, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page ratings
Custom 404 Pro 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 Smart Custom 404 Error Page nor Custom 404 Pro can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the 404 Error Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Smart Custom 404 Error Page vs Custom 404 Pro: common questions
Is Smart Custom 404 Error Page better than Custom 404 Pro?
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 #8 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which has more users, Smart Custom 404 Error Page or Custom 404 Pro?
Smart Custom 404 Error Page ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Smart Custom 404 Error Page or Custom 404 Pro?
Smart Custom 404 Error Page has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 7,000+.
Are Smart Custom 404 Error Page and Custom 404 Pro free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Smart Custom 404 Error Page may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Custom 404 Pro may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Smart Custom 404 Error Page and Custom 404 Pro
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Redirect 404 Error Page to Homepage or Custom Page
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Redirect 404 to Homepage
60,000+ installs · 4.6 from 23 reviews
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Colorlib 404 Customizer
5,000+ installs · 4.7 from 51 reviews
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