PublishPress Capabilities vs RegistrationMagic (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org User Profile Plugins top 10: PublishPress Capabilities at #10 and RegistrationMagic at #7. RegistrationMagic leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
PublishPress Capabilities
PublishPress Capabilities – User Role Editor, Access Permissions, User Capabilities, Admin Menus
PublishPress Capabilities is the access control plugin. You can manage user capabilities, permissions, user roles, admin menus and more.
RegistrationMagic
RegistrationMagic – Custom Registration Forms, User Registration, Payment, and User Login
Create user registration forms, build advanced registration forms, accept payments, track submissions, manage users, assign user roles, analyze stats …
Who leads on what
RegistrationMagic leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
RegistrationMagic ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 8,000+.
PublishPress Capabilities is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 143 reviews, against 4.5 from 459 reviews.
RegistrationMagic has more reviews behind its score: 459 against 143.
RegistrationMagic was updated more recently, on August 27, 2026; PublishPress Capabilities on August 25, 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.
PublishPress Capabilities
Pick PublishPress Capabilities if you want the plugin more sites already run or the review score matters most to you.
RegistrationMagic
Pick RegistrationMagic if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
PublishPress Capabilities vs RegistrationMagic side by side
| PublishPress Capabilities | RegistrationMagic | |
|---|---|---|
| User Profile Plugins ranking | #10 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 143 | 459 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 8,000+ |
| Total downloads | 4,290,502 | 2,124,679 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 30, 2012 | Dec 17, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2.5 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
PublishPress Capabilities ratings
RegistrationMagic 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 PublishPress Capabilities nor RegistrationMagic can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the User Profile Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
PublishPress Capabilities vs RegistrationMagic: common questions
Is PublishPress Capabilities better than RegistrationMagic?
RegistrationMagic leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. RegistrationMagic ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Which has more users, PublishPress Capabilities or RegistrationMagic?
RegistrationMagic ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Which is rated higher, PublishPress Capabilities or RegistrationMagic?
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 8,000+.
Are PublishPress Capabilities and RegistrationMagic free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. PublishPress Capabilities may also sell a paid version or add-ons. RegistrationMagic is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to PublishPress Capabilities and RegistrationMagic
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More User Profile Plugins comparisons
- PublishPress Capabilities vs New User Approve
- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Profile Builder
- PublishPress Capabilities vs Ultimate Member
- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Registration
- PublishPress Capabilities vs UsersWP
- PublishPress Capabilities vs ProfilePress
- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Frontend
- PublishPress Capabilities vs WP User Manager
- RegistrationMagic vs New User Approve
- RegistrationMagic vs User Profile Builder
- RegistrationMagic vs Ultimate Member
- RegistrationMagic vs User Registration
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