PublishPress Capabilities vs New User Approve (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org User Profile Plugins top 10: PublishPress Capabilities at #12 and New User Approve at #8. PublishPress Capabilities leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
PublishPress Capabilities
PublishPress Capabilities: User Role Access Control, Admin Area Permissions
User role editing for WordPress. Manage user roles, control capabilities and permissions, and restrict admin access for any role.
New User Approve
WordPress user approval plugin to moderate registrations. Approve or deny real users and prevent fake signups to control who registers on site.
Who leads on what
PublishPress Capabilities leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
New User Approve ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #12 in User Profile Plugins.
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
PublishPress Capabilities is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 143 reviews, against 4.3 from 131 reviews.
PublishPress Capabilities has more reviews behind its score: 143 against 131.
PublishPress Capabilities was updated more recently, on October 14, 2026; New User Approve on September 30, 2026.
PublishPress Capabilities was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 126,023 times against 25,011.
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, the review score matters most to you, 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.
New User Approve
Pick New User Approve if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
PublishPress Capabilities vs New User Approve side by side
| PublishPress Capabilities | New User Approve | |
|---|---|---|
| User Profile Plugins ranking | #12 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 143 | 131 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 4,434,887 | 943,571 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 126,023 | 25,011 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 30, 2012 | Oct 30, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2.5 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
PublishPress Capabilities ratings
New User Approve 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 New User Approve can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the User Profile Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
PublishPress Capabilities vs New User Approve: common questions
Is PublishPress Capabilities better than New User Approve?
PublishPress Capabilities leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. New User Approve ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #12 in User Profile Plugins.
Which has more users, PublishPress Capabilities or New User Approve?
New User Approve ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #12 in User Profile Plugins.
Which is rated higher, PublishPress Capabilities or New User Approve?
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are PublishPress Capabilities and New User Approve free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. PublishPress Capabilities may also sell a paid version or add-ons. New User Approve is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to PublishPress Capabilities and New User Approve
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- RegistrationMagic vs New User Approve
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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.