PublishPress Capabilities vs User Profile Builder (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 User Profile Builder at #4. User Profile Builder 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.
User Profile Builder
User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor
Powerful user profile plugin to create front-end user registration forms, login & user profile forms. Includes user role editor & content restriction.
Who leads on what
User Profile Builder leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
User Profile Builder ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Both are rated 4.7 out of 5 (143 and 735 reviews).
User Profile Builder has more reviews behind its score: 735 against 143.
User Profile Builder was updated more recently, on August 26, 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.
User Profile Builder
Pick User Profile Builder 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 User Profile Builder side by side
| PublishPress Capabilities | User Profile Builder | |
|---|---|---|
| User Profile Plugins ranking | #10 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 143 | 735 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 40,000+ |
| Total downloads | 4,290,502 | 5,708,593 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Aug 26, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 30, 2012 | Apr 13, 2011 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2.5 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
PublishPress Capabilities ratings
User Profile Builder 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 User Profile Builder can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the User Profile Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
PublishPress Capabilities vs User Profile Builder: common questions
Is PublishPress Capabilities better than User Profile Builder?
User Profile Builder leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. User Profile Builder ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Which has more users, PublishPress Capabilities or User Profile Builder?
User Profile Builder ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Which is rated higher, PublishPress Capabilities or User Profile Builder?
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Are PublishPress Capabilities and User Profile Builder free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. PublishPress Capabilities may also sell a paid version or add-ons. User Profile Builder may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to PublishPress Capabilities and User Profile Builder
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Frontend
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- RegistrationMagic vs User Profile Builder
- New User Approve vs User Profile Builder
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- User Profile Builder vs User Registration
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