PublishPress Capabilities vs User Registration (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 User Registration at #4. User Registration leads on 4 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.
User Registration
User Registration & Membership – Free & Paid Memberships, Subscriptions, Content Restriction, User Profile, Custom User Registration & Login Builder
Build membership sites with tiered plans, content restriction, drag-&-drop custom registration & login form builder, and built-in payment system.
Who leads on what
User Registration leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
User Registration ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #12 in User Profile Plugins.
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 50,000+.
User Registration is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 832 reviews, against 4.7 from 143 reviews.
User Registration has more reviews behind its score: 832 against 143.
User Registration was updated more recently, on October 17, 2026; PublishPress Capabilities on October 14, 2026.
PublishPress Capabilities was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 126,023 times against 58,886.
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 you want the one being installed faster right now.
User Registration
Pick User Registration if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
PublishPress Capabilities vs User Registration side by side
| PublishPress Capabilities | User Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| User Profile Plugins ranking | #12 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 143 | 832 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 50,000+ |
| Total downloads | 4,434,887 | 4,572,894 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 126,023 | 58,886 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 30, 2012 | Jul 6, 2017 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2.5 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
PublishPress Capabilities ratings
User Registration 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 Registration 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 Registration: common questions
Is PublishPress Capabilities better than User Registration?
User Registration leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. User Registration ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #12 in User Profile Plugins.
Which has more users, PublishPress Capabilities or User Registration?
User Registration ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #12 in User Profile Plugins.
Which is rated higher, PublishPress Capabilities or User Registration?
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 50,000+.
Are PublishPress Capabilities and User Registration free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. PublishPress Capabilities may also sell a paid version or add-ons. User Registration is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to PublishPress Capabilities and User Registration
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More User Profile Plugins comparisons
- PublishPress Capabilities vs RegistrationMagic
- PublishPress Capabilities vs New User Approve
- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Profile Builder
- PublishPress Capabilities vs Ultimate Member
- PublishPress Capabilities vs UsersWP
- PublishPress Capabilities vs ProfilePress
- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Frontend
- PublishPress Capabilities vs WP User Manager
- RegistrationMagic vs User Registration
- New User Approve vs User Registration
- User Profile Builder vs User Registration
- ProfileGrid vs User Registration
Weekly · free
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.