PublishPress Capabilities vs UsersWP (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 UsersWP at #6. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. 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.
UsersWP
UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP
Light weight Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile and Members Directory plugin.
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
UsersWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Both are rated 4.7 out of 5 (143 and 183 reviews).
UsersWP has more reviews behind its score: 183 against 143.
PublishPress Capabilities was updated more recently, on August 25, 2026; UsersWP on August 18, 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 you want the one shipping releases most recently.
UsersWP
Pick UsersWP if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
PublishPress Capabilities vs UsersWP side by side
| PublishPress Capabilities | UsersWP | |
|---|---|---|
| User Profile Plugins ranking | #10 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 143 | 183 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 4,290,502 | 1,395,459 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 25, 2026 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 30, 2012 | Jul 27, 2017 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2.5 | – |
| 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
UsersWP 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 UsersWP can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the User Profile Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
PublishPress Capabilities vs UsersWP: common questions
Is PublishPress Capabilities better than UsersWP?
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. UsersWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Which has more users, PublishPress Capabilities or UsersWP?
UsersWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Which is rated higher, PublishPress Capabilities or UsersWP?
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are PublishPress Capabilities and UsersWP free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. PublishPress Capabilities may also sell a paid version or add-ons. UsersWP may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to PublishPress Capabilities and UsersWP
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 User Registration
- PublishPress Capabilities vs ProfilePress
- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Frontend
- PublishPress Capabilities vs WP User Manager
- RegistrationMagic vs UsersWP
- New User Approve vs UsersWP
- User Profile Builder vs UsersWP
- Ultimate Member vs UsersWP
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.