PublishPress Capabilities vs User Frontend (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 Frontend at #6. PublishPress Capabilities 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 Frontend
User Frontend – Membership, User Registration, User Profile, User Directory & Content Restriction with Frontend Post Submission
Create an AI-powered frontend post form, user registration form, user profile page, membership site, user directory, and content restriction.
Who leads on what
PublishPress Capabilities leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
User Frontend ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 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 4.1 from 535 reviews.
User Frontend has more reviews behind its score: 535 against 143.
PublishPress Capabilities was updated more recently, on October 14, 2026; User Frontend on October 1, 2026.
PublishPress Capabilities was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 126,023 times against 25,825.
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 one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
User Frontend
Pick User Frontend if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
PublishPress Capabilities vs User Frontend side by side
| PublishPress Capabilities | User Frontend | |
|---|---|---|
| User Profile Plugins ranking | #12 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.1 |
| Reviews | 143 | 535 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 4,434,887 | 2,006,287 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 126,023 | 25,825 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 30, 2012 | Jan 10, 2011 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2.5 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
PublishPress Capabilities ratings
User Frontend 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 Frontend 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 Frontend: common questions
Is PublishPress Capabilities better than User Frontend?
PublishPress Capabilities leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. User Frontend ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #12 in User Profile Plugins.
Which has more users, PublishPress Capabilities or User Frontend?
User Frontend ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #12 in User Profile Plugins.
Which is rated higher, PublishPress Capabilities or User Frontend?
PublishPress Capabilities has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are PublishPress Capabilities and User Frontend free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. PublishPress Capabilities may also sell a paid version or add-ons. User Frontend may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to PublishPress Capabilities and User Frontend
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More User Profile Plugins comparisons
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- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Profile Builder
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- PublishPress Capabilities vs User Registration
- PublishPress Capabilities vs UsersWP
- PublishPress Capabilities vs ProfilePress
- PublishPress Capabilities vs WP User Manager
- RegistrationMagic vs User Frontend
- New User Approve vs User Frontend
- User Profile Builder vs User Frontend
- ProfileGrid vs User Frontend
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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.