Groups vs Simple Membership (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Membership Plugins top 10: Groups at #10 and Simple Membership at #3. Simple Membership leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Groups
Groups – Memberships and Access Control
Turn your site into a powerful membership solution. Manage members, teams and access to content easily.
Simple Membership
Simple membership plugin adds membership functionality to your site. Protect members only content using content protection easily.
Who leads on what
Simple Membership leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
Simple Membership ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
Simple Membership has more users: 40,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Groups is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 382 reviews, against 4.6 from 475 reviews.
Simple Membership has more reviews behind its score: 475 against 382.
Simple Membership was updated more recently, on October 21, 2026; Groups on September 24, 2026.
Simple Membership was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 54,458 times against 10,792.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Simple Membership
Pick Simple Membership if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, 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.
Groups vs Simple Membership side by side
| Groups | Simple Membership | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Plugins ranking | #10 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 382 | 475 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 40,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,060,045 | 3,585,797 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 10,792 | 54,458 |
| Last updated | Sep 24, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 12, 2012 | May 30, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Groups ratings
Simple Membership 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 Groups nor Simple Membership can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Membership Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Groups vs Simple Membership: common questions
Is Groups better than Simple Membership?
Simple Membership leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Simple Membership ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
Which has more users, Groups or Simple Membership?
Simple Membership ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Groups or Simple Membership?
Simple Membership has more users: 40,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Groups and Simple Membership free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Groups may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Simple Membership may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Groups and Simple Membership
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Membership Plugins comparisons
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- Groups vs Ultimate Member
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- Groups vs WP-Members
- Groups vs ProfilePress
- Members vs Simple Membership
- Paid Membership Subscriptions vs Simple Membership
- Simple Membership vs Simple Membership After Login Redirection
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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.