Groups vs WP-Members (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 WP-Members at #5. WP-Members leads on 4 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.
WP-Members
WP-Members Membership Plugin
The original WordPress membership plugin with content restriction, user login, custom registration fields, user profiles, and more.
Who leads on what
WP-Members leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
WP-Members ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
WP-Members has more users: 50,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Groups is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 382 reviews, against 4.6 from 272 reviews.
Groups has more reviews behind its score: 382 against 272.
WP-Members was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; Groups on September 24, 2026.
WP-Members was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 44,245 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.
Groups
Pick Groups if the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
WP-Members
Pick WP-Members if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Groups vs WP-Members side by side
| Groups | WP-Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Plugins ranking | #10 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 382 | 272 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 50,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,060,045 | 4,089,579 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 10,792 | 44,245 |
| Last updated | Sep 24, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 12, 2012 | Sep 23, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Groups ratings
WP-Members 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 WP-Members can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Membership Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Groups vs WP-Members: common questions
Is Groups better than WP-Members?
WP-Members leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WP-Members ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
Which has more users, Groups or WP-Members?
WP-Members ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #10 in Membership Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Groups or WP-Members?
WP-Members has more users: 50,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Groups and WP-Members free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Groups may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP-Members may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Groups and WP-Members
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
ProfilePress
100,000+ installs · 3.1 from 938 reviews
-
Simple Membership
40,000+ installs · 4.6 from 475 reviews
-
Ultimate Member
200,000+ installs · 4.4 from 1,445 reviews
-
Simple Membership After Login Redirection
10,000+ installs · 4.8 from 15 reviews
-
User Registration
50,000+ installs · 4.8 from 832 reviews
More Membership Plugins comparisons
- Kit vs Groups
- Kit vs WP-Members
- Groups vs Members
- Groups vs Paid Membership Subscriptions
- Groups vs Simple Membership
- Groups vs Simple Membership After Login Redirection
- Groups vs Ultimate Member
- Groups vs User Registration
- Groups vs ProfilePress
- Members vs WP-Members
- Paid Membership Subscriptions vs WP-Members
- Simple Membership After Login Redirection vs WP-Members
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.