MembershipWorks vs Name Directory (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Directory Plugins top 10: MembershipWorks at #11 and Name Directory at #6. Name Directory leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
MembershipWorks
MembershipWorks – Membership, Events & Directory
All-in-one membership, directory, events and donations for organizations. Secure member profiles, renewals, upgrades and limit member only access to c …
Name Directory
Name directory (glossary) with many options like multiple directories, integrated search, non-latin characters, recaptcha, HTML editor and many more.
Who leads on what
Name Directory leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Name Directory ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #11 in Directory Plugins.
Both report 2,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: MembershipWorks has 37, Name Directory has 80. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Name Directory has more reviews behind its score: 80 against 37.
Name Directory was updated more recently, on September 6, 2026; MembershipWorks on August 27, 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.
MembershipWorks
MembershipWorks does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Name Directory
Pick Name Directory if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
MembershipWorks vs Name Directory side by side
| MembershipWorks | Name Directory | |
|---|---|---|
| Directory Plugins ranking | #11 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 37 | 80 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 2,000+ |
| Total downloads | 98,049 | 165,267 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 27, 2026 | Sep 6, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 20, 2012 | Nov 8, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 5.3 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
MembershipWorks ratings
Name Directory 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 MembershipWorks nor Name Directory can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Directory Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
MembershipWorks vs Name Directory: common questions
Is MembershipWorks better than Name Directory?
Name Directory leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Name Directory ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #11 in Directory Plugins.
Which has more users, MembershipWorks or Name Directory?
Name Directory ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #11 in Directory Plugins.
Which is rated higher, MembershipWorks or Name Directory?
Both report 2,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are MembershipWorks and Name Directory free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. MembershipWorks may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Name Directory may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to MembershipWorks and Name Directory
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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