New User Approve vs WP User Avatars (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: New User Approve at #8 and WP User Avatars at #10. They split the 6 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.
New User Approve
WordPress user approval plugin to moderate registrations. Approve or deny real users and prevent fake signups to control who registers on site.
WP User Avatars
Allow registered users to upload and select their own avatars.
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
New User Approve ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Both report 20,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: New User Approve has 131, WP User Avatars has 29. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
New User Approve has more reviews behind its score: 131 against 29.
WP User Avatars was updated more recently, on October 15, 2026; New User Approve on September 30, 2026.
WP User Avatars was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 31,241 times against 25,011.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
New User Approve
Pick New User Approve if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
WP User Avatars
Pick WP User Avatars if you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
New User Approve vs WP User Avatars side by side
| New User Approve | WP User Avatars | |
|---|---|---|
| User Profile Plugins ranking | #8 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 131 | 29 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 943,571 | 354,531 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 25,011 | 31,241 |
| Last updated | Sep 30, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 30, 2008 | Oct 15, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
New User Approve ratings
WP User Avatars 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 New User Approve nor WP User Avatars can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the User Profile Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
New User Approve vs WP User Avatars: common questions
Is New User Approve better than WP User Avatars?
They split the 6 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. New User Approve ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Which has more users, New User Approve or WP User Avatars?
New User Approve ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #10 in User Profile Plugins.
Which is rated higher, New User Approve or WP User Avatars?
Both report 20,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are New User Approve and WP User Avatars free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. New User Approve is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. WP User Avatars may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to New User Approve and WP User Avatars
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.