New User Approve vs WP User Manager (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 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 #9 and WP User Manager at #8. WP User Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. 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 Manager
WP User Manager – User Profile Builder & Membership
The most customizable profiles & community builder WordPress plugin with front-end login, registration, profile customization and content restriction.
Who leads on what
WP User Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
WP User Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in User Profile Plugins.
New User Approve has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
WP User Manager is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 350 reviews, against 4.3 from 130 reviews.
WP User Manager has more reviews behind its score: 350 against 130.
New User Approve was updated more recently, on August 19, 2026; WP User Manager on May 30, 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.
New User Approve
Pick New User Approve if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WP User Manager
Pick WP User Manager if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
New User Approve vs WP User Manager side by side
| New User Approve | WP User Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| User Profile Plugins ranking | #9 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 130 | 350 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 916,183 | 726,961 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 19, 2026 | May 30, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 30, 2008 | Jul 6, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
New User Approve ratings
WP User Manager 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 Manager 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 Manager: common questions
Is New User Approve better than WP User Manager?
WP User Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WP User Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in User Profile Plugins.
Which has more users, New User Approve or WP User Manager?
WP User Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in User Profile Plugins.
Which is rated higher, New User Approve or WP User Manager?
New User Approve has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are New User Approve and WP User Manager 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 Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to New User Approve and WP User Manager
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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