Custom URL vs Redirection (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org 404 Error Plugins top 10: Custom URL at #9 and Redirection at #5. Redirection leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Custom URL
Redirect 404 to Home Page – Custom URL
Redirect visitors away from broken 404 pages and send them to your homepage or any custom URL with a simple, lightweight setup.
Redirection
Manage 301 redirects, track 404 errors, and improve your site. No knowledge of Apache or Nginx required.
Who leads on what
Redirection leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Redirection ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in 404 Error Plugins.
Redirection has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 4,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Custom URL has 2, Redirection has 703. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Redirection has more reviews behind its score: 703 against 2.
Redirection was updated more recently, on August 29, 2026; Custom URL on July 13, 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.
Custom URL
Custom URL does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Redirection
Pick Redirection 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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Custom URL vs Redirection side by side
| Custom URL | Redirection | |
|---|---|---|
| 404 Error Plugins ranking | #9 | #5 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 2 | 703 |
| Active installs | 4,000+ | 2 million+ |
| Total downloads | 17,201 | 77,955,444 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 13, 2026 | Aug 29, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 10, 2019 | Sep 10, 2007 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Custom URL ratings
Redirection 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 Custom URL nor Redirection can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the 404 Error Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Custom URL vs Redirection: common questions
Is Custom URL better than Redirection?
Redirection leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Redirection ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which has more users, Custom URL or Redirection?
Redirection ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in 404 Error Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Custom URL or Redirection?
Redirection has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 4,000+.
Are Custom URL and Redirection free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Custom URL may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Redirection may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Custom URL and Redirection
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
All 404 Redirect to Homepage
200,000+ installs · 4.1 from 96 reviews
-
Redirect 404 to Homepage
60,000+ installs · 4.6 from 23 reviews
-
Redirect 404 Error Page to Homepage or Custom Page
10,000+ installs · 5.0 from 45 reviews
-
404 Solution
10,000+ installs · 4.9 from 44 reviews
-
301 Redirects
30,000+ installs · 4.6 from 28 reviews
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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.