Redirection vs Simple 301 Redirects (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Redirect Plugins top 10: Redirection at #1 and Simple 301 Redirects at #7. Redirection leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Redirection
Manage 301 redirects, track 404 errors, and improve your site. No knowledge of Apache or Nginx required.
Simple 301 Redirects
Simple 301 Redirects by BetterLinks – Easy Redirect Manager
Simple 301 Redirects provides an easy method of redirecting requests to another page on your site or elsewhere on the web.
Who leads on what
Redirection leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
Redirection ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Redirect Plugins.
Redirection has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Redirection is rated higher: 4.4 out of 5 from 703 reviews, against 3.8 from 162 reviews.
Redirection has more reviews behind its score: 703 against 162.
Simple 301 Redirects was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; Redirection on September 19, 2026.
Redirection was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 933,352 times against 90,253.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Redirection
Pick Redirection if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Simple 301 Redirects
Pick Simple 301 Redirects if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Redirection vs Simple 301 Redirects side by side
| Redirection | Simple 301 Redirects | |
|---|---|---|
| Redirect Plugins ranking | #1 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 3.8 |
| Reviews | 703 | 162 |
| Active installs | 2 million+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 80,165,374 | 3,157,884 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 933,352 | 90,253 |
| Last updated | Sep 19, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 |
| First published | Sep 10, 2007 | Sep 2, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Redirection ratings
Simple 301 Redirects 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 Redirection nor Simple 301 Redirects can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Redirect Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Redirection vs Simple 301 Redirects: common questions
Is Redirection better than Simple 301 Redirects?
Redirection leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Redirection ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Redirect Plugins.
Which has more users, Redirection or Simple 301 Redirects?
Redirection ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Redirect Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Redirection or Simple 301 Redirects?
Redirection has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Redirection and Simple 301 Redirects free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Redirection may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Simple 301 Redirects may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Redirection and Simple 301 Redirects
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 24 reviews
-
301 Redirects
300,000+ installs · 4.7 from 578 reviews
-
Redirection
100,000+ installs · 5.0 from 419 reviews
-
All in One SEO
2 million+ installs · 4.7 from 5,227 reviews
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