Username Changer vs Change Author (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Username Changer has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 70 reviews) and leads in active installations (40K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Username Changer has accumulated 464K+ total downloads while Change Author has 39K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Username Changer | Change Author | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ◄ | 4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 70 | ◄ | 12 |
| Active Installs | 40K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 464K+ | ◄ | 39K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 8 years ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2014 | |
| Age | 14 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.0+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.2.3 | 1.3 |
Rating Breakdown
Username Changer
Change Author
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Username Changer averaged approximately 129 daily downloads while Change Author averaged 25.
Recent Reviews
Username Changer Reviews
Blocked access to wp-admin
This plugin completely blocked access to wp-admin after changing a username. The wp-admin login page now just goes to a blank white page. I had to restore a backup on my site in order to fix it. I
Worked great
I recently set up OpenID on one of my WordPress sites, and needed to update the usernames to a different ID to coincide with single sign-on authentication. Installed this plugin, and it worked, witho
Easy and working
Thanks for this plugin, This is easy and works for me
Change Author Reviews
Just awesome
Work as expected. Thank you so much.
Works great. Like it!
easy. useful. light.
No longer works…but here’s a fix:
This plugin attempts to override the default author meta box, but that doesn’t seem to work any more. However, it is possible to simply filter the options for the author dropdown list like this to get
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Username Changer and Change Author
User Role Editor WordPress plugin makes user roles and capabilities changing easy. Edit/add/delete WordPress user roles and capabilities.
Enable and disable email notifications that WordPress sends to the admin and user. Works perfectly with many other plugins!
Login as User is a free WordPress plugin that helps admins switch user accounts instantly to check data.
Simple User Avatar helps users to add or remove their avatar using images from his Media Library.
Easily display your author/user profile info inside WordPress widget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Username Changer or Change Author more popular?
Which has better ratings — Username Changer or Change Author?
Are Username Changer and Change Author free?
Which plugin has better support — Username Changer or Change Author?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.