Custom Permalinks vs Anchor Block (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Custom Permalinks has a higher user rating (4.1/5 from 116 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Custom Permalinks has accumulated 2.5M+ total downloads while Anchor Block has 18K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Custom Permalinks | Anchor Block | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.1/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 116 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 2.5M+ | ◄ | 18K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 5 months ago | ► | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2008 | 2019 | |
| Age | 18 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 2.6+ | 5.2+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.1.2 | 0.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Custom Permalinks
Anchor Block
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Custom Permalinks averaged approximately 263 daily downloads while Anchor Block averaged 6.
Recent Reviews
Custom Permalinks Reviews
Changed the slug but the page turned unavailable
Did not work… I dont think this is a functional plugin. it has 4 stars in total with lots of 1 stars i guess it is what it is. I deleted the plugin and it is fine now.
caused Posts/Pages to redirect to other posts/pages.
blog post are redirecting to some other post. i dunno why. but deactivating this plugin resolved the issue. So the issue must be in the plugin. is there anything i can do in this situation?
Excellent plugin
Excellent plugin. I would really like to see categories included as well.
Anchor Block Reviews
User friendly and helpful
Love this plugin, this plugin helped me with my project. Thanks a lot!
Interferes with Tabs
Just a warning: This plugin causes tabs created by another plugin to be treated as anchors, causing the page to jump whenever a tab is clicked. Unfortunately, this pushes the tabs just off the top of
So Needed Thanks
When I started working in WP, I as totally surprised anchors were so restricted and frustrated. This solves that problem simply and straightforwardly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Custom Permalinks or Anchor Block more popular?
Which has better ratings — Custom Permalinks or Anchor Block?
Are Custom Permalinks and Anchor Block free?
Which plugin has better support — Custom Permalinks or Anchor Block?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.