User Role Editor vs Fast User Switching (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, User Role Editor has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 287 reviews) and leads in active installations (700K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. User Role Editor has accumulated 21M+ total downloads while Fast User Switching has 22K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Role Editor | Fast User Switching | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ◄ | 4.1/5 |
| Total Reviews | 287 | ◄ | 9 |
| Active Installs | 700K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 21M+ | ◄ | 22K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Age | 16 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.4+ | 5.2+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.3+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.64.6 | 1.4.10 |
Rating Breakdown
User Role Editor
Fast User Switching
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, User Role Editor averaged approximately 2,187 daily downloads while Fast User Switching averaged 10.
Recent Reviews
User Role Editor Reviews
Simple and works nicely
This plugin is working well. Thank you for the developer who put lot of time into it. Very nice, lightest and most simple.
Worked great for my site
I’m a DIY self learner, and had a great experience with URE. It has vast capabilities and is organized to make it easy to navigate and apply so many customizations. Very intuitive. On the one occasion
Wont save capabilities for custom role
I hate giving bad reviews as I know how much work goes into these plugins, often by one person. But we have wasted so much time and lost orders because of a known bug. I can see that others have rep
Fast User Switching Reviews
Abandoned Plugin
Is fuctioning with problems, dont use it.
Doesn’t work well anymore
Sometimes it’s working and sometimes it’s not. – The option to empty the cart is not working neither. – I cannot select the right roles to allow to switch, it is always picking the first (alphabetical
PERFECT!
It works!!! Better than the first one as you can switch users from the admin bar. Thanks so much for this!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Role Editor or Fast User Switching more popular?
Which has better ratings — User Role Editor or Fast User Switching?
Are User Role Editor and Fast User Switching free?
Which plugin has better support — User Role Editor or Fast User Switching?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.