Groups vs SimpleShop (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Groups has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 380 reviews) and leads in active installations (10K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Groups has accumulated 991K+ total downloads while SimpleShop has 30K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Groups | SimpleShop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | N/A |
| Total Reviews | 380 | ◄ | 0 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 991K+ | ◄ | 30K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2018 | |
| Age | 14 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.7+ | 6.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.1.0 | 2.16.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Groups
SimpleShop
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Groups averaged approximately 345 daily downloads while SimpleShop averaged 7.
Recent Reviews
Groups Reviews
Simple access restriction that really works
I’ve been using this plugin for a number of years on our documentation website. I create documentation for all of my clients in one single website, and then I restrict access to the pages so that each
Super!
…
Clean simple plug-in that works as expected!
I needed a simple solution for member only pages and this plug-in works great!
SimpleShop Reviews
No reviews yet
More Access Control Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Groups and SimpleShop
Restrict content based on login status, user roles, device type & more. Monetize your content with a paywall or members-only content.
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Add stylish download buttons to any post or page — 7 styles, countdown, popup modal, access control. Gutenberg block and shortcode.
Menu By User Roles allows you to control the visibility of menu items based on user roles.
Redirect 404's when a visitor tries to access a page protected by Groups.
Simple but yet effective plugin to hide selected posts and pages from anonymous users.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.