User Role Editor vs HM Multiple Roles (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 HM Multiple Roles has 27K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Role Editor | HM Multiple Roles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ◄ | 3.6/5 |
| Total Reviews | 287 | ◄ | 5 |
| Active Installs | 700K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 21M+ | ◄ | 27K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2021 | |
| Age | 16 years | 5 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.4+ | 5.4+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.3+ | 7.2+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.64.6 | 2.1.1 |
Rating Breakdown
User Role Editor
HM Multiple Roles
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, User Role Editor averaged approximately 2,187 daily downloads while HM Multiple Roles averaged 6.
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
HM Multiple Roles Reviews
Security issues & no support.
This plugin contains a cross-site-scripting vulnerability that was first discovered on July, 18th. Since then, me and other userts have tried to inform/ reach the plugin’s developer via the plugin’s s
very simple
thanks!
very simple
bof
More Role Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as User Role Editor and HM Multiple Roles
Give a temporarily limited admin access to themes designers, plugins developers and support agents.
Select easily which admin menus to remove for which roles.
Redirect users after login/logout by role. Optionally hide admin bar and block dashboard access for selected roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Role Editor or HM Multiple Roles more popular?
Which has better ratings — User Role Editor or HM Multiple Roles?
Are User Role Editor and HM Multiple Roles free?
Which plugin has better support — User Role Editor or HM Multiple Roles?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.