User Role Editor vs Login as User (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Login as User has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 40 reviews) while User Role Editor leads in active installations (700K+ vs 30K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. User Role Editor has accumulated 21M+ total downloads while Login as User has 517K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Role Editor | Login as User | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 287 | ◄ | 40 |
| Active Installs | 700K+ | ◄ | 30K+ |
| Total Downloads | 21M+ | ◄ | 517K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ► | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2019 | |
| Age | 16 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.4+ | 5.3+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.3+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.64.6 | 1.6.8 |
Rating Breakdown
User Role Editor
Login as User
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, User Role Editor averaged approximately 2,187 daily downloads while Login as User averaged 183.
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
Login as User Reviews
Fantastic product with great customer service
For development and testing, login as user is an essential tool. The pro version offers even more utility and flexibility. The best part is the development team behind it; only a few hours after rep
Vital plugin for our company. Excellent support
Our company’s support team uses this plugin every day to assist customers who don’t always have access to their accounts. Support is fantastic! Recently, we had an issue with a plugin conflict and t
Excellent Support
Although I only contacted the support one time on the weekend, I was impressed firstly by the fact they replied on the weekend and how accurate their diagnostic was. The issue was a simple settings th
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Role Editor or Login as User more popular?
Which has better ratings — User Role Editor or Login as User?
Are User Role Editor and Login as User free?
Which plugin has better support — User Role Editor or Login as User?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.