Meks Smart Author Widget vs User Profile Picture (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Meks Smart Author Widget
10K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, User Profile Picture has a higher user rating (5/5 from 2 reviews) while Meks Smart Author Widget leads in active installations (10K+ vs 4.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Meks Smart Author Widget has accumulated 430K+ total downloads while User Profile Picture has 17K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Meks Smart Author Widget | User Profile Picture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 8 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 4.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 430K+ | ◄ | 17K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ► | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2014 | 2019 | |
| Age | 12 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.0+ | 4.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.5 | 1.0.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Meks Smart Author Widget
User Profile Picture
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Meks Smart Author Widget averaged approximately 23 daily downloads while User Profile Picture averaged 12.
Recent Reviews
Meks Smart Author Widget Reviews
Best; works well!
My theme didn’t come with an author box; so, I’m using this plugin. This is an excellent plugin which works well on all devices!
Damn near perfect!
This is an amazing plugin, period. Lots of widget options, from size of avatar to automatically detect author (by the posts they published – VERY COOL), from linking authors name to link showing all t
Not responsive
Simply not responsive out of the box.
User Profile Picture Reviews
Nice user profile plugin
Easy to use and does exactly what I would expect without any unnecessary functionality. It is nice to have a way for updating user profile pictures and not having to use a Graviar or something else. I
A Simple and Effective Solution
Admins who need to add profile photos for users who do not have avatars can do so with this “plain vanilla” plugin, nothing fancy, just plain functional. Scroll down to the bottom of the user settings
More Avatar Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Meks Smart Author Widget and User Profile Picture
The official Gravatar plugin, featuring privacy-focused settings, easy profile updates, and customizable Gravatar Profile blocks.
Use any image from your WordPress Media Library as a custom user avatar or user profile picture. Add your own Default Avatar.
Adds an avatar upload field to user profiles. Generates requested sizes on demand just like Gravatar!
Set a custom profile image (avatar) for a user using the standard WordPress media upload tool.
Add an avatar upload field on frontend pages and Edit Profile screen so users can add a custom profile picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meks Smart Author Widget or User Profile Picture more popular?
Which has better ratings — Meks Smart Author Widget or User Profile Picture?
Are Meks Smart Author Widget and User Profile Picture free?
Which plugin has better support — Meks Smart Author Widget or User Profile Picture?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.