User Profile Picture vs Meks Smart Author Widget (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 (4.6/5 from 59 reviews) and leads in active installations (40K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. User Profile Picture has accumulated 1.0M+ total downloads while Meks Smart Author Widget has 430K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Profile Picture | Meks Smart Author Widget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ◄ | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 59 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 40K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.0M+ | ◄ | 430K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ► | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2014 | |
| Age | 14 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 3.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.6.3 | 1.1.5 |
Rating Breakdown
User Profile Picture
Meks Smart Author Widget
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, User Profile Picture averaged approximately 77 daily downloads while Meks Smart Author Widget averaged 23.
Recent Reviews
User Profile Picture Reviews
Good plugin
easy to use
Very nice
Very nice plugin! Thank you!
Just amazing!!!
Solves a silly problem so well! It allows you to set a custom avatar in WP simply and cleanly. I would give this 10 stars if I could!
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.
More Avatar Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as User Profile Picture and Meks Smart Author Widget
Use any image from your WordPress Media Library as a custom user avatar or user profile picture. Add your own Default Avatar.
The official Gravatar plugin, featuring privacy-focused settings, easy profile updates, and customizable Gravatar Profile blocks.
Adds an avatar upload field to user profiles. Generates requested sizes on demand just like Gravatar!
Add an avatar upload field on frontend pages and Edit Profile screen so users can add a custom profile picture.
Simple User Avatar helps users to add or remove their avatar using images from his Media Library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Profile Picture or Meks Smart Author Widget more popular?
Which has better ratings — User Profile Picture or Meks Smart Author Widget?
Are User Profile Picture and Meks Smart Author Widget free?
Which plugin has better support — User Profile Picture or Meks Smart Author Widget?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.