User Switching vs Restrict Usernames (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
VS
VS
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, User Switching has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 238 reviews) and leads in active installations (200K+ vs 200). Both are free WordPress plugins. User Switching has accumulated 5.5M+ total downloads while Restrict Usernames has 24K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Switching | Restrict Usernames | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 3.6/5 |
| Total Reviews | 238 | ◄ | 14 |
| Active Installs | 200K+ | ◄ | 200 |
| Total Downloads | 5.5M+ | ◄ | 24K+ |
| Support Resolution | 75% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 7 years ago |
| First Released | 2009 | 2009 | |
| Age | 17 years | 17 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.1+ | 4.7+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.11.2 | 3.7 |
Rating
4.9/5User Switching
◄Restrict Usernames3.6/5
Total Reviews
238User Switching
◄Restrict Usernames14
Active Installs
200K+User Switching
◄Restrict Usernames200
Total Downloads
5.5M+User Switching
◄Restrict Usernames24K+
Support Resolution
75%User Switching
Restrict UsernamesN/A
Last Updated
1 month agoUser Switching
◄Restrict Usernames7 years ago
First Released
2009User Switching
Restrict Usernames2009
Age
17 yearsUser Switching
Restrict Usernames17 years
WP Requires
6.1+User Switching
Restrict Usernames4.7+
PHP Requires
7.4+User Switching
Restrict Usernamesfalse+
Business Model
FreeUser Switching
Restrict UsernamesFree
Latest Version
1.11.2User Switching
Restrict Usernames3.7
Rating Breakdown
User Switching
4.9/5(238 reviews)
5
97%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
1%
Restrict Usernames
3.6/5(14 reviews)
5
64%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
36%
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
User Switching Reviews
by CJW
Wonderful!
What a great plug in! Made my life so much easier – thank you!
by readysite
Dont work front
Dont work front
by Zrenjaninac
Great timesaving plugin
A real timesaver that I install every time I need to test out different user type roles.
Restrict Usernames Reviews
No reviews yet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Switching or Restrict Usernames more popular?
User Switching has 200K+ active installations while Restrict Usernames has 200. User Switching is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — User Switching or Restrict Usernames?
User Switching has a 4.9/5 rating from 238 reviews, while Restrict Usernames has a 3.6/5 rating from 14 reviews.
Are User Switching and Restrict Usernames free?
User Switching is free and Restrict Usernames is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — User Switching or Restrict Usernames?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
User Switching was last updated 1 month ago and Restrict Usernames was last updated 7 years ago.
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.