Nav Menu Roles vs Shortcode in Menus (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Nav Menu Roles has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 218 reviews) and leads in active installations (70K+ vs 50K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Nav Menu Roles has accumulated 1.8M+ total downloads while Shortcode in Menus has 502K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nav Menu Roles | Shortcode in Menus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 218 | ◄ | 82 |
| Active Installs | 70K+ | ◄ | 50K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.8M+ | ◄ | 502K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2013 | |
| Age | 14 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.6.0+ | 3.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.1.3 | 3.5.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Nav Menu Roles
Shortcode in Menus
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Nav Menu Roles averaged approximately 920 daily downloads while Shortcode in Menus averaged 45.
Recent Reviews
Nav Menu Roles Reviews
Super Duper
So easy to install, open my menu’s to find the hide button – one click and DONE!
Excellent, worked like a dream
The best plugins are sleek, discreet design, and do the job perfectly, just like this one.
I like good plugins
this is a good plugin
Shortcode in Menus Reviews
‘Please provide a valid link.’
Interesting concept but adding the shortcode to the link as the images show generates a wordpress error: ‘Please provide a valid link.’ So, unfortunately, cannot add the shortcode to nav bar as the ex
Please don’t let this plugin die..
I kindly ask the developers to maintain this plugin updated… please 🙂
Didn’t work for me
Didn’t work in shortcode menu item or custom link.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nav Menu Roles or Shortcode in Menus more popular?
Which has better ratings — Nav Menu Roles or Shortcode in Menus?
Are Nav Menu Roles and Shortcode in Menus free?
Which plugin has better support — Nav Menu Roles or Shortcode in Menus?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.