Simple Membership vs Groups (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Groups has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 380 reviews) while Simple Membership leads in active installations (40K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Simple Membership has accumulated 3.3M+ total downloads while Groups has 991K+. Groups has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 80%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Simple Membership | Groups | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 466 | ◄ | 380 |
| Active Installs | 40K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 3.3M+ | ◄ | 991K+ |
| Support Resolution | 80% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ► | 1 week ago |
| First Released | 2014 | 2012 | |
| Age | 12 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.0+ | 6.7+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.7.2 | 4.1.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Simple Membership
Groups
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Simple Membership averaged approximately 503 daily downloads while Groups averaged 345.
Recent Reviews
Simple Membership Reviews
Very good plugin for membership levels and control
I have tested various plugins for creating and controlling members in various levels. This is the only plugin which I trust totally. It is very easy to create user groups/levels and users in different
PERFETTO!
Questo plugin è la soluzione perfetta per chi vuole realizzare l’accesso a vari livelli di abbonamento (gratuito ma con registrazione delle credenziali, oppure a pagamento) per i propri utenti: chi
werkt zoals het hoort
Mooie plugin voor een basis login en membership.
Groups Reviews
Simple access restriction that really works
I’ve been using this plugin for a number of years on our documentation website. I create documentation for all of my clients in one single website, and then I restrict access to the pages so that each
Super!
…
Clean simple plug-in that works as expected!
I needed a simple solution for member only pages and this plug-in works great!
More Member Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Simple Membership and Groups
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An addon for the simple membership plugin to configure after login redirection to a specific page based on the member's level.
Create a WordPress login form and add it to your post, page or sidebar
Add a terms and condition checkbox to your registration forms & require users to agree to your T&Cs before registering on your site.
An addon for importing existing WordPress users to the Simple Membership plugin as members
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simple Membership or Groups more popular?
Which has better ratings — Simple Membership or Groups?
Are Simple Membership and Groups free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.