Simple User Avatar 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, Meks Smart Author Widget has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 8 reviews) while Simple User Avatar leads in active installations (20K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Simple User Avatar has accumulated 219K+ total downloads while Meks Smart Author Widget has 430K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Simple User Avatar | Meks Smart Author Widget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | ► | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 19 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 219K+ | ► | 430K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2017 | 2014 | |
| Age | 9 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.0+ | 3.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.3+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.8 | 1.1.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Simple User Avatar
Meks Smart Author Widget
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Simple User Avatar averaged approximately 102 daily downloads while Meks Smart Author Widget averaged 23.
Recent Reviews
Simple User Avatar Reviews
Impressed! | Unequaled Performance and Support
If you’re looking for simplicity, performance, and support in a plugin, this one is it. It works “out of the box” and does exactly what it says. Support is phenomenal as well. Job well done. Tha
Simple
Simple and easy to use
As loged in
I only can upload as admin a avatar as registered user not
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simple User Avatar or Meks Smart Author Widget more popular?
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Are Simple User Avatar and Meks Smart Author Widget free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.