User Switching vs Starbox – the Author Box for Humans (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Starbox – the Author Box for Humans
10K+ active installs
Free
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 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. User Switching has accumulated 5.5M+ total downloads while Starbox – the Author Box for Humans has 518K+. Starbox – the Author Box for Humans has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 100%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Switching | Starbox – the Author Box for Humans | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 238 | ◄ | 203 |
| Active Installs | 200K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 5.5M+ | ◄ | 518K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | 100% | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 10 months ago |
| First Released | 2009 | 2013 | |
| Age | 17 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.1+ | 4.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.11.2 | 3.5.4 |
Rating Breakdown
User Switching
Starbox – the Author Box for Humans
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, User Switching averaged approximately 3,118 daily downloads while Starbox – the Author Box for Humans averaged 29.
Recent Reviews
User Switching Reviews
Wonderful!
What a great plug in! Made my life so much easier – thank you!
Dont work front
Dont work front
Great timesaving plugin
A real timesaver that I install every time I need to test out different user type roles.
Starbox – the Author Box for Humans Reviews
Seems not compatible with WPML
I love that plugin, but I’ll probably have to switch to another solution since I’d like to go multilingual. Unfortunately, Starbox doesn’t seem to be compatible with WPML. That’s unfortunate for Starb
Pleasant and efficient.
Pleasant and efficient. Many thanks to the developers. Works well with php 8.1 and wp 6.2. Better than other free plugins 😉
Very good support
Fisrt time that I see such a simple plugin to use, very convenient and easy for the settings. But the support is fantastic. I wanted to tweak a little bit, and immediately I received all the solutions
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as User Switching and Starbox – the Author Box for Humans
Adds an avatar upload field to user profiles. Generates requested sizes on demand just like Gravatar!
Use any image from your WordPress Media Library as a custom user avatar or user profile picture. Add your own Default Avatar.
Set a custom profile image (avatar) for a user using the standard WordPress media upload tool.
Assign multiple bylines to posts, pages, and custom post types with a search-as-you-type input box.
Add an avatar upload field on frontend pages and Edit Profile screen so users can add a custom profile picture.
WordPress user approval plugin to moderate registrations. Approve or deny real users and prevent fake signups to control who registers on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Switching or Starbox – the Author Box for Humans more popular?
Which has better ratings — User Switching or Starbox – the Author Box for Humans?
Are User Switching and Starbox – the Author Box for Humans free?
Which plugin has better support — User Switching or Starbox – the Author Box for Humans?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.