User Role Editor vs User Shortcodes (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, User Shortcodes has a higher user rating (5/5 from 12 reviews) while User Role Editor leads in active installations (700K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. User Role Editor has accumulated 21M+ total downloads while User Shortcodes has 18K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Role Editor | User Shortcodes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 287 | ◄ | 12 |
| Active Installs | 700K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 21M+ | ◄ | 18K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 11 years ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2013 | |
| Age | 16 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.4+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.3+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.64.6 | 1.0.1 |
Rating Breakdown
User Role Editor
User Shortcodes
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, User Role Editor averaged approximately 2,093 daily downloads while User Shortcodes averaged 3.
Recent Reviews
User Role Editor Reviews
Simple and works nicely
This plugin is working well. Thank you for the developer who put lot of time into it. Very nice, lightest and most simple.
Worked great for my site
I’m a DIY self learner, and had a great experience with URE. It has vast capabilities and is organized to make it easy to navigate and apply so many customizations. Very intuitive. On the one occasion
Wont save capabilities for custom role
I hate giving bad reviews as I know how much work goes into these plugins, often by one person. But we have wasted so much time and lost orders because of a known bug. I can see that others have rep
User Shortcodes Reviews
Shortcode not working in menu
Shortcode not working in menu
Very Simple
Super simple and quick way to add shortcodes without a lot of fluff. Added nickname shortcode and I was good to go!
Thanks a Lot
Thanks a lot for easy to use and simple plugin
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Role Editor or User Shortcodes more popular?
Which has better ratings — User Role Editor or User Shortcodes?
Are User Role Editor and User Shortcodes free?
Which plugin has better support — User Role Editor or User Shortcodes?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.